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Don't get hung up with hangers! What to Do With Spare Clothes Hangers

You've decluttered your wardrobe, created space for a few key pieces, but now you have a load of spare clothes hangers.


What to do with the spare or broken hangers you no longer need? This guide has been written to help guide you through.

The first step is to sort your hangers by material, as each type needs to be handled differently:

  • Wooden

  • Plastic

  • Plastic and metal

  • Metal/Wire

A clothes rail with t-shirts and some empty clothes hangers at one end.

Donate or Repurpose

  • Charity shops some (like Oxfam, Cancer Research, British Heart Foundation) may take good condition hangers for reuse. This is often the simplest, most sustainable route, but ask before you donate, as this can change and may depend on the type of hanger.

  • Dry cleaners: Some dry cleaners take back hangers they’ve given out to reuse them - these are usually the metal ones.

  • Friends / community groups: Bundle them and offer them on local groups (Facebook Marketplace, Freecycle, etc). Often people will collect from your door so there is less hassle for you.

  • Wooden hangers or other shaped or designer hangers, could be bundled and sold on sites like Vinted or eBay.

  • Retail drop off: some larger supermarkets or clothing stores in the UK accept plastic hangers for recycling or reuse. It’s worth calling your local Tesco, M&S, Sainsbury's or similar to check.


Household Council Recycling

Depending on the area (please check first)

  • The fully plastic hangers may be accepted in the blue bin.

  • Metal/Wire coat hangers, may be accepted in scrap metal in the recycling centre

  • Mixed materials (plastic & metal and wooden) should be separated and each placed in the correct recycling scheme.


📌 Quick Summary

Sort hangers by material before deciding what to do with them.

  • Metal hangers → Return to dry cleaners or recycle at household recycling centres as scrap metal.

  • Plastic only hangers → Donate, reuse or check for retailer drop-off schemes. Avoid placing in household recycling unless confirmed locally.

  • Plastic & metal hangers → Separate materials and recycle where possible, or donate for reuse.

  • Wooden hangers → Donate, sell via Vinted or eBay, or separate materials and recycle at a household recycling centre.



Want help getting started with your decluttering journey or tackling a wardrobe reset sustainably?

Contact Sorted NI for a free consultation and support tailored to your home, lifestyle and local recycling options.

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