Are you worried about bringing thrifted items into your home? Eliminate those worries and learn how to clean and care for secondhand finds and give yourself some peace of mind.
Over the last few years, I’ve developed a passion for thrifting and buying secondhand. The biggest draw to buying secondhand of course is the money savings. I’ve been able to clothe my kids and myself with high quality, name brand clothes for a literal fraction of the cost. I’ve been able to furnish and decorate our home with beautiful, unique and high quality vintage pieces that add function and character to our home. It’s also eco-friendly. Thrifting helps to reduce waste and keeps items out of landfills and minimizes the pollution that’s created in the manufacturing process of textiles and other home goods.
With that in mind and as great as it is, it’s also really fun. It’s fun to find those unique pieces that you otherwise couldn’t afford. It’s fun to find something you’ve been searching for, for months. And it’s just fun to just decompress and window shop.
But I can understand the drawbacks of thrifting too. The wonder of how to remove germs and not bring cooties, for lack of a better term, into your home. In this post, I’m going to talk about all the ways I mitigate those types of issues so I can feel good about bringing secondhand items into my home. I’ll show you how I clean and care for different thrifted items so they’re safe and usable.
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Why Caring for Secondhand Items Matters
Hygiene and Safety Concerns
As you can imagine, people have different standards when it comes to cleanliness. What I do in my home may not meet your standards or vice versa. That means when items get donated to the thrift store or set out at a garage sale, they may not be up to par for you. You may be worried about specific germs or critters living in or on your secondhand items. Or what about dust and dander, or dare I say lead? What about other safety concerns like recalls and wear and tear? Those are all legitimate fears, many of which can be mitigated easily.
Preserving/Extending the Life of the Item
When you’re buying secondhand, you’re typically buying something that’s been used before. Of course you can find brand new items with tags still in place, but generally speaking, most items have been used at least once. That means they may have some wear and tear that you have to be aware of. This could simply be solved by regular cleanings or polishings, cleaning according to care tags or even tightening a few screws here and there. But it’s important to bring thrifted finds up to standard before using them in your home, then maintaining them in the future.
Saves Money
By cleaning and caring for your thrifted items, you’re saving money and resources in the long run. You first save money when buying the item at a discount. Second, I typically look for higher quality items that are less likely to break quickly like many of the modern day, cheap items you can find in big box stores. By using higher quality items, they’ll be tougher and last longer, which again saves money.
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How to Clean and Care for Thrifted Items
Soft Goods: Clothes, linens, shoes, etc.
Items I Typically Avoid Buying Secondhand
- Pillows
- Bedding (comforters, pillowcases, etc.)
- Hats
- Some throw blankets
- Undergarments
- Swim suits
- Some coats
Soft Goods I Would/ Do Buy
- Top sheets for sewing projects
- Curtains
- Shower curtains
- Most clothing items
- Shoes (that can be cleaned or washed)
- Some coats
- Purses/bags
- Yarn
- Thread
- Fabric for sewing
Tips for Cleaning Secondhand Clothes and Linens
- Pre-treat any stains.
- I typically only buy clothing or other soft goods that are stain-free, however a stain or two might go unnoticed.
- I like to use Listoil for grease stains and spray stain remover for everything else.
- Wash the clothes according to directions on the care tag.
- I wash my clothes with my homemade laundry detergent and a laundry booster.
- Use some laundry sanitizer if needed.
- Dry the clothes according to the care tag.
- I like to use a drying rack for certain fabrics like wool or 100% cotton to prevent damage or shrinkage.
- I typically dry my clothes on low or tumble dry.
- Hand-wash items that specifically call for it like cashmere.
Tips for Cleaning Secondhand Shoes
How to Clean Tennis Shoes
- Remove the laces
- Pre-treat the shoes with a stain remover
- Fill a bucket with the hottest water you can
- Add a scoop of OxiClean or follow this recipe for stripping laundry
- Place the shoes and laces into the water and soak them for several hours until the water is room temperature.
- Remove the shoes and scrub the fabric and rubber with an old toothbrush
- Rinse the shoes, then air dry them for a few days
- Finish the shoes off in the dryer if desired.
How to Clean Other Shoes (Sandals and Boots)
For sandals that can be wiped down, I use a disinfecting wipe to clean the sole of the shoe. For boots, deodorize the inside with baking soda and spot clean the outside with some soap and water and a cloth or old toothbrush.
Tips for Cleaning Other Secondhand Soft Goods
Any items that can be wiped down like purses can be clean with a disinfecting wipe. You can also place smaller items in a sealed bag and freeze them for a few days, or allow them to sit for a few days outside the house in a temperature controlled area to kill anything that may be living on the item.
Hard Surfaces: Plastic, glass, cast iron, wood etc.
How to Quickly Clean Hard Secondhand Goods
A simple wipe down with a disinfecting wipe, homemade all-purpose cleaner or warm, soapy water can be all your items need. I suggest this for any wooden items that don’t need additional work, plastic toys, shelves, etc. Just ensure the item is fully dry before storing it away.
How to Clean Secondhand Kitchenware
Glassware
- For glassware, especially really dirty pieces, I suggest first soaking the item in hot soapy water with a little bit of vinegar for about 30 minutes, followed by a good hand washing. Allow the glass to dry fully before use.
- For glassware that you’ll be drinking from, either hand wash them or run them through the dishwasher.
Fine China, Ceramics, Plates & Bowls
- For pieces you plan on drinking or eating from, I first recommend testing them for lead. You can find lead testing kits like this one