The memory of pulling a pristine, honey-colored Burberry trench coat off the rack for $25.00 stays with me to this day. My heart was racing as I checked the tag—authentic. But as I pulled it closer, I caught that unmistakable "thrift store smell": a mix of mothballs, basement dust, and a stranger’s laundry detergent. It was a $700 profit opportunity, but I had to hold my breath just to get it to the checkout counter.
Statistics show that over 70% of secondhand shoppers prioritize cleanliness over brand names when browsing. Yet, the question of what happens behind those double "Donation" doors remains a mystery to many. In 2026, understanding thrift logistics is the difference between a high-margin flip and a disastrous refund request.
Does Goodwill Wash Their Clothes? The Behind-the-Scenes Reality
It’s a common misconception that there’s a massive industrial laundry room humming away at the back of every donation center. The truth in 2026 remains focused on speed and volume, not soap and water.
Does Goodwill wash their clothes? No. Goodwill (and most major chains like Salvation Army or Value Village) does not launder donations. A single urban location can receive upwards of 2,000 items a day. Washing, drying, and folding that volume would require a facility the size of a football stadium and a utility bill that would bankrupt their mission.
The 2026 Processing Pipeline:
-
Visual Inspection: Workers check for major flaws, heavy stains, or dampness. If an item is wet or moldy, it’s immediately diverted to textile recycling to prevent cross-contamination.
-
The "Sniff Test": If an item has an overwhelming odor, it is usually rejected or sent to the outlet bins (the "bins") to be sold by the pound.
-
Pricing & Tagging: Items that pass the "Eye Test" go straight to the floor.
Why the smell? That "thrift store smell" isn't usually a disinfectant spray. It's actually a chemical cocktail of various household detergents, fabric softeners, and perfumes from thousands of different homes mixing in a confined, unventilated space.
What Does Goodwill Take? Navigating 2026 Guidelines
If you're clearing out your closet to make room for new flips, you need to know what does Goodwill take in 2026. Guidelines have tightened due to rising disposal costs.
Pro-Tip: If you’re wondering, "Does Goodwill take books?" the answer is yes, but in 2026, many hubs are shifting "stagnant" media like old textbooks directly to their online auction site, ShopGoodwill, to reach a wider audience.
How to Sanitize Thrifted Finds Like a Pro
Since does Goodwill wash donated clothes is a firm "No," the responsibility falls on you. As a reseller, you cannot send an item that smells like "Thrift Spirit" to a buyer.
-
The "Heat Strike" (Bedbug Prevention): For sturdy fabrics (denim, cotton, polyester), put the item in the dryer on High Heat for 30 minutes before washing. This is the gold standard for killing potential hitchhikers.
-
The Vinegar Soak: For stubborn "old person" or "basement" smells, soak the garment in a 1:4 ratio of white vinegar to water for 2 hours before a regular wash cycle.
-
The Steamer Refresh: I use a Jiffy J-2000 steamer on every single item. Steaming at 212°F (100°C) kills 99.9% of bacteria and removes the wrinkles that make a $100 item look like a $5 rag.
-
The Sunlight Sanitize: For delicate vintage silks or furs that can't handle heat, hang them in direct sunlight for 4 hours. UV rays are a natural disinfectant and odor killer.
Strategic Sourcing with Closo
In 2026, I use Closo to automate my inventory management—it saves me about 3 hours weekly. After I’ve deep-cleaned and steamed my finds, I don't waste time on manual data entry.
-
Closo 100% Free Crosslister: I take my photos once the item looks "Retail Ready" and use Closo to push the listing to eBay, Poshmark, and Mercari simultaneously.
-
The "Professional" Premium: Because I took the time to sanitize and steam, I can use Core Keywords like "Professionally Refreshed" or "Odor-Free," allowing me to charge a 15–20% premium over sellers who just "flip and ship" dirty clothes.
Honest Assessment: I’ve had my fair share of "Thrift Icks." I’ve found things in pockets I wish I hadn't, and I've spent more on OxiClean than I made on a flip. But the thrill of finding that Burberry trench—and knowing exactly how to make it smell like a million bucks—is why I stay in the game.
