6 Things You Should Never Donate (And What to Do Instead)

Quick Reality Check: The 3-S Test (Safe, Sanitary, Sellable)

Before you donate anything, run it through this lightning-fast checklist:

• Safe: Would you feel comfortable letting a stranger’s family use it with zero context?
• Sanitary: Is it clean, dry, odor-free, and free of stains, mold, or pests?
• Sellable: Does it work, have all parts, and look like something a person would pay for?

If the answer is “no” to any of those, it doesn’t automatically mean “trash”but it does mean “don’t donate.”
Here are the biggest repeat offenders.

1) Car Seats, Booster Seats, and Safety Helmets

Why you should never donate them

Car seats and helmets are designed to protect people during high-impact events. The problem is that their safety
depends on their historysomething a thrift store can’t verify. A car seat can look fine after a crash and still
have weakened parts. Helmets are similar: once they’ve taken a hit, the protective material may be compromised,
even if the outside looks totally normal.

There’s also the expiration/aging issue. Many car seats have an expiration date, and manufacturers may update
parts or standards over time. Donation centers often refuse these items because the liability is enormous:
if someone gets hurt using a donated seat, everyone loses.

What to do instead

• Check for trade-in events: Some retailers run car-seat trade-in programs where you can get a discount on a new seat.
• Look for recycling options: Some communities or specialty programs accept car seats for recycling.
• Prevent “curb shopping” accidents: If you must dispose of it, consider removing or cutting the straps so it can’t be reused.
• If you’re tempted to give it to a friend: Only consider it if you can verify it’s unexpired, never in a crash, has the manual/labels, and has all partsotherwise, skip it.

2) Cribs, Infant Sleep Products, and Older Baby Gear

Why you should never donate them

Baby products are a recall hotspot, and safety standards evolve for good reasons (because babies are tiny,
adorable chaos magnets). Cribs, bassinets, and certain infant sleep products can pose serious hazards if they’re
older, missing parts, modified, or recalled. Many thrift stores refuse them outright because they cannot guarantee
compliance with current safety rules or confirm a product’s recall status.

Even “mostly fine” baby gear can be risky if it’s missing hardware, has been repaired with non-original parts,
or lacks clear labeling. With infant products, “close enough” is not a comforting standard.

What to do instead

• Check recalls first: Look up the exact brand/model before passing it along to anyone.
• Contact the manufacturer: If it’s recalled, manufacturers often provide a fix, replacement, or refund instructions.
• Donate only to organizations that specifically request it: Some local programs accept newer baby items with complete parts and documentationbut always confirm first.
• When in doubt, don’t gamble: If you can’t verify it’s current, complete, and recall-free, choose safe disposal or recycling where available.

3) Mattresses, Box Springs, and “Mystery-Stain” Upholstered Furniture

Why you should never donate them

Mattresses and upholstered furniture are the donation equivalent of bringing a fish to a job interview. Even if
your intentions are pure, the logistics and hygiene concerns are… a lot. Many donation centers can’t accept mattresses
due to health regulations, storage limitations, and pest risk. Upholstered pieces with stains, odors, pet hair,
smoke smell, rips, or visible wear often can’t be resold and may create contamination concerns for the rest of the inventory.

And yes, bedbugs are part of this story. Donation centers have to protect staff, shoppers, and other donated items.
If there’s even a whiff of risk, it’s a no.

What to do instead

• Sell or give away only if it’s genuinely clean and excellent condition: If it’s borderline, don’t pass the problem to someone else.
• Use municipal bulk pickup: Many cities offer scheduled bulky-item pickup.
• Look for mattress recycling programs: Some areas have dedicated mattress recycling facilities or events.
• Repurpose responsibly: Foam can become padding for moving, pet beds (if clean), or DIY projectsjust be honest about condition.

4) Opened Toiletries, Used Makeup, and Unused/Expired Medications

Why you should never donate them

Donation centers are not your bathroom cabinet’s retirement community. Opened toiletries (half-used shampoo, lotion,
perfume with a “mysterious” scent, etc.) are typically refused for hygiene and tampering concerns. Used cosmetics carry
contamination risks, and “barely used” is still used.

Medications are a hard no for most thrift stores. Beyond safety, there are strict rules and real risks involving accidental
poisoning or misuse. Even if the medication is unopened, most donation programs aren’t equipped to redistribute it legally.

What to do instead

• Donate only new, unopened toiletries: Many shelters and mutual-aid groups welcome sealed hygiene items (always confirm what’s needed first).
• For makeup: If it’s opened, dispose of it. If it’s sealed and unexpired, some organizations may accept itcheck first.
• For medications: Use a drug take-back option or authorized drop box when possible.
• Protect your privacy: Scratch out personal information on prescription labels before disposal.

5) Broken, Obsolete, or Incomplete Electronics (Plus Big Appliances)

Why you should never donate them

Thrift stores are not electronics repair shops, and “it probably works” is not a feature. Items with cracked screens,
missing chargers, frayed cords, or unknown functionality often become e-waste. Some locations also refuse certain categories
entirelylike old tube TVs or large appliancesbecause they’re difficult to test, store, and dispose of safely.

