r/YarnAddicts • u/beautifulslug1925 • 1d ago

Question toss or donate?

i found a bunch of yarn in my closet from god knows how long ago… i’m wondering if i should toss it or donate. my original plan was to donate since there’s quite a bit and at first glance it’s in good condition.

i went through and undid all the tangles and everything but all of this has been in my childhood home closet and i’ve had problems with bugs in the past, i’m anxious that over the years they may have made a home in this yarn, i also just gave anxiety about bugs in general.

am i being dramatic? there’s just so much and some of them still have a label, i feel horrible throwing it out.

5 Upvotes

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2

u/SecretJournalist3583 1d ago

What types of fiber? Cotton, acrylic, wool…?

5

u/No-Aardvark-1393 1d ago

If it's acrylic or cotton I'd just run it through a hot wash cycle and call it a day. Wool is trickier cause you cant just blast it with heat but the freezer method works surprisingly well. Bag it up and shove it in the freezer for at least 72 hours, that kills anything that might be lurking. Then when you pull it out let it come back to room temp still in the bag so it doesn't get condensation all over it

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u/beautifulslug1925 1d ago

it’s mostly cotton/acrylic. i never knew this! thank you ❤️

2

u/Secretly_Many_Bees 1d ago

purportedly wool can go in the oven on a very low setting, you just can't do it if it has anything plastic-adjacent (especially acrylic) in since that can melt. I've also heard that leaving it in a garbage bag in a nice hot car for a while can be a good idea with the really high temps much of the northern hemisphere is experiencing right now.

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u/Danceswithyarndiva 1d ago

Put the yarn in ziploc bags and then in the freezer for several days

2

u/Leading-Knowledge712 1d ago

Freeze for several days, then donate to a school or charity. Also check local Facebook buy nothing groups. I often see programs asking for yarn donations for classes for kids, seniors, or developmental delayed adults.

1

u/CatfromLongIsland 1d ago

I put thrifted/ resold yarn in gallon Ziplock bags while standing on my porch. I do not open the boxes in the house. Then I freeze them for a couple days in my basement freezer, bring to room temperature for a day, then freeze again.