Does Goodwill Wash Their Clothes? The Behind-the-Scenes Reality
It’s a common misconception that there’s a massive industrial laundry room humming away at the back of every donation center. I used to think the same thing until I spent a week shadowing a regional manager for a sourcing project in late 2025. The truth is much more mechanical and focused on speed.
When you ask, "does goodwill wash their clothes," you have to look at the sheer volume of donations. A single urban location can receive upwards of items a day. If they spent just minutes washing and drying each load, they would need a facility the size of a football stadium and a utility bill that would bankrupt their mission. Instead, the process is streamlined:
-
Sorting: Workers check for major flaws, heavy stains, or dampness. If an item is wet or moldy, it’s immediately diverted to textile recycling to prevent cross-contamination.
-
Pricing: Items that pass the "Eye Test" are tagged and put on a rolling rack.
-
The Sales Floor: Items typically spend about weeks on the floor. If they don't sell, they move to the "Outlet" (the bins) to be sold by the pound.
Here’s where it gets interesting... Some shoppers swear they smell a "disinfectant spray" on the racks. While a few independent regions experimented with aerosol sanitizers in the early 2020s, most have abandoned the practice due to allergy concerns and cost. That smell you’re catching? It’s usually a combination of the various detergents from different households mixing together in a confined space. Does goodwill wash donated clothes? No, but the people donating them are supposed to.
Honest Failure: In May 2025, I bought a gorgeous silk Equipment blouse that looked perfect under the fluorescent store lights. When I got it home and put it under my studio LEDs, I realized it had a massive, transparent oil stain on the silk that had picked up "thrift dust." I tried to spot-clean it myself and ended up ruining the fabric.
-
Lesson: Because does goodwill wash clothes before selling is a "No," the dust can hide permanent stains. Always do a "Light Test" with your phone flashlight before buying high-end silk or wool.
What Does Goodwill Take? Navigating the 2026 Donation Guidelines
If you're cleaning out your own closet to make room for new flips, you need to know what does goodwill take to avoid a wasted trip. The guidelines have tightened up significantly in 2026, mostly due to increased disposal costs at landfills.
The "Yes" List:
-
Clothing and Shoes: Most items are accepted as long as they aren't wet or covered in pet hair.
-
Books: Does goodwill take books? Yes, they are a staple. However, many locations are now rejecting encyclopedias and old textbooks because they simply don't sell.
-
Media: Vinyl records, CDs, and DVDs are still high-velocity items.
The "No" List (The Tricky Part): Now the tricky part... what about the bulky stuff?
-
Bedding: Does goodwill take comforters? Most regions say yes, provided they are clean and free of stains.However, they will never take a used mattress. If you're wondering, "goodwill donate bed," the answer is almost always a hard "No" for the frame and mattress due to sanitary regulations regarding bedbugs.
-
Hazardous Materials: Anything with a cord that is frayed or any item containing chemicals (like old paint) is an automatic rejection.
Opinion Statement: I admit that I’m a bit frustrated by the inconsistency between regions. One store in New Jersey might take my old printer, while a store in New York tells me it's "electronic waste." I honestly believe that a national,standardized "Live List" would save everyone a lot of headaches, but for now, you have to call your local hub.
I use Closo to automate my market research – saves me about 3 hours weekly. Before I even decide to go sourcing or donating, I use Closo Demand Signals to see what's actually moving in the secondary market. If I see that "Vintage Comforters" are trending on TikTok, I’ll prioritize finding those in the "Domestics" section, even if I have to do a deep-clean myself.
Comparison: Thrift Store Hygiene Policies (2026)
How to Sanitize Thrifted Finds Like a Pro
Since we’ve established that does goodwill wash clothes before selling them is a firm "No," the responsibility falls on you. If you're a reseller, you cannot send an item that smells like "Thrift Spirit" to a buyer. It’s the fastest way to get a -star review.
