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don't wanna be gross, but...what to do with bras, socks, and underware? - Page 2

post #21 of 37
9/12/08 at 6:08pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by jrabbit View Post
generally, I agree - I "yell" at people routinely who throw away clothes because they are a little dirty - BUT there is also another position to consider. Burdening a charity with items they will have to dispose of (trash) - is inconsiderate.

I was in contact with volunteers who were handling the donations for Katrina refugees. And they were embarrassed by the crap that people were giving them. It's one thing to be genuinely trying to help by giving away what you can no longer use. It's unacceptable to consider a charity to be a substitute for a trash can.

I know that's not what you mean, but I've spent a good amount of energy over the years trying to avoid trashing things. I've researched options in Houston for where to donate really worn-out things, and it is usually a dead end. I'm what most people consider a radical with regards to how to give away what we don't need anymore. But one thing I've truly come to appreciate is that charities usually don't need your trash. If an item REALLY is destined for the garbage (holey socks and underwear really are the exception in my book), then it is much more appropriate for ME to be the one to do that. I don't even donate stained/flawed clothing to charities anymore, after hearing feedback from Katrina. I prefer to give away those things on freecycle to people who are aware of what they are receiving.
Don't some charities sell the unusable clothing to textile recyclers though? I think I have read that there are some companies that can make use out of old unwearable garments by recycling the fibers, and that charities can at least get some cash this way.

Am I dreaming about that?

I was searching for this subject because I have 4 VS bras I'd like to get rid of and some underwear that is in very good shape - clean and barely used. I really hate to just send it off to a landfill.
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post #22 of 37
9/12/08 at 7:29pm
And here I felt like a common criminal for donating all of my underthings to Good Will (hidden at the bottom of a bag of more "legitimate" items). : This thread is so validating!
post #23 of 37
9/12/08 at 7:32pm
I think there are places that turn the used clothes into rags- they bale them up and ship them off.
post #24 of 37
9/12/08 at 7:57pm
I use old undies and socks as cleaning/dusting cloths. If you feel weird about that, you could always cut the crotch out of the undies and then cut up one side, so really you just have a piece of cloth left. Although, if your undies are all lace and string this wouldn't work so well. My undies are cotton, so they become perfect cleaning cloths.
post #25 of 37
9/12/08 at 9:05pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by 4evermom View Post
Donate everything in good condition. I have bought socks from Salvation Army before. And I have seen undies for sale there as well. There are people who will appreciate them. Don't project your hang ups on people who can't afford to have hang ups .
This needs to be on pg 2, as well
If they are in such good shape that you can't tell if they are new and just had the tags cut off, DONATE! I've bought thrift store undies, 25 cents... and I boiled 'em when I got home I've bought swim suits, too, and never thought twice about it until now!
post #26 of 37
9/13/08 at 4:18am
Quote:
Originally Posted by 4evermom View Post
Donate everything in good condition. I have bought socks from Salvation Army before. And I have seen undies for sale there as well. There are people who will appreciate them. Don't project your hang ups on people who can't afford to have hang ups .
I understand that some charities may be able to take these things. But I don't think that we can be confident that all charities, in all counties and states and countries, will or can follow suit. I think that when dealing with things that may be trash, it's important to ask before donating.

If the charity is required to throw donations out, that donation is costing money that could otherwise be used to help these people. Adding a few items to a household's trash probably won't require an extra can or an extra bag and therefore probably won't cost the householder any money. Adding a few unusable items to each of hundreds of donations will probably force the charity to rent a larger dumpster or otherwise pay more for their trash, and will therefore cost the charity money - money that could be used to help the people who can't afford hang ups. So the householder may feel good about finding a "good home" for those items, not realizing that he's essentially drained money away from the charity.

It's good to try to keep things out of the landfill, but it's not good when the effort not only fails, but also costs a charity money that they can ill afford, in the failing. The only good to come out of that is making the donater feel (falsely) better.

Crayfish
post #27 of 37
9/13/08 at 3:01pm
Very good points Crayfish...
However, if you know the place you are donating to, and know that they DO sell unmentionables, then don't let your own embarassment stop you from donating-- if, and ONLY if, the items are of usable or like-new quality.

