Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How does it work?
How does it work?
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Trust Carousello with your items, and we handle everything: sorting for resale, donation, or recycling. Typically, 70% of items are donated to local charities, 20% are resold and 10% are sent to recycling plants.
Steps
1. Visit Carousello to drop off your clothes.
2. Carousello sorts and sends items to charities, secondhand marketplaces and thrift stores and specialized recycling companies.
3. Track progress via your dashboard.
4. In case of resale, we’ll send you 100% of the resale place.
What are the conditions for accepting items at Carousello?
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- Freshly laundered (within 15 days), dry, folded, and odor-free clothes.
- Underwear, tights, socks: clean, dry, and odor-free (in a separate bag) are recycled automatically.
- Up to 50 items per drop off in office. If you are planning a move and would like to drop off more items at once, please let us know a few days in advance.
How do you designate items for resale, donation, and recycling?
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Items are sorted in New York based on condition and marketplace criteria:
1. Resale: very good condition, no defects, with brand/size labels, in season and currently in demand. An item that will sell fast in May won't sell during the winter.
2. Donation: wearable items in good condition.
3. Recycling: damaged or unwearable items are recycled into material used for insulation etc.
Do you accept torn, holed, or stained clothes?
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Yes, if they’re clean, they’re accepted for recycling. We do not donate damaged clothes.
Is there a minimum and maximum number of clothes to bring?
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No minimum. Maximum of 50 items per drop off in office without prior notice. We can take larger drop offs but please let us know a few days in advance.
Do I need a Carousello account to deposit my items?
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Yes. Create an account online or on-site to track your deposit and impact.
Can I choose to donate my items instead of reselling them?
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Yes. Indicate this during your deposit. Items are still sorted to check eligibility.
What types of items are donated?
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Wearable, clean, everyday-use clothes that will not reliably sell on major marketplaces in 60 days or less.
What types of items are recycled?
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Unwearable, clean items are recycled e.g. into materials used to make insulation panels.
What are the conditions for accepting items for resale?
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- Freshly laundered (within 15 days), dry, pet dander/hair and odor-free.
- With brand and size labels.
- No signs of wear, stains, pilling, missing parts.
- Logos/prints intact.
- No custom alterations.
Note: Resale depends on condition, brand, model, demand, and supply/stock.
How is the impact of my actions calculated?
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Using an algorithm to measure CO2 equivalence savings by item type, weight, and outcome. We work with local charities to determine the number of ultimate beneficiaries from donations. For example, one of our charity partners packages complete outfits of six items to donate to each beneficiary.
Resale at Carousello
What are the conditions for accepting items for resale?
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We only designate items for resale if they're in excellent condition and ready for their next owner to wear immediately.
Eligibility criteria for resale:
→ Freshly washed or dry cleaned clothes (within the last 15 days), completely dry and pet hair/dander and odor free (no smoke, perfume, dampness, mustiness, pet smells, etc.)
→ Must have brand and size labels (care/composition labels aren't required but help us better assess the item's value)
→ No signs of wear, fading, holes, stains, or pilling
→ Printed designs and logos must be in perfect condition—no cracking or peeling
→ All buttons intact, zippers working perfectly
→ No custom alterations like shortened hems
⚠️ Important! The resale market has very specific and dynamic criteria. A minority of items available for resale actually sell! Success depends not only on the item's condition but also on the brand, style, cut, current supply and demand, and existing inventory. For example, a ski suit is tough to sell in August. Similarly, a vintage jacket from a major brand might not find a buyer today."
How much will I receive if my item sells?
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If your item sells, Carousello gives you the entire amount our resale partner pays—we don't take any commission! The resale platforms still take their fee as if you listed and sold it yourself.
Depending on the item, you'll typically receive 5–30% of the estimated retail price.
Once your item sells, you'll receive an email with instructions to collect your payment securely.
Good to know:
→ Most items sell within 1–2 months
→ Luxury or off-season items can take up to 12 months
→ We can't guarantee every item will sell: Unsold items are donated to charity—your clothes still get a second life!
How do I collect my earnings?
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If your item sells, you receive the full resale price—Carousello doesn't take any commission!
Once your item sells, you'll get an email with instructions to securely collect your payment.
What brands do you accept?
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For donation and recycling, we accept all brands as long as your items meet our acceptance conditions (check our FAQ for details!).
Unbranded clothing or lesser-known brands aren't accepted for resale.
Brand reputation matters for resale, and acceptance depends on multiple factors: overall condition, style, cut, and current supply and demand. Check our FAQ for complete resale criteria.
Tracking Your Clothes' Second Life
How can I track my drop-off?
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You don't need to do anything!
We'll send you email updates about your items as they're processed.
You can also check your item's progress, see your environmental impact, and more anytime by logging into your Carousello account.
What happens to my clothes?
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Once sorted, we channel them to resale, donation, or recycling. This way, you reduce your carbon footprint, support our community and keep your items out of landfills—good for you, society and the planet!
You can track your items' journey by logging into your Carousello account.
Why Was My Drop-Off Rejected?
Why was my drop-off rejected?
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Occasionally, our sorting facility has to reject a drop-off—and we know that's disappointing. Here's why it might happen:
Drop-offs can be rejected for hygiene and safety reasons that protect our team.
Common issues include:
→ Items weren't freshly washed (we recommend washing within 15 days of drop-off)
→ Clothes had strong odors
→ Underwear and socks weren't bagged separately from other items
⚠️ Important: In extreme cases where a drop-off poses health and safety risks to our staff (severe odors, insects, debris, etc.), we'll unfortunately have to dispose of it immediately.
Check our FAQ for complete acceptance criteria.
None of these apply to you? We're here to help. Contact us at hello@Carousello.co and we'll get back to you quickly.
Who we are?
Who is Carousello?
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Carousello is a startup dedicated to making the circular economy accessible to everyone. Our mission is to give everything you no longer use a second life through resale, donation, or recycling—reducing environmental impact. For example, manufacturing a new t-shirt uses as much water as 70 showers. Pretty wild, right?
That's why we created Carousello—to make giving your items a second life incredibly easy. A win for the environment... and for you!
What does Carousello do?
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Clear out your closets—Carousello handles the rest!
Here's how it works: bring your items to one of our Carousello locations, and our team sorts them into what can be resold, donated, or recycled. We then send everything to specialized partners and charities. If your items sell, you get 100% of the proceeds!
You can also choose to donate your items directly through one of our partner charities instead of reselling—just let us know when you drop off.
Why use Carousello?
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#1: Good for the planet! Every item you bring us stays out of the landfill, making a positive impact on the environment and helping others through resale and donation. You can even track your environmental impact in your Carousello account!
#2: Good for you! No hassle, no work—Carousello simplifies your life. Resell, donate, recycle... then relax!
Carousello is completely free. If your items sell, you keep 100% of the earnings. It's that simple!
How does Carousello make money?
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Carousello is a free service provided by the locations where we operate. Please thank your Employer, Property Manager and Landlord of your workplace. They are paying us!
If your items sell, you receive the full amount our resale partner pays—we don't take any commission. Our resale partners take their standard commission, the same rate you'd pay if you worked with them directly.
