Many dry cleaners are happy to accept extra coat hangers. Some will accept metal hangers only while others will accept both metal and plastic hangers. Some dry cleaners also accept used plastic garment bags, twist ties and safety pins. Check the listings to the left or ask at your local store. Many used-clothing retailers are also happy to accept coat hangers. In either case, the hangers must be in good condition, as businesses do not have time to sort through a jumble of hangers and recycle the bent, flimsy ones. Metal hangers in bad shape can be taken to a scrap metal recycler, listed under scrap metals.

If your dry cleaner does not accept plastic hangers, or if you have broken plastic hangers, see the category Styrofoam/Polystyrene for information about recycling plastic clothes hangers.