Oh, and I've also asked specifically for holey wool sweaters and stained/holey t-shirts for diaper making.
post #28 of 37
9/13/08 at 9:40pm
Just check out your charity's website or call an see if they will take like new underthings. I had a whole box of toddler undies (all clean and stain free) and I sold every pair at my garage sale. I was really surprised that anyone would buy them. Check with close friends and family members. Maybe one of them would like the vs undies and bras.
post #29 of 37
9/14/08 at 5:39pm
I would donate it all.
post #30 of 37
9/14/08 at 10:25pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by April411 View Post
Used VS bras actually sell pretty well on ebay:

Here's one that is selling for $9+ shipping
http://tinyurl.com/6dac2r

I've *heard* that you can sell used panties online for good money, too... but that's a whole 'nother kettle of fish, isn't it?
post #31 of 37
9/15/08 at 10:25am
Quote:
Originally Posted by 4evermom View Post
Donate everything in good condition. I have bought socks from Salvation Army before. And I have seen undies for sale there as well. There are people who will appreciate them. Don't project your hang ups on people who can't afford to have hang ups .
Quote:
Originally Posted by Novella View Post
(bolding mine)

So well said! Thank you.
Salvation Army can not sleep used panties!!! >.< The ones they have there are 2nds or 3rds from wholesalers who are just looking to get rid of them. While yes
Quote:
Don't project your hang ups on people who can't afford to have hang ups .
, they will not take them, and if they are in with other things, they might get rid of it all or at lest not sell them.

If there is something cute on them, i.e. at pic of a bear on the tushy, you might cut it out and save it for a craft or a patch or something like that. I cut out the tushys for rags as well. Socks are good for puppets, or washing dusting, ext. Bras are great to donate, or hang it up and put fruit in, jkin, do not do that, or if you do take a pic I would love to see. lol
post #32 of 37
9/15/08 at 11:04am
I agree, donate the bras. Someone could use them for sure. Close your eyes and through the undies and socks away.. Just don't look it doesn't seem as bad.
post #33 of 37
9/16/08 at 2:31am
Quote:
Originally Posted by 4evermom View Post
Donate everything in good condition. I have bought socks from Salvation Army before. And I have seen undies for sale there as well. There are people who will appreciate them. Don't project your hang ups on people who can't afford to have hang ups .
You know, that's a great point. I would have said "trash the undies, eeew", but I'm not the one who needs them and/or would be buying them so what do I care? If someone buys undies second-hand, they obviously need them. Thanks 4evermom.

Also, what about a shelter?

Why would one throw away socks?
post #34 of 37
9/17/08 at 3:16pm
Donate the bras.

Use socks and undies as rags.

Cut up any (washed) extra socks and undies into tiny pieces and use to stuff a pillow.
post #35 of 37
9/17/08 at 4:26pm
OK, I have to say it:

It's OK to just throw the socks and underpants out. It's absolutely fine.

If you have plenty of time and your house is in perfect running order, maybe you have the time and the inclination to find a reuse for everything. If you don't and it's not? Throw them out.

That's bad for the environment, you may say? Yes, but are you perfect in every _other_ way? Do you have time to walk to the store to avoid pollution? Do you have time to cook every night to avoid packaged foods? Do you have time to research local sources for all products, to avoid buying items that have been transported halfway across the world? Do you have time to grow your own vegetables so that much of your food never has to be transported at all? Do you have time to volunteer for charities or important political causes? Is your house a clean, happy serene place?

It's always a compromise. Using your precious time to find a use for things that in most places you _cannot donate_ because it's illegal to sell them, is probably not the best use of your time.

Just throw them out.

Crayfish
post #36 of 37
9/18/08 at 5:15pm
With "questionable" items, I'll often offer them on Freecycle, then if I don't get any takers after a few days I'll toss them without guilt.

In general, my undies are pretty threadbare by the time I'm ready to toss them. My bras usually get all worn out but I have donated bras that no longer fit (due to weight loss) and were still in good condition. The only time I gave away underwear recently was children's that had been outgrown long before being worn out (thanks to Grandma stocking up a style they no longer liked, and hardly worn after I purchased the preferred kind) and they were snatched up pretty quickly on Freecycle.
post #37 of 37
9/18/08 at 5:23pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by April411 View Post
Used VS bras actually sell pretty well on ebay:

Here's one that is selling for $9+ shipping
http://tinyurl.com/6dac2r
I hear you can get good money for used underwear online, too.
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