An estimated $25 billion worth of unworn clothing is hanging in Australian wardrobes.

That's more than 231 million garments sitting idle nationwide - enough to fill 139 swimming pools or 42 football fields, according to research from the Red Cross and Uber.

"The nation is holding onto billions of dollars worth of clothes that can be helping people in need," Australian Red Cross spokesman Richard Wood said on Saturday.

The companies' annual clothing drive on Saturday in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth collected 27,000kg of donated garments.

It's a team effort offering free Uber couriers for pre-loved clothes to Red Cross stores across the country.

"Every item helps stock our Australian Red Cross Shops, which directly fund our humanitarian programs to support some of our

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