The "Sanitization Protocol":
-
The "Dryer Freeze": For items that can't be washed (like wool coats), I put them in the dryer on HIGH HEAT for minutes. This is solely to kill any potential hitchhikers like bedbugs or moths. (Note: Only do this if the item is dry; an item that isn't wet will not shrink).
-
The Vinegar Soak: For stubborn odors, I soak cottons and synthetics in a mixture of part white vinegar to parts water for hours before a regular wash.
-
Steam Is Your Best Friend: I use a Jiffy J-2000 steamer on every single item. It not only removes wrinkles but kills of bacteria and refreshing the fibers.
Parenthetical Aside: (I once bought a "Lot" from a local estate sale through Closo Wholesale. It was vintage flannels.They were gorgeous but smelled like they’d been in a cedar chest since the Carter administration. A double-wash with OxiClean Odor Blasters and a day hanging in the sun saved the entire investment.)
Sentence Variety: And it works. You take something dingy. You give it some TLC. You restore the "retail" feel.
Strategic Sourcing and the "Closo" Advantage
If you are sourcing to sell, you have to look past the dirt. Does goodwill wash donated clothes? No, and that is actually your opportunity. Most casual shoppers will pass over a high-end item if it has a small, treatable stain or a missing button.
I use Closo to automate my cross-listing – saves me about 3 hours weekly. After I’ve cleaned and photographed my finds, I use the Closo 100% Free Crosslister to push them to eBay, Poshmark, and Mercari simultaneously. Because I took the time to wash and steam the item, I can list it as "Pristine" or "Professionally Refreshed," which allows me to charge a premium over sellers who just "Flip it and Ship it."
Now the tricky part... Authenticity. Sometimes a "dirty" item is actually a "fake" item. I once found a Louis Vuitton bag at a Goodwill in Jersey City. It was covered in some kind of sticky residue. I thought I could clean it and make a fortune.After two hours of cleaning, I finally saw the "Made in China" tag hidden in the lining.
-
Lesson: Don't let a "Project" distract you from the basic checks. Cleanliness is a fixable problem; a "fake" is a permanent loss.
People always ask me...
Does Goodwill spray clothes with pesticides?
Common question I see. This is a persistent urban legend. While some people claim they smell "delousing agent," most former employees confirm that the stores simply don't have the budget or the safety clearance to use industrial pesticides on clothing. If an item smells "chemical," it’s likely from the previous owner’s heavy use of fabric softeners or scent beads.
Can I get bedbugs from Goodwill clothes?
People always ask me this with a look of pure terror. The risk is statistically low, but it is not zero. Does goodwill wash their clothes? Since they don't, there is a remote chance of pests.The Solution: Never bring your thrift bags into your bedroom. Take them straight to the laundry room, dump the clothes in the wash (or the high-heat dryer cycle mentioned above), and immediately throw the plastic bags in the outside trash.
Does Goodwill take used pillows and mattresses?
Here’s something everyone wants to know: Generally, no. Most states have strict laws about the resale of "stuffed" items. While they might take decorative "Throw Pillows," they will almost never take a standard sleeping pillow or a mattress. If you’re looking to goodwill donate bed components, stick to the frames and headboards.
Conclusion: Clean Clothes, High Margins
The answer to "does goodwill wash clothes before selling" is a definitive "No," but that shouldn't stop you from hunting.The thrift store is a raw material warehouse. You are the manufacturer who turns those raw materials into a finished,retail-ready product.
Honest Assessment: I’ve had my fair share of "Thrift Icks." I’ve found things in pockets that I wish I hadn’t, and I’ve spent more on dry cleaning than I made on a flip. I admit, there are days when I want to just buy new and be done with it.But... The thrill of finding a diamond in the rough—and the ROI that comes with it—is a high that "Retail Arbitrage" just can't match.
My recommendation? Invest in a good steamer, a gallon of white vinegar, and a Closo subscription to handle the data.Treat every "unwashed" item as a puzzle to be solved. Once you master the "Refresh," the world of Closo Wholesale and thrift sourcing becomes your personal mint.
Start cross-listing with Closo today—because while you’re busy washing the past away, Closo is busy finding you a future buyer.
