Where can you donate old towels?
A fresh chapter for your spare towels
Clean, whole and ready to be useful again.
A new set of towels doesn’t have to mean the old ones have reached the end of their story. If they’re clean, completely dry and still in good condition, you can donate them through a collection service or a charity shop that accepts them.
At Donate Clothes, we’re happy to collect pre-loved towels from homes in our collection areas, helping you make a little room while raising funds for your chosen charity. For towels that have seen too many bath times to be passed on, there are other options worth checking before you reach for the bin.
Which towels can you donate?
Before deciding where to take them, give each towel a quick check:
- Clean, dry and in good condition: suitable for a Donate Clothes collection, with no stains, holes or tears. They should still be useful to someone else.
- Worn thin, torn or no longer usable: unsuitable for our collections. Keep reading for ways to reuse them or find a textile collection point that accepts their condition.
- Damp or dirty: wash and dry them fully, then check their condition again before donating. Don’t pack wet or mouldy towels into a donation bag.
Towels don’t have to be new. A spare set that’s been sitting in the cupboard can still have plenty of use left in it. Our guide to what you can donate covers the other things you can include.
Do charity shops take towels?
Some do, provided they’re in good condition. Islamic Relief’s charity shops, for example, list towels among the items they accept.
Check the particular shop or donation service before making a trip or posting a parcel. For example, Shelter’s Sort and Send postal service doesn’t accept used towels.
A quick call to your chosen shop can save you a wasted journey and help its team plan for your donation.
Where can you donate towels near you?
If you’d prefer to donate from home, we can collect suitable towels free of charge in the areas we serve. Choose your charity, then check collection availability for your address and book an available date. You can browse our collection areas to get started.
We collect towels for reuse to help raise funds for our partner charities. Choosing a charity through our service doesn’t mean your towels are delivered directly to that charity’s shop, shelter or animal centre.
If we don’t collect from your address, a local charity shop that accepts towels may be another option. For animal centres, it’s worth checking their needs first.
Can you donate towels to animal shelters?
Some animal charities welcome towels, but each centre has its own requirements and storage limits. Dogs Trust lists towels among the items its rehoming centres accept. It asks for clean donations and a call before you travel, so the centre can confirm that it has space and knows when to expect you.
Describe the condition of your towels when you get in touch. A centre accepting towels doesn’t automatically mean it can use anything torn, stained or worn out. Arrange the donation directly with the centre before taking your towels there.
What can you do with worn-out towels?
A towel that’s too worn for someone else’s bathroom may still be useful at home. Clean ones can become reusable cleaning cloths or come in handy for drying muddy paws. Keep them separate from the towels you’re donating.
For towels you’re ready to let go, Dunelm’s Textile Take Back scheme accepts clean, bagged home textiles, including ripped or torn items, at participating stores. Check the current rules and participating stores before travelling; soiled items aren’t accepted.
You can also use Recycle Now’s clothing and textiles guidance to look for local options. Check that the particular collection point accepts towels in their current condition. A bank asking for reusable textiles may not accept worn-out material.
How to prepare towels for a home collection
Once you’ve checked that your towels meet our acceptance rules, getting them ready is simple:
- Make sure they’re clean and completely dry. If they need a wash, follow the care label and let them dry fully before packing.
- Check each towel as you fold it. Leave out anything stained, torn, full of holes or worn thin.
- Pack them in your own bags or boxes. Keep them clean and protected from rain while they wait to be collected.
- Follow your booking instructions. Have your donation ready in the agreed place on your collection day.
Making room in the linen cupboard?
If you’re sorting sheets and covers as well, our guide to donating bed linen explains what we can collect. Clean, intact blankets and throws without filling are welcome too; we don’t collect pillows, filled duvets or cushions.
A little cupboard space for you, another useful life for your towels, and funds for a cause you care about. Choose your charity and check collection availability when you’re ready.
