10 Things to Do with Kids Clothes When They Outgrow Them

Kids are like little weeds, they grow and grow and grow, and no matter how many clothes we buy for them, it seems like they forever need more. This issue means there are often bags, closets, drawers, and piles of clothes that are gently used, and need to find a new home, but what exactly do you do with all of those old clothes?

Once everyone outgrows their clothes, we use a number of methods for finding new homes for the clothes we have. These are:

Hand them Down

Handing down clothes either to siblings, other family members, friends with kids, or just about anyone who has a need is a great way to reuse, recycle, and help out.

Clothing Swaps

Many local and online communities host clothing swaps. These are events or get togethers where parents can offer their children’s clothes for gift or trade. These events are great social environments and can allow participants to interact and make new friends. Search online for “clothing swaps” in your area.

Consignment Sales

Consignment stores or sales can be great options for those who would like to recoup some of the money spent on kid’s clothes. Consignments are one of the better options for getting top dollar for clothes, makes it convenient to sell items to large crowds.

Garage/Rummage Sales

When the piles of clothes reach an uncontrollable height, many people choose to hold a garage sale. Garage sales offer convenience and the ability to sell items spontaneously on any given weekend. The biggest downside to garage sales is sellers can’t expect too much for items or they will not sell. Clothing items often sell for $1 or less per item.

Flea Markets

Flea markets are similar to garage sales in spontaneity and sell prices, though the advantage flea markets bring are the potential of larger and more steady crowds. The downside is flea markets generally require a sellers fee, so it is important that your sales will cover any required fees.

Donations

There are a number of options when it comes to donating clothes. Some of our go to donation options are local women’s or homeless shelters, churches, and thrift stores. It is important to research thrift stores before choosing them as options as all are not created equal. Make sure they are “not for profit” and that donation proceeds go to charitable organizations.

Crafting Projects/Upcycle

A new internet movement with clothing is turning them into new items through upcycling or crafting projects. There are a number of resources and projects that can be found on sites such as Pinterest or through search engines.

When All Else Fails

If all of the previous options have left you with a bag or two of left over kid’s clothes, the best thing to do at this point is to use them as cleaning rags, shop towels, or even pet chew toys. Cut them up and make them into reusable and washable supplies that are available for spills or anytime a spare cloth is needed.

One thing you can count on when it comes to kids is that they will definitely outgrow their clothes. Knowing what options are available once they do will save you from making rash decisions when the drawers overflow and the piles reach the ceiling.

Many of the aforementioned solutions can be accomplished with the help of the kids and can made into a family event. This can create a sense of pride, teach value, and most of all be done together.

The Author:

Frank Gurnee – Checkout the DaddleDo Website for additional parenting articles.

Photo. Sebastian