Seven Donations Thrift Stores Won’t Take—and How to Handle Them Instead

Thrift stores often reject certain donations due to safety or hygiene concerns, including knives, car seats and strollers, partially used cosmetics, bike helmets, reusable grocery bags, broken mirrors, and old vacuum cleaners. The piece explains why these items are discarded and offers alternatives such as recycling or donating to specialized programs, upcycling containers, repairing or repurposing items for home use, or handing them off to family or friends who can use them.