Saying goodbye to clothes

[Ambulance Chaser]

There comes a time when clothes, usually dress shirts and trousers, wear out and are ready to depart for the great walk-in closet in the sky. When that time comes, what do you do? Patch them up until you are embarrassed to wear them out in public? Throw them in the trash unceremoniously? Cut them up and use them as shoeshine rags?

 

[GBR]

Odd items become rags, the rest in the dustbin - long before they need patching.

 

[dreamspace]

If they're not totally ruined, I just donate them to the local goodwill.

Though I have to say, I see a lot of big name "rags" on Ebay these days, often with holes and stains at ridiculous prices. Wonder if there's actually anything to make on that kind of stuff.

 

[gegarrenton]

If they're not totally ruined, I just donate them to the local goodwill.

Though I have to say, I see a lot of big name "rags" on Ebay these days, often with holes and stains at ridiculous prices. Wonder if there's actually anything to make on that kind of stuff.

I would say a mix. I give most stuff to goodwill, some to family, a bit in the trash if they are really far gone.

 

[SpooPoker]

Ill be following this thread closely.

 

[jrd617]

Cloth tape.

 

[JayJay]

Goodwill for wearable items and the trash can for everything worn out.

 

[laundry day]

Donate anything wearable. If the fabric is soft enough (e.g. undershirts), they become shoe shine rags. Everything else gets trashed.

 

[Coldcava]

Anything in good condition can go to Goodwil or the Vietnam Veterans who will often arrange a pick up at your house.

Document the **** out of everything you donate. Then when you go to file taxes (ie now for me) you provide your accountant the ledger of every piece of clothing you donated. Alternatively, turbotax provides a free "it's deductible" system within turbotax which will allow you to itemize every donation you made. This can provide significant tax savings without the hassle of eBay, etc.

 

[MikeDT]

Bag it all up, and send it to the poor people. That's what me and my mate did a last week. Sure some village peasant going to be greatful and look rather smart in a shiny poly-wool "China Construction Bank" pinstripe orphaned suit jacket.

 

[VinnyMac]

I either immediately throw them away or use them for "dirty work" around my home.

 

[Calder]

I've occasionally turned cast off shirts into handkerchiefs.

A friend has a tie rack made from an orphaned suit jacket, sans sleeves, with a hanger and a series of cross bars inside it. Works quite well to store a lot of ties while keeping them covered.

 

[Bounder]



I've occasionally turned cast off shirts into handkerchiefs.

Smalltimer. Some SF members make pocket squares out of socks.

 

[cptjeff]



Smalltimer. Some SF members make pocket squares out of socks.

I've done the handkerchief thing too- actual handkerchiefs, not pocket squares. As in things you put in your back pocket and blow your nose into. Old retired shirts are often quite soft at that stage in their lives, which makes them feel wonderful when you do pull 'em out to blow. My favorite handkerchief came from an old flannel shirt.

Generally, if I like the item, I incline toward patching and reusing until an item finally kicks the bucket. If it's something that's kind of been a role player in my wardrobe, it gets donated if there's life left, tossed or turned into something else if not.

 

[MyOtherLife]

I do what JayJay does. There are several places I donate to so no one person finds the 'motherlode'.