Donating shoes, household linen and duvets
Treat these as separate item groups. Pair shoes, name each type of linen and confirm duvets or pillows before you travel.
Guidance checked 16 September 2026
Find a clothing donation point
Search by postcode, town or item. Check the bank sign or operator page for its accepted items and condition rules.
What this guide covers
Included
- Shoes and boots
- Sheets, towels, curtains, tablecloths and duvet covers
- Duvets and pillows that need a confirmed specialist or local route
Not included
- Mattresses, carpet and underlay
- Wet, mouldy or contaminated items
- An assumption that a general clothes bank accepts all household textiles
Steps to follow
Sort into three groups
Keep shoes, unfilled household linen, and filled bedding separate. This makes it easier to apply the correct rule to each group.
Check shoes as pairs
Match the size and style, inspect both soles and make sure the pair is usable. Tie laces together or secure the pair without damaging it.
Name the linen
List what you have: for example sheets, towels, curtains or duvet covers. Search the provider's rules for each name rather than for household textiles only.
Check filled bedding separately
Search specifically for duvets and pillows. Recycle Now says they are generally not recyclable, apart from stated take-back or local options, although some recycling points and animal charities can take them.
Prepare accepted items
Give reusable items clean and fully dry. Fold linen, contain each shoe pair and use secure bags when requested.
Confirm before a large journey
Contact the charity or operator for a bulky load or when its page is unclear. Confirm the exact site as rules can differ between places.
A duvet cover is not a duvet
A cover is unfilled household linen. A duvet and a pillow contain filling, take more space and can need a different process. Never use acceptance of sheets or duvet covers as proof that filled bedding is accepted.
- Search with the full item name.
- Check whether a local animal charity requests bedding before taking it there.
- Use a waste or recycling-centre route only when the local provider directs you to it.
Give shoes a useful second life
A recipient needs both shoes. Secure each matching pair and keep it dry. If a pair is badly damaged, find a route that explicitly accepts worn footwear rather than putting it in a donation for wearable shoes.
- Check inside each shoe for personal items.
- Keep detachable insoles and laces with the pair.
- Box delicate shoes only if that helps protect them and the service allows it.
Other routes to consider
- Charity shop
- Ask about wearable paired shoes and good-quality household linen. Each charity sets its own list.
- Local textile service
- Use a council collection or textile point when it names your item and condition.
- Animal charity
- Some can use specific bedding. Check its current request list before you travel; do not leave unrequested items.
Related local and item guidance
- How to donate wearable clothes
Sort and prepare everyday clothing for reuse.
- Recycle damaged clothes and textiles
Find a route for material that is not fit for reuse.
- What to do when a clothes bank is full
Use a safe alternative instead of leaving bags outside.
Common questions
- Can I put duvets in a clothes bank?
- Only when the bank's operator explicitly lists duvets. General clothes or textile acceptance is not enough.
- Do charity shops accept pillows?
- Rules differ. Ask the specific shop and describe the item and its condition before you take it.
- What counts as household linen?
- The term can include items such as sheets, towels, curtains and tablecloths, but a service can accept only some of them. Check each item by name.
- Can I donate a single shoe?
- Do not assume that you can. Most reuse routes need a matching pair. Ask about a specialist recycling route for single shoes.
Official sources for this guide
Local rules can change after the review date. The data sources page explains how this site checks public information.