What do I do with old clothes and textiles?
85% of U.S. textiles end up in landfill, not donation — most thrift stores can only sell about 20% of what they take in, and the rest moves through a global resale chain that's getting tighter every year. Missoula's reuse network is strong, but quality matters: donate clothes worth wearing, and don't send busted stuff to Goodwill expecting a miracle.
Step 1 — Best
Reduce
Don’t create the waste in the first place.
- •Buy fewer, better pieces — the 80/20 rule says most people wear 20% of their closet 80% of the time. Start there.
- •Learn basic repair: a $5 darning needle and a YouTube video saves a lot of sweaters.
- •Rent for one-time events instead of buying.
Step 2 — Better
Reuse
Give it another life — donate, sell, or repurpose.
- •Goodwill, Secret Seconds (Kensington and Broadway), Hope Thrift Boutique, Gathered for Good — all take clothing donations.
- •Consignment: Runway Fashion Exchange (Brooks St) pays cash or store credit for current-season pieces. Once Upon A Child does kids' clothing and gear.
- •Vintage: Leftover Vintage, Betty's Divine, Mr. Higgins, Loose Moose, Zootown Hype take the good old stuff.
- •Soft Landing Missoula takes clothing for refugee resettlement families — especially modest women's clothing and kids' items.
Step 3 — Good
Recycle
Proper drop-off keeps materials in the economy.
- •Worn-out clothing (holes, stains): cut into cleaning rags or drop at Goodwill's textile recycling bins — they have a separate stream for unwearable textiles.
- •Shoes: donation or Nike's Reuse-a-Shoe program (mail-in).
Last Resort
Heads up
Moldy, smoke-damaged, or truly destroyed textiles go in the trash — donating them just passes your disposal problem to a nonprofit.
Where to take it in Missoula
Top spots from our verified local directory. Hours and details current as of April 2026.
Still overwhelmed?
textiles & clothing is just one pile. If the whole house feels like this, Chanel handles the sorting, hauling, and drop-offs — across every category in this guide.
Book a Free Call →or call (406) 285-1525
Disposal information on this page is synthesized from ZERO by FIFTY Missoula’s Textiles & Clothing guide, a City of Missoula initiative coordinated by Home ReSource.
Clutter Free Spaces adds local overlays: live hours, community verification, and a direct path to help if you need it.