12 Items You Should Never Donate to a Thrift Store—Here's Why

Decluttering your own home might not be motivating on its own, but supporting charitable organizations, reducing landfill waste, and helping others find affordable essentials through donating to thrift stores often does the trick. But not everything you’re ready to part with belongs on a thrift store shelf. Some donations don’t meet health, safety, or usability standards. Instead of helping others by giving, the items can become a burden for the store.

Make sure your giving is truly helpful by learning what not to donate to a thrift store, where to take those items instead, and common thrift store donation missteps to avoid.

1. Large Appliances

Refrigerators, stoves, washers, and dryers are costly items that are helpful to pass on to another family, but they may be too large for local thrift stores to house for long periods. Many stores lack the space or equipment to test or store them safely, making hauling and delivery a costly hassle.

Instead, check if your city offers bulky-item pickup or appliance recycling. If the item still works, you can also try giving it away through community networks or reselling it to a local appliance refurbisher. Similarly, you can trade it in for an upgrade at your local hardware store.

2. Recalled Products

It’s easy to forget that some products are pulled from the market because of defects. If you've missed the recall window or don’t want to go through the hassle of return shipping, think twice before trying to donate a recalled item to a thrift store. Doing so can be dangerous.

From overheating appliances to children’s toys that pose choking hazards, recalled goods should never be on a secondhand store shelf. To check if your item has been recalled, visit CPSC.gov or the manufacturer's website. If your item is listed, dispose of it according to local guidelines, or see if the manufacturer offers a return or recycling program.

3. Open or Expired Personal Care Products

While an unused perfume, still in its original package, might make for a great find, a half-used shampoo bottle does not. Old lotions and bath products do not belong in the donation bin because thrift stores can't resell them for health and hygiene reasons. Instead of donating to thrift stores, look for community programs that collect unused (sealed and unexpired) hygiene products for shelters or mutual aid groups.

4. Undergarments and Swimwear

While clothing donations are the bread and butter of most thrift stores, used underwear and swimwear are significant exceptions. Most stores cannot accept them due to hygiene standards. The same rule applies to boys’ and men’s board shorts or swim trunks.

If you have gently worn but clean swimwear items, try a swap meet with friends or hand-me-downs for family. These people trust where the items came from and are more likely to put them to good use. You can also deep clean them and consider using them as rags for household cleaning, or check for a fabric or textile recycling program in your area.

5. Nonfunctional Gadgets and Tech

Outdated gadgets are rarely suitable for donation. Old printers, phones with cracked screens, and TVs that no longer power on will end up in the thrift store's dumpster. Old cords, VHS tapes, floppy disks, CD-ROMs, and chargers for long-forgotten devices often pile up in thrift store back rooms. Even if functional, old electronics rarely sell because they’re hard to price.

Instead, recycle cords and small electronics through designated e-waste programs in your municipality. As for old media, niche collectors may be interested in vintage items. Try listing them online on eBay or neighborhood marketplaces before discarding them. If the item still works but is obsolete (like a DVD player or VHS tape deck), try posting it in a local Buy Nothing or Freecycling group.

6. Hazardous Chemical Materials

Extra paint, motor oil, cleaning supplies, and other chemicals should never be donated. Leaks pose a potential danger to staff and shoppers. These items require special handling and storage, which many thrift stores can't provide. Try dropping these items at a local hazardous waste disposal site. Many towns hold drop-off days or offer year-round services for safely discarding chemicals and flammables.

7. Used Car Seats and Cribs

Though car seats and cribs are expensive and useful, most thrift stores cannot accept them. Car seats have expiration dates, and crib safety regulations are constantly changing. Most thrift stores lack the resources to verify the safety history of these items and prefer not to assume the risk.

Instead of donating the items to thrift stores, consider checking with local parenting groups or shelters to find a family willing to accept more recent models that haven’t been recalled. Make sure to include the manual, and never donate an item that has been in an accident before or is subject to safety recalls.

8. Soiled, Moldy, or Infested Items

Clothing or furniture that smells of mildew, has visible stains, or has been stored in a rodent- or insect-infested environment should be discarded, never donated. It's never a good idea to pass along items once housed in spaces where you have spotted bedbugs, termites, and other critters.

Consider these items unsalvageable and toss them into the trash. A good rule of thumb is to never donate anything you wouldn’t consider giving to a friend or wearing yourself.

9. Mattresses and Box Springs

Mattresses are a common source of thrift shop confusion. Most thrift stores won't accept them due to concerns about bedbugs, allergens, and general hygiene. Some states also have legal restrictions on their resale. If your mattress is still in good condition, try offering it to local shelters or through an online community group. Otherwise, check with your city’s bulk disposal or mattress recycling options.

10. Incomplete Gaming Systems

A lone PlayStation disc or a cartridge for a forgotten game console may seem harmless, but thrift stores often struggle to sell outdated or incomplete systems. Without the original console or compatible cables and controllers, these items rarely find a buyer.

If you're getting rid of gaming gear, bundle it together and check online resale or collector communities. Working games and consoles (especially retro models) may have niche value, but broken or incomplete items are better off at an e-waste facility.

11. Food (Even Shelf-Stable Items)

Even if sealed and nonperishable, food is not accepted by most thrift stores because they aren’t licensed to handle food products and can't guarantee safe storage or distribution. Instead, find food pantries, mutual aid fridges, and food banks that accept unexpired shelf-stable items. Local shelters might also accept donations of fresh and canned foods, particularly during the holiday season.

12. Electronics With Incompatible Voltage

Electronics that require 220V power (like those brought back from overseas) are often donated with the assumption someone can use them, but they’re typically incompatible with the standard 110V outlets in the U.S. Plugging them in without a converter can damage the item or pose a fire hazard.

Rather than donating, sell or give these items away through expat groups, international student networks, or online marketplaces where someone from a compatible region might need them. If not, recycle them as e-waste.