Should I Recycle Clothes? Probably Not.

This is part of Stewie's Guide to Ruthlessly Declutter Your Clothes Today.

I know this might go against everything you’ve heard about decluttering, but I’ll say it anyway: Don’t get too hung up on recycling.

If you know exactly where to take your unwanted clothes today, and it’s easy to do, then by all means—recycle them. But if you don’t? Just throw them away.

Because the truth is, it’s more important to have a clean, uncluttered home today than to let piles of unwanted clothes sit in a corner while you stress about finding the “perfect” way to dispose of them.

Recycling is Great—But Not Always Easy

Look, I’m not anti-recycling. In theory, it’s a wonderful thing.

But in practice? It’s often a logistical nightmare.

Most of us have enough on our plates already. Jobs, kids, responsibilities, never-ending to-do lists. The last thing we need is an extra mental burden—a pile of clothes sitting there, whispering, Figure out how to recycle me! every time we walk past.

So let’s take that pressure off.

The Hard Truth About the Environmental Impact of Clothes

Nearly all of the environmental damage caused by clothing happens during production and distribution. That means the biggest impact has already been made long before you decide to get rid of something.

So, if you really want to help the environment, stop obsessing over how to recycle your old clothes. Instead, stop making unnecessary purchases in the first place.

I recommend:

That’s how you make a real difference.

It’s Okay to Let Things Go

I know this will make some people uncomfortable. Throwing something away can feel wrong, like a personal failure.

But here’s the thing: everything has a life cycle.

Everything we own has a beginning, middle, and end. And sometimes, the most responsible, honest thing we can do is recognize when something has reached the end of its road.

So if you need permission, here it is: It’s okay to throw away unwanted clothes.

You don’t have to stress. You don’t have to feel guilty. You don’t have to let things sit in limbo while you search for the “right” way to part with them.

Hold them in your hands. Thank them for their service. And then let them go.

Because the best thing you can do—the thing that will actually change your life today—is to free yourself from clutter and move forward.

Next steps…