What Does the Salvation Army Accept? Full 2026 Donation List

The Salvation Army takes a wide range of gently used goods for its Family Stores, and the resale funds its social-service programs. But it also turns away a long list of items, usually for safety, health, or resale reasons. This guide gives the full accepted and not-accepted lists for 2026, plus a quick lookup table for the most common "does the Salvation Army take this?" questions.

What the Salvation Army accepts

At Family Store donation centers, the Salvation Army generally accepts gently used:

• Clothing, shoes, and accessories for all ages and sizes, clean and wearable.
• Furniture that is structurally sound and clean: sofas, chairs, tables, dressers, bed frames.
• Small appliances that work and have all parts: microwaves, toasters, coffee makers, blenders.
• Kitchen items: dishes, pots, pans, utensils, glassware (nothing broken).
• Books, board games, DVDs, and CDs.
• Electronics like flat-screen TVs, computers, and phones (policies on older electronics vary by location).
• Toys that are clean, complete, and functional.
• Linens and bedding: towels, sheets, blankets, in clean condition.
• Jewelry, watches, purses, and accessories, along with small antiques and collectibles.
• Holiday and seasonal decorations in good condition.
• Sporting goods and bicycles: golf clubs, tennis rackets, camping gear, and bikes that work and are safe.
• Large exercise equipment such as treadmills, where the local store has room.
• Large appliances in many areas: washers, dryers, refrigerators, and stoves that work, are clean, and have the power cord, with no rust. Confirm locally.

What the Salvation Army will not accept

These are commonly refused, mostly for safety, health, or resale reasons:

• Mattresses and box springs (most locations, due to health rules)
• Car seats and helmets (safety-history and liability concerns)
• Cribs made before 2011 (federal safety standards changed)
• Recalled items of any kind
• Clothing or furniture with holes, stains, or major damage
• Large console TVs and TVs more than about five years old; non-working or cordless appliances; gas appliances
• Car parts, tires, and batteries
• Paint, solvents, chemicals, and other hazardous materials; broken glass
• Medical supplies (capacity limits at thrift stores)
• Old magazines and encyclopedia sets (recycle these unless vintage or collectible)
• Firearms, ammunition, hunting gear, and realistic replica weapons
• Ready-to-assemble or pressed-wood furniture that will not survive a move

Does the Salvation Army take ___? Quick table

Why the Salvation Army turns some items away

Almost every refusal comes down to one of four reasons, and knowing them lets you predict a yes or no before you load the car:

• Safety and liability: car seats, cribs, and helmets carry a safety history the store cannot verify, and recalled goods cannot be resold at all.
• Health rules: mattresses and box springs are restricted in many states over bedbug and sanitation concerns.
• Hazardous materials: paint, chemicals, car batteries, and tires need special disposal a thrift store cannot provide.
• Resale value: stained, torn, broken, or obsolete items will not sell, and sorting them out costs the store money. Worn-out goods are a cost, not a donation.

How to donate the items they accept

There are three normal ways to give:

• Drop off at a Family Store or an attended donation center during open hours; find locations with the satruck.org locator.
• Schedule a free home pickup for large items like furniture and appliances. See our Salvation Army pickup guide for how it works and where it is available.
• Use a donation bin for clothing and small soft goods where your area has them.

Always ask for a receipt, and use our donation value guide to estimate fair market value for your taxes.

What to do with items they will not take

A refused item usually has a better home than the trash:

• Mattresses: see where to donate a mattress for charities and recyclers that take them.
• Old electronics and TVs: use an R2 or e-Stewards certified e-waste recycler; our computers and electronics guide lists options.
• Worn-out clothing and textiles: many retailers and municipal programs run textile recycling that keeps fabric out of the landfill.
• Paint and chemicals: take these to a household hazardous-waste site.
• Good furniture refused locally: try a furniture bank or another charity in our furniture pickup guide.

Frequently asked questions

Sources: Salvation Army Family Store and Adult Rehabilitation Center donation policies (satruck.org), and reporting from Waste Removal USA, Yahoo, and AOL on items the Salvation Army cannot accept. We are not affiliated with the Salvation Army. Errors: [email protected]