How long do you keep thread?
 

I started to ask this in a reply to another post but didn't want to hi-jack their post. How long do you keep thread. I have a couple bags of thread I got at an estate sale last year. I use some for small piecing like yo yos and hexies. One bag is nothing but polyester the other is a mix. Many on wooden spools. I've done a strength test on some and just not really sure how old the thread is. Most of it is Coats & Clark. Some of the spools still have cellophane around them apparently not used.

I use it tell it's gone or it starts to shred and brake.

Forever. If it's old, I just pull on it. If it breaks, I thow it out.

Until its gone. Thread can be good for many years- and new thread can be garbage.
As long as it holds up to the tug- test I use it. When it is too weak for a tug it can still be used for hand basting hexies or other uses

I have some pretty old and I'm still using it. If it would break easy or shred, I'd chunk it. I think in most cases, it's been stored indoors, and is good for a very long time. My neighbor retired years ago from a suit factory, and she has containers full of paper bobbins loaded with gray, brown, beige thread, and she gave me a bunch of it, I use it for hand sewing hexies, it's thin, but very strong, can't break it.

I have been the fortunately recipient of quite a bit of donated thread. I'm using it all....

I'm with you, but I don't throw it out... i put it in a pretty glass bowl to decorate my sewing room

Like the others have said - if it breaks easily - I don't use it.
If it is still strong, I will use it.

There are still some antique quilts holding together - so that thread seems to still be "good"

Although there are some that will discard or pass on some brands after they start using another brand - even though the thread is still usable.

Until the spool is empty.

I was thinking the same thing