Considering a different approach on leaving clothes behind when you return home.

The idea is okay but I’m not sure about the execution. Would you wear the clothes, then wash them, then leave them? Even if they’re expensive and very nice clothes, if they’re not clean you’re in essence asking the hotel staff to wash them and then find someone to give them to…which could be a lot of work. Maybe asking the hotel staff if there’s somewhere you or they could donate to, rather than passively leaving them with a note? I see what you’re trying to accomplish, but I question whether the end result would be a new home for your clothes or whether they’ll just be thrown away because doing anything else with them would be extra work for someone?

While I dont object to the idea of leaving old clothes behind (and have done it) I would object to leaving detailed instructions to hotel staff on what they can do with them. I think they can figure that out for themselves.

I think your idea to "re-house" the unwanted clothes would work best right here at home (with you taking the lead to either sell or donating them items). Otherwise, it just seems like involving others in taking care of a problem and/ or assuming that they would be interested in doing so. In worst case it could turn out to be a major faux pas or miscommunication where the hotel staff contact you and ask to have the items reclaimed, thinking you forgot them.

Went to church with a woman who took in used clothing to distribute to people in need in the community.

Her comments, "some people donate absolute rags thinking they are good enough for poor people".

My Mom also used to donate used clothing to a local charity. The manager of the charity would salvage the buttons, zippers, etc. from clothing too old to be worn again and re-purpose them or sell them. She also had people (employees?/volunteers?) who would turn the "less worn" portions of fabric from old clothes into quilting squares and make quilts for local shelters.

I'm okay with this approach.

But just leaving your "trash" behind just seems more along the lines of "it's good enough for poor people".

If it's too worn out for you to wear again, why would expect someone else to?

If you aren’t wearing the clothes at home, why don’t do you just give them to a charity, sell them at a reseller, do what you suggested at home, instead of asking someone in a country you are visiting to deal with the problem. You say you don’t agree with leaving clothes behind behavior but because they are designer clothes it’s ok?

I know there are Goodwill stores in Vancouver and a lot of homeless near the train station. There is Sonesta Suites or the Heathman Lodge at Vancouver Mall if you feel hotel staff wants your clothes.

Just like the rule in camping, boating, hiking: if you haul it in, you haul it out.

Knowing someone who's a cleaner and 99% of your clothes will probably end up in the trash. Cleaning staff aren't charities and don't have time to sort through your clothes. They clean up the mess, vacuum and change the sheets. Period. Don't make extra work for them.

Donate your clothes at home and maybe take less clothes on vacation.

Agree.....deal with the donations in your own country by either selling and donating the proceeds OR by donating the clothing to a second-hand shop directly tied to a not-for-profit.

Every mid-size and large European city I've been to has had clothing donation bins around town (often near recycling bins, in parking lots, near stores or schools). I often get rid of spare shoes, t-shirts, etc. so that I have more room to take souvenirs home, and I feel comfort knowing that I'm not just abandoning or thowing things away.

Why would you want to wear clothes you don't wear usually--which means you must not like them as much, even if they are nice, on vacation? I would dump the clothes at home and wear things you enjoy wearing on your vacation.

Hi Elizabeth, If you want to give the hotel staff something beneficial, make it a nice monetary tip left on the desk or bed of the room.

And be kind to yourself, too. No need to wear your least favorite itchy clothing on a fun vacation! Just donate them to a local charity.

If you want to donate the clothes so you are not burdened with either the excess weight or clothing you no longer want, take the next step and find where YOU can personally donate them in your last destination. Don’t burden hotel staff with that chore. How would you like someone to walk into your place of business and drop off their unwanted clothes, even with a note saying “do what you want with them”?

As someone who retired young, I no longer wear sport coats, pants and button down shirts. I wear golf shirts and jeans most of the days--and dress up in khaki pants. I rotate shirts daily and go thru 3 rotations before I get home. My heavily starched pants can be worn a week and they still look okay.

I travel so light that there's no reason to leave clothes behind. And I pack lighter every trip I take. If I cannot make it in a 21" rolling bag, it doesn't go.

And it's said, "They'll never see you again." That's right. But it's possible to look acceptable without wearing designer anything.

These area excellent points and tapped into what concerned me enough to get some feedback. I will pack comfortable clothes that I will take home with me.
One place we are visiting has Salvation Army drop boxes, but giving up that time when we are only in the city for two days seems silly. (If you calculate home much money your trip costs per waking hour, do you really want to be spending it on finding a drop box?)

Don't leave your clothes in your hotel room! We have a friend who works at a big hotel chain and he said that if anything is left behind in a room then the housekeeping staff are required to hand it in as lost property and then the hotel tries to contact the guest to reunite them with their belongings.

He said that if any housekeeping staff were caught with a guests belongings it would be treated as theft. No-one knows who wrote the nice note saying "keep it" and so they have a zero tolerance policy for anything left behind in a hotel room.

You are just creating problems for the hotel staff by leaving your things behind.

Indeed the room cleaners are there to clean your room, not run errands for you. Their days are long enough as it is.

Why would I want to tour in clothes I "find a bit itchy"

I don't get this? I don't want to go out at home looking like a homeless person in throw away clothes. I don't want to go out at home in clothes I don't like or uncomfortable. Why is this suddenly a good idea in Europe?

Give clothes you never wear to a charity in your hometown. Why do you think hotel staff in Europe want to deal with your old clothes? Do you think there is more need in Europe than in your town?

if you have too many clothes, have a garage sale or donate them to a non profit before you leave home.

Many years back, I had. a very embarrassing and painful experience in Mexico. I learned from it.

I went to San Miguel Allende with a group. I had a pair of very nice shoes that I did not want to take home with me because I did not need them.

I gave them to one of the staff in the hotel and told her that I did not need them. I asked her if she could give them to someone for me or donate them.

She looked at me very unfriendly and coldly but said ok. None of the staff at the hotel spoke to me again. Apparently I had insulted them although that was not my intention.

Fortunately I was leaving that day.

I learned from that experience.

If they are itchy and uncomfortable at home why would you even consider taking them on vacation? When I go out of town I only wear what I know I love and am comfortable in. Definitely do your closet cleaning at home. Tons of places to donate here. If you were able to afford designer clothes in the first place surely you have the money to buy new for your trip in a color you really love.

I've occasionally left clothes behind as I depart, but I always wash them 1st and take them to a charity shop or collection bin. I didn't just leave them for the maids to deal with. I've only done it when I really needed to reduce my luggage coming home because of too many purchases.

Hi, Elizabeth. You certainly hit the jackpot for replies to your question about leaving clothes behind! I think you were just wanting to be helpful to others; but my advice is to take your things to the local shelter or Goodwill rather than having to wear itchy, uncomfortable things on your trip. We have in our small town a large store that sells just used things, including some nice clothes like what you want to give away. There's probably such a place near where you live.

I’ve left behind items that had been destroyed or otherwise no longer useful. Properly binned. Same as I would do at home with hopelessly useless clothing, shoes, outerwear.