Can you donate used underwear and socks?
Underwear and socks don’t always make it into the donation bag. It’s easy to assume they have to be brand new — even when there’s plenty of wear left in them.
At Donate Clothes, you can donate new and used underwear and socks, including women’s knickers and men’s pants, as long as they’re clean, dry, intact and in good condition to be worn again. Our free home collections are available in the areas we cover, helping your everyday essentials raise funds for a partner charity you choose.
Other organisations have different rules. Here’s how to sort the pieces we can collect from those that need another route, and what to check if you’re planning to donate elsewhere.
In this guide
Underwear and socks we’re happy to collect
It doesn’t have to be a special-occasion piece to be worth passing on. Everyday underwear is welcome too, including:
- Women’s knickers and briefs: from everyday cotton pants to other styles you no longer reach for.
- Men’s underwear: boxer shorts, boxer briefs, trunks and briefs.
- Vests and thermal underwear: useful layers that are still comfortable and in good shape.
- Socks: everyday, sports and warm winter socks, provided the fabric and elastic still have wear left in them.
New or pre-loved, the same condition check applies. Something that no longer fits you can still be perfectly wearable for someone else. Our About & FAQ page has the full list of items you can include in a collection.
Sorting out bras, slips or nightdresses as well? Our separate guide to donating bras and lingerie covers those pieces, along with specialist bra banks and postal options.
A little worn is different from worn out
A pair of socks can have been worn and washed without being ready for the bin. What matters is whether the next person can still use it comfortably. Before adding underwear or socks to your donation, check:
- Cleanliness: no stains, lingering odours, dampness or mould.
- Fabric: no holes, tears or patches worn so thin that they are about to give way. Check sock heels and toes in particular.
- Elastic: waistbands, leg openings and sock cuffs should still hold their shape.
- Seams: intact and comfortable, with no splits or loose sections that need repairing.
Please keep damaged or worn-out pieces out of your Donate Clothes bag, even if they’ve been washed. We collect items for reuse, rather than rags or scrap textiles. There are other options to explore for things that have reached the end of their wearable life.
Do charity shops take underwear and socks?
There isn’t one acceptance rule shared by every charity shop, collection service and postal scheme. Ask the organisation you plan to use about your actual items, and say whether they’re new or used. A general clothing-donation list may not answer that question.
For example, Smalls for All’s donation instructions say pants must be new. The charity also accepts certain new or gently worn bras, but does not collect other types of clothing or underclothing. Check its current instructions and receiving address before posting a parcel.
Oxfam’s Donate by Post service excludes used underwear and socks. That is the rule for that postal service; check directly with a local shop if you want to donate there.
Our own collection policy allows clean, wearable used underwear and socks.
Getting the small things ready
- Sort before you pack. Separate the wearable pieces from anything damaged or worn out.
- Make sure everything is clean. Wash anything that needs it, following the care label rather than using one temperature for every fabric.
- Let it dry completely. Even a small damp item can affect the rest of the bag.
- Keep things together. Matching socks before packing makes them easier to sort. Use a bag or box you already have and protect it from rain until collection.
Underwear and socks can go alongside other accepted items in your booked collection. There’s no need to wait for a special collection bag through the letterbox.
A drawer clear-out, collected from your doorstep
Choose one of our partner charities, enter your postcode to check collection availability, then select an available date. Leave your packed donation in the place you’ve told us about when booking. If you won’t be at home, let us know where to find it.
After collection, items are checked and sorted for resale and reuse, including overseas. The funds raised help support your chosen charity. Our guide to where your donated clothes go explains what happens next.
What can you do with worn-out underwear and socks?
If the fabric has worn through or the elastic has given up, donation for someone else to wear is no longer the right route. A simple repair may help you keep a favourite item in use at home; a clean cotton sock can also make a handy dusting cloth.
For textile recycling, check your council or the collection operator’s current instructions. Recycle Now’s clothing and textiles guide explains the difference between passing on wearable items and recycling material that can no longer be worn, with a way to find local options.
Before travelling, confirm that the particular service accepts underwear or socks in the condition you have. A clothes bank may be intended for reusable clothing only. Keep textiles separate from your usual household recycling unless your council specifically tells you how to present them, and never leave bags beside a full bank.
A couple more questions from the laundry pile
Can underwear and socks go in a clothes bank?
Some banks accept them, but check the operator’s rules first. Fire Fighters Charity lists underwear and socks among the items accepted at its clothing banks. Its guidance says good-condition clothing is preferred and only a very small amount of damaged or stained clothing can be taken. Check its current guidance and bank finder before setting off.
Can I donate socks to a homelessness charity?
Contact the charity or local service first and ask what it currently needs, including whether socks must be new. Follow that organisation’s wishlist rather than assuming that our acceptance rules apply everywhere. If you want your items to go directly to people using a particular service, confirm that route with the service itself.
A few everyday essentials can still have plenty to give. If yours are ready for another wearer, choose a partner charity and arrange your free collection.
