Charity shops sell about a quarter of the clothing they receive, the Guardian reports

Shops across the UK are receiving more clothing than they can sell, and are paying to dispose of the rest, the Guardian has reported.

Antiques: two old books, a gilt oval mirror, a blue and white vase, wooden boxes and a brass box.

Clearing and decluttering

The Vintiqi team · 19 October 2026

A hospice shop in Cheam receives 30 to 50 bags a day

Charity shops across the UK are being swamped with donations they cannot sell, the Guardian has reported, with many bags holding clothing that is soiled or of poor quality.

The newspaper's feature is headed "‘People sell their best stuff on Vinted’ – how charity shops became a dumping ground for unsellable clothes" (external source). It centres on the St Raphael's Hospice shop in Cheam, south London, where commercial manager Caroline Worley said: "On average, we get 30 to 50 bags a day". She said it was not unusual for the shop to receive more than 100.

The Guardian reported that the shop pays £30,000 a year to dispose of donations that cannot be sold.

Charities say about a quarter of clothing sells

The article draws on Tansy Hoskins, author of the book Charity Shop World, who spent 16 months working in a London charity shop. The Guardian said managers of shops around the country had told her that most of what they receive is waste.

Jose Baladron of the charity Traid said shops sell only about 25% of clothing donations, according to the Guardian, a figure it said matched a University of Southampton study. The London charity Fara asks for items that are "clean, complete, and in good condition", the Guardian reported.

On clothing, Hoskins said: "if you can afford it, donate your best bits instead of selling them on Vinted".

Got a box of old items at home? Post it to us free and get one offer for the lot.

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If you are clearing a house

Ordinary items that are clean and complete suit the charity shop. Modern books, CDs, bulky items and everyday crockery are the kind of items that do well there.

Before the bags go, set aside anything older or unusual and look through it once. We look at cameras and lenses, watches and pocket watches, medals and militaria, vintage toys and retro games, old coins and banknotes, and vintage collectables, and also at jewellery, silver and gold. Old jewellery can be worth hundreds or even thousands, so a tangled chain, a single earring or a brooch from a drawer is worth a second look.

You do not have to work out what is valuable first. Our guide to where to start when clearing a house takes you through it, and anything you are unsure of can go in one box with a free postage pack.

Have older items looked at before the bags go

If you are unsure what is in the bags, we can look at it for you, by post, at no cost.

Vintiqi buys vintage items and antiques by post from homes across the UK. We carefully value each box and pay a fair price for it.

We take cameras and lenses, watches and pocket watches, retro games and consoles, medals and militaria, vintage toys, clocks, pens, old coins and banknotes, costume jewellery, jewellery, silver and gold, and much more. See everything on what we buy.

Call us free on 0800 048 8777, Monday to Friday, 9am to 6pm. Or visit vintiqi.com and ask for your free postage pack. Put your items in one box, post it to us on the prepaid label, and we make one offer for the whole box within seven days of arrival. The offer stays open for 14 days, and you are free to say no.

Not sure what you have? Send it to us to value.

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