- Inspire Your Journey

Clothing Must Be Clean

The first and arguably most important guideline for making clothing donations is to wash any clothes you plan on donating. Many people donate clothes they haven’t worn in a long time, meaning they could be musty and dirty. Remember to use a neutral, non-fragranced detergent when you wash the clothes. This helps prevent any bad reactions for people who might pick up your clothes next and are sensitive to those things.

Clothing Must Be in Good Condition

Besides just being clean, a good clothing donation includes clothes fit for wearing. You may not want that shirt that has a huge hole in it anymore, but that doesn’t mean it’s useful for someone else. Clothing in good condition for donating should have no holes, large rips or tears, and no large stains anywhere on them.

Donate According to the Season

Many charities that take clothing donations, especially ones that pick up your donations right from your house, like the Purple Heart Pickup, don’t have the space to dedicate to storing excess clothing that they can’t use immediately. This is why donating according to seasonality is useful. You should donate more clothes that help for the summer or winter in those respective seasons so that these charities don’t have to hold on to clothes for months at a time.

Separate by Size

It can help to separate your clothing donations by size before you drop them off or have them picked up. Separating old baby clothes from your clothes can save the charity workers who sort through donations a lot of time and effort. It also makes them easier to categorize as they come in, rather than having to sort through everything by hand.

Spring is the perfect time to consider our impact on the earth and the environment. Figuring out what we can do as individuals to reduce our effect on the air quality and the atmosphere can significantly change our lifestyles for the better.

One of the most environmentally harmful activities that many people do every weekday is to perform the standard work commute by car. If you want to find a solution to reduce the polluting emissions of your work commute, consider these tips for making your commute more eco-friendly.

Flex Your Schedule

The fewer days you work a week, the less driving and commuting you’ll have to do. Ask your boss for a flexible scheduling option—even if you work a 40 hour week. You may work more hours four days a week for a long weekend or have a day off in the middle of the week for a much-needed break. If you have a part-time job, see if you can opt for longer shifts a few days a week. It may not be possible in every scenario, but it’s worth a conversation.

Many businesses switched their employees to a work-from-home format during the pandemic; if your company is beginning to open its office space to workers again, ask about a half remote, half office schedule—or even a fully remote schedule. Though your hours will remain the same, you won’t need to commute on remote days.

Alternative Transportation

One of the best ways to make your commute greener without shaking up your work schedule is to ditch the car altogether. Find a public transportation method that will get you close to your workplace, and walk or jog the rest of the way. While public transportation isn’t perfect, it does move more people around than your individual car will, essentially lessening each person’s environmental impact.

Whenever possible, consider riding a bike to work. Biking is easier and faster than running or walking, and it will give you a high-quality workout before and after work. Especially in the city, make sure you stay safe and follow local bike laws to protect yourself.

Upgrade Your Vehicle

Sometimes, it’s simply not possible to forego the car on our commutes to work. The last of our tips for making your commute more eco-friendly is to purchase a new, greener vehicle. If your car is at the end of its life, it may be spewing more harmful emissions into the atmosphere than you know. Keep track of its emissions usage and fuel efficiency. When it’s less than satisfactory, your greenest option is to buy a new vehicle with environmentally friendly features.

Think over your eco-friendly options, and try ones that fit your unique lifestyle. There’s no harm in trying different methods or combining them just to switch things up!

Authored by Inspire Your Journey

Guidelines for Donating Your Old Clothing