Even when a device powers on, it may still be unsellable due to missing accessories, outdated compatibility, or high disposal costs.
When donation centers can’t sell electronics, they often have to pay to recycle themmeaning your “donation” becomes a bill.

What to do instead

• Use manufacturer/retailer recycling: Many brands and retailers offer electronics recycling or take-back programs.
• Find a certified e-waste recycler: Local recycling centers often hold e-waste drop-off events.
• Donate only tested, complete items: If you can include the charger, remote, cables, and a quick factory reset, your donation is far more likely to help.
• Wipe your data: Do a factory reset and remove storage cards/SIMs before donating or recycling.

6) Paint, Pesticides, Cleaning Chemicals, Batteries, and Other Household Hazardous Waste

Why you should never donate them

Hazardous household products don’t belong in donation bins. Paint, solvents, pesticides, fuels, aerosols, and certain batteries
can be flammable, toxic, or corrosiveposing risks to workers, shoppers, and the environment. Many donation centers explicitly
refuse these items because they require specialized handling and disposal.

The same goes for leaky containers, mystery liquids, and anything that could react badly if crushed or exposed to heat.
Donation sites are busy, and bins get handled roughly. This is not the place for “maybe it’s fine.”

What to do instead

• Use a Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) program: Many counties host HHW drop-off events or permanent collection sites.
• Recycle leftover paint via PaintCare (where available): Many states and retailers offer paint drop-off locations.
• Recycle batteries properly: Batteries often have specific recycling rulesespecially lithium-ion.
• Keep it sealed and labeled: If transporting chemicals to a drop-off site, keep them in original containers when possible.

Conclusion: Donate Like You Mean It

The best donations are the ones that can be used immediatelysafely, cleanly, and without a side quest for missing parts.
When you donate items that donation centers can’t accept, you don’t just create clutter; you create costs, safety risks,
and extra labor for organizations that are trying to serve their communities.

So the next time you declutter, aim for “helpful,” not “hopeful.” Test electronics. Clean textiles. Skip anything unsafe,
expired, or hazardous. And when an item isn’t donation-worthy, choose the responsible alternativerecycling, take-back programs,
HHW collection, or proper disposal. Your local charity (and the humans sorting your stuff) will thank you.

Real-Life Donation Experiences (The Stuff Nobody Warns You About)

A few years ago, a friend did the classic “spring clean + moral superiority” combo and loaded their trunk with donations.
They were feeling fantasticuntil the donation attendant hit them with a polite, devastating sentence: “We can’t take the car seat.”
My friend’s face said, “But it’s barely used,” which is exactly the problem. No one can tell by looking whether a seat was in a crash,
stored in a hot attic for two summers, or recalled last year. The attendant wasn’t being difficult; they were preventing a potential tragedy.
The solution ended up being a retailer trade-in event, which turned an awkward rejection into a discount on something that actually protects a kid.

Another time, I watched someone donate a bag of toiletries that looked like it came straight from a hotel… except every bottle was opened.
“It’s basically new,” they argued. But “basically” isn’t a hygiene standard. Donation centers can’t verify what’s inside an opened container,
and they can’t risk giving out products that might be contaminated or tampered with. The better move is simple: keep a small “unopened only”
box at home. When you find sealed soap, toothpaste, or shampoo you won’t use, put it there. Once it’s full, donate it directly to a shelter
or local aid group that accepts sealed items. That’s a donation that gets used, not trashed.

Electronics can be even more dramatic. People donate old TVs with the confidence of someone handing off a family heirloomonly to learn that
certain types (especially older tube TVs) are expensive to handle and recycle. One donation center volunteer told me the unspoken truth:
“Non-working electronics are the #1 way people accidentally donate a problem.” If a device needs a special cable you no longer have, or it turns
on “sometimes,” it’s not a giftit’s a guess. The fix is boring but effective: test it, include the cords, do a factory reset, and label it if needed.
If it fails the test, send it to an e-waste recycler and move on with your life.

The most awkward donation experience I’ve seen involved a couch. It looked okay from across the room. Up close, it had a faint smell and a stain
that was… open to interpretation. The donor insisted, “Someone could clean it!” And maybe someone could. But donation centers can’t sell “potential,”
and they can’t risk pests or contamination spreading through a warehouse full of other items. That couch ended up going through bulky pickup instead.
It wasn’t the feel-good ending anyone wanted, but it was the responsible ending.

Finally, there’s the “hazard bag”paint cans, half-used pesticides, mystery cleaners. People donate these because they don’t know what else to do.
But those items are exactly why Household Hazardous Waste drop-offs exist. Once you learn your local HHW schedule (or find a permanent drop site),
the stress disappears. The experience goes from “I hope this is okay” to “I know this is correct.” And honestly, that’s the energy we want in our
decluttering era: confident, responsible, and not accidentally turning a donation bin into a chemistry experiment.