Don't Know What to Do With Old Halloween Costumes? Give Them a New Life

As much as we love our old Halloween costumes, we don’t always want to hold on to them forever. At the same time, we don’t want them to end up in the landfill.

If you’re trying to figure out what to do with old Halloween costumes, you’re in the right place. Don’t worry, there are plenty of ways to give your old costumes a new life.

There are so many places and people that will take your old costumes. An easy way to get rid of a costume is by asking friends, family, or neighbors if they want it.

You can also donate your Halloween costumes to local places like schools or secondhand stores. A lot of schools have theatre programs, and they’d probably be happy to receive some free costumes. You may even consider holding onto your costume until next October, and donating it to a thrift shop a few weeks before Halloween — this way if someone is looking for a Halloween costume next year, they can find one for an affordable price.

If you want to donate your costume to an organization, there are plenty to choose from.

‘Ween Dream is a nonprofit that gives costumes to children in need. Halloween costumes can be pricey, especially if a parent has more than one child to buy for. Every kid deserves to have fun and celebrate Halloween, and ‘Ween Dream is a great organization that can help make that happen.

Donating to children’s hospitals could also be a good way to give your old Halloween costumes a second chance. Not every kid is able to go out and trick-or-treat, but they can still participate by dressing up. If you’re thinking of doing this, be sure to always double check ahead of time to make sure it’s okay.

Repurposing Halloween costumes is practical and fun. Old costumes can be transformed into a bunch of different things: quilts, garlands, place mats, pot holders, and even scarecrows. These crafts and projects are perfect for fall.

Salvage Sister & Mister shared a cool way to turn your old Halloween costume into a decorative pumpkin. To do this at home, all you need is some string, rubber bands, stuffing, and a costume. This unique repurposing idea doubles as a way to reuse what you already own and preserve your past Halloween memories.

You can also try swapping costumes with friends and family. If you know a lot of people with nice costumes and accessories, you can plan a costume swap. This way you can get rid of an old costume and receive something new for next Halloween.

If the other two options don’t work out, you can always try selling your old costumes on a secondhand clothing website, like Poshmark or Depop. Many people search the internet for specific pieces — and you never know, you might just have one. Selling is a great way to ensure that the person receiving your old costume really wants it and will use it.