topic Re: Bed Linens in Home

Bed Linens

drizzellla — Sun, 02 Aug 2015 17:53:14 GMT

I cleaned out my linen closet. I found many high quality sets of sheets that were pushed to the back of the closet. Many were still in their packaging. All were made in the USA. I will donate anything still in the packages but I am not sure what to do with the countless other sets. They are too nice for rags.

I would hate to trash them - any ideas? I know the homeless shelter will not take sheet sets not in a sealed original package.

Re: Bed Linens

Desertdi — Sun, 02 Aug 2015 17:56:48 GMT

Save them for shower and/or housewarming gifts

Re: Bed Linens

Mominohio — Sun, 02 Aug 2015 17:59:06 GMT

@drizzellla wrote:
I cleaned out my linen closet. I found many high quality sets of sheets that were pushed to the back of the closet. Many were still in their packaging. All were made in the USA. I will donate anything still in the packages but I am not sure what to do with the countless other sets. They are too nice for rags.

I would hate to trash them - any ideas? I know the homeless shelter will not take sheet sets not in a sealed original package.

How wonderful of you to donate such nice new things.

The used sheets will be welcome at most thrift stores. As long as they still have some life left in them, they will put them in their resale shop.

Goodwill, Volunteers of America, Salvation Army or any local ones will be grateful for them.

Re: Bed Linens

SahmIam — Sun, 02 Aug 2015 18:41:33 GMT

Drizzellla, it;s so sad and short-sighted that the homeless shelters in your area will not accept those sheets. I find that the policy depends on the county most of the time. Years ago, I attended a meeting of those who work in the Safe Houses in my county regarding women and children who survived Domestic Violence ( was a therapist working for the county at the time and was also on the DVC Board). One of the issues the staff faced was lack of sheets for the beds in the Safe Houses. Like you stated, they would only accept brand new and sealed sets. I questioned this and the following is roughly what was said:

Me: Why can't we accept used sheets in excellent condition/unsealed sets?

Director: Because we don't know what germs may be on those sheets.

Me: We have women, children, babies sleeping on bare mattress and THAT is ok? Plenty of germs THERE but sheets that can be sterilized are not ok?

Director: How do you propose we sterilize these sheets?

Me: In an appliance called a washer with hot water, detergent and bleach followed by a dryer on hot.

I mean, really? REALLY?! They started taking open sheet sets/used sheets shortly after that. I would call around to other types of shelters beyond homeless and go from there.

It's difficult to feel bad for shelters when they have asinine policies like that and then cry how no one donates......

Re: Bed Linens

drizzellla — Sun, 02 Aug 2015 19:13:10 GMT

You can clearly tell that all the sheet sets were not used much - if at all. There are 5 sets still in the packaging and 9 sets that are not in their original package.

Our church has a food bank. I will ask the people who run the food bank if they think the open sets could be used in some way. But I can't help but think they will be concerned about storing and tracking additional items. They have quite a job dealing with the food bank and they also make prepared meals for elderly and ailing.

Re: Bed Linens

Mz iMac — Sun, 02 Aug 2015 19:21:18 GMT

Salvation Army will take them. They will come to your house to pick them up!!!!!

Re: Bed Linens

Mominohio — Sun, 02 Aug 2015 19:22:20 GMT

@SahmIam wrote:
Drizzellla, it;s so sad and short-sighted that the homeless shelters in your area will not accept those sheets. I find that the policy depends on the county most of the time. Years ago, I attended a meeting of those who work in the Safe Houses in my county regarding women and children who survived Domestic Violence ( was a therapist working for the county at the time and was also on the DVC Board). One of the issues the staff faced was lack of sheets for the beds in the Safe Houses. Like you stated, they would only accept brand new and sealed sets. I questioned this and the following is roughly what was said:

Me: Why can't we accept used sheets in excellent condition/unsealed sets?

Director: Because we don't know what germs may be on those sheets.

Me: We have women, children, babies sleeping on bare mattress and THAT is ok? Plenty of germs THERE but sheets that can be sterilized are not ok?

Director: How do you propose we sterilize these sheets?

Me: In an appliance called a washer with hot water, detergent and bleach followed by a dryer on hot.

I mean, really? REALLY?! They started taking open sheet sets/used sheets shortly after that. I would call around to other types of shelters beyond homeless and go from there.

It's difficult to feel bad for shelters when they have asinine policies like that and then cry how no one donates......

I thought the exact same thing. I was sure it was because of bedbugs and such, but second hand/used/ or 'someone else slept in it before me' mattresses are so much more an issue (and gross, I even hate to sleep in a hotel). And you know that is exactly what is in any shelter.

@SahmIam

Re: Bed Linens

nomless — Sun, 02 Aug 2015 19:27:30 GMT

@Desertdi wrote:
Save them for shower and/or housewarming gifts

OP said she planned on donating the sets that are still in packaging and asked what to do with others and this poster suggested giving usng them was gifts.

JMO, I would not give used sheets as any kind of gift.

Re: Bed Linens

Tigriss — Sun, 02 Aug 2015 20:12:52 GMT

Any local thrift shop will take them, but your local humane society can use them for their puppies and kitties!

Re: Bed Linens

insomniac — Sun, 02 Aug 2015 21:49:27 GMT

In answer to the poster who suggested giving the sheets out as shower or housewarming gifts, how cheap is that?

(If a family is desperate, that's different. But I doubt that most people would want somebody else's old sheets as a gift.)