Why shops refuse it
Hygiene rules — filled bedding can't be washed to a resale standard (duvet covers and blankets are fine).
What to do instead
Animal shelters and dog rescues gladly take clean duvets and towels for bedding.
Charity by charity
-
Can't accept
Age UK
Listed under large household items alongside bulky curtains.
Their wording
“duvets, pillows and bulky curtains”
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Can't accept
British Heart Foundation
Their wording
“Used pillows, duvets and quilts”
-
Can't accept
Cancer Research UK
New items can be sold.
Their wording
“Used pillows, duvets, mattresses”
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Can't accept
Cornwall Hospice Care
Also sleeping bags
Their wording
“Used duvets, pillows and sleeping bags”
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Can't accept
Dogs Trust
Their wording
“duvets, bedding, mattresses, electric blankets”
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Can't accept
Dorothy House
Their wording
“Used duvets and pillows”
- Can't accept FARA Charity Shops
-
Can't accept
Great Western Air Ambulance Charity
Their wording
“Used duvets and mattresses”
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Can't accept
LOROS Hospice
Their wording
“Duvets and pillows”
-
Can't accept
Marie Curie
Their wording
“Duvets and pillows.”
-
Can't accept
Phyllis Tuckwell
Their wording
“Used bedding and pillows”
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Can't accept
Princess Alice Hospice
Their wording
“Duvets and pillows”
-
Can't accept
Shaw Trust
Their wording
“used pillows/duvets/quilts”
-
Can't accept
Shelter
Their wording
“used bedding, blankets, duvets, pillows or towels”
-
Can't accept
St Christopher's Hospice
Their wording
“Duvets and pillows”
-
Can't accept
St Peter's Hospice
Their wording
“Duvets and pillows that have been used”
-
Can't accept
St Vincent de Paul Society (SVP)
Pillow cases and mattress covers are fine.
Their wording
“Used pillows (except pillow cases and mattress covers)”
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Can't accept
The Children's Trust
Their wording
“Duvets and pillows that have been used.”
-
Can't accept
Traid
Their wording
“duvets, pillows, furniture or other bulky items”
-
Can't accept
Trinity Hospice (Blackpool)
Their wording
“Used duvets/pillows”
-
Can't accept
Willen Hospice
Their wording
“Used bedding”
-
Can't accept
Woodgreen Pets Charity
Their wording
“Duvets or pillows – we're afraid it's too expensive to get them cleaned.”
-
Check first
Barnardo's
Only accepted if brand new and in original packaging.
Their wording
“Pillows and duvets (unless brand new in packaging)”
-
Check first
British Red Cross
Pillows and quilts only accepted new and unused.
Their wording
“Mattresses, pillows and quilts that are not in new, unused, condition”
-
Check first
Emmaus
Only accepted if not soiled or stained.
Their wording
“Soiled or stained duvets and pillows”
-
Check first
Overgate Hospice
Only accepted if brand new.
Their wording
“Duvets & pillows unless brand new”
-
Check first
Salvation Army (SATCoL)
Used duvets and pillows not accepted (covers and pillowcases are fine); new ones accepted.
Their wording
“used duvets (except duvet covers), used pillows (except pillowcases)”
-
Check first
Samaritans
Unless new or sealed; grouped with sleeping bags and mattress toppers.
Their wording
“Duvets, pillows, sleeping bags, mattress toppers”
-
Check first
St Giles Hospice
Used duvets/pillows not accepted, but pillow cases and mattress covers are fine
Their wording
“Duvets or pillows (used) (except pillow cases & mattress covers)”
-
Check first
Sue Ryder
Accepted only if sealed in original packaging; children's pillows are excluded outright.
Their wording
“duvets and pillows (unless sealed in original packaging)”
-
Check first
Wales Air Ambulance
Only accepted if in original packaging
Their wording
“Duvets and pillows (unless in original packaging)”
Not mentioned in 13 charities' guidance
Absence from a charity's list doesn't mean they accept it — it just isn't singled out. Ask your local shop.
- Not mentioned Acorns Children's Hospice
- Not mentioned Claire House Children's Hospice
- Not mentioned Crisis
- Not mentioned DEBRA
- Not mentioned Keech Hospice Care
- Not mentioned Octavia Foundation
- Not mentioned Oxfam
- Not mentioned PDSA
- Not mentioned Save the Children
- Not mentioned Scope
- Not mentioned Sense Scotland
- Not mentioned St Barnabas Hospice (Lincolnshire)
- Not mentioned YMCA (England & Wales)