In our journey toward mindful living and budget-conscious choices, I recently decided to try ThredUp, one of the largest online consignment platforms. Today, I’m sharing my experience with their clean-out service, breaking down exactly what happens when you decide to turn your gently used clothes into cash (or store credit).

What Drew Me to ThredUp

As someone committed to making sustainable choices that work for real families, ThredUp’s concept immediately appealed to me. The idea of giving pre-loved clothes a second life while potentially earning some money? It felt like a win-win situation that aligned perfectly with our values of mindful consumption and practical solutions.

The Process: Getting Started

The first steps were surprisingly simple. I:

1. Signed up for a ThredUp account
2. Requested a clean-out bag (which has a generous 30lb capacity!)
3. Waited for the bag to arrive at my doorstep

What I’m Sending: My First Clean-Out Bag

I gathered a mix of items, ranging from casual wear to dressier pieces. Here’s what made the cut after carefully reviewing ThredUp’s acceptance criteria:

Casual Wear

• A variety of jeans (various sizes of American Eagle, Miss Chic)
• Shorts (Mudd, Ambiance Apparel)
• Casual tops (Zenana Premium, Max Studio)

Dresses

• A cute Speechless girls’ dress
• An elegant Connected Apparel sequin dress
• A Grace Karin black dress
• A lacey black Tacera dress with white accents (NWT)

Work Wear

• New York & Company stretch dress pants
• Torrid dress pants (NWT)
• Medical scrubs (Activate by Med Couture top, Scrubstar pants)

Kids’ Wear

• Children’s Place jeans

What I Learned About the Process

Before packing my bag, I made sure to review ThredUp’s acceptance criteria carefully. They look for items that are:

• Clean and in good condition
• Undamaged and unaltered
• From their accepted categories

They typically accept 60-80% of items if they meet these criteria, which seemed fair to me.

My Preparation Strategy

To maximize my chances of acceptance, I:

1. Carefully inspected each item for stains, tears, or excessive wear
2. Checked that all zippers worked and buttons were secure
3. Made sure everything was freshly laundered
4. Verified each item against their accepted brands list

What Happens Next

Now that my bag is ready to go, ThredUp will:

1. Process my items (this can take a few weeks)
2. Evaluate each piece
3. List accepted items for sale
4. Pay me a percentage when items sell

Initial Thoughts

While I’m still waiting to see how much I’ll earn from this clean-out, the process itself has been straightforward and user-friendly. It’s definitely more convenient than trying to sell items individually or make repeated trips to local consignment shops.

Tips for Fellow First-Timers

1. Be selective with what you send – quality over quantity
2. Check the accepted brands list before sending
3. Make sure everything is clean and in great condition
4. Document what you’re sending (I took photos and made a list)
5. Manage expectations – not everything will be accepted, and that’s okay!

What About Non-Accepted Brands?

One of the most eye-opening parts of this process was learning which brands are ineligible for payout on ThredUp . During my closet clean-out, I found several items from non-accepted brands including:

• Fast fashion brands (Shein, Forever 21)
• Budget-friendly store brands (Time & Tru, White Stag, No Boundaries)
• Teen fashion retailers (Aeropostale)
• Basic casual wear (Old Navy)
• Scrub brands (Wonder Wink)
• Junior brands (Rewind, Glitz)
• Other (Sami & Jo)

My Plan for These Items

Rather than let these pieces go to waste, I’ve developed a multi-tier plan for my non-accepted items:

1. Local Donation Centers: Clean, gently-used items will go to our local women’s shelter and youth programs
2. Buy Nothing Groups: Some pieces will find new homes through our local Buy Nothing community on Facebook
3. Upcycling Projects: Some items can be transformed into:
   • Cleaning rags (old t-shirts)
   • Craft projects (especially items with interesting patterns or textures)
   • Practice material for learning basic alterations

Just because an item isn’t accepted by ThredUp doesn’t mean it can’t have a meaningful second life!

Final Thoughts

This experience has taught me a lot about mindful shopping and the importance of understanding brand value in the resale market. Moving forward, I’ll be more conscious about which brands I invest in, considering not just the initial purchase but also the potential for resale or reuse.

Have you found creative ways to repurpose clothes that can’t be resold?

Share your ideas in the comments below!

Once I receive my evaluation, I’ll update this post to share the full experience. Have you tried ThredUp or similar services? I’d love to hear about your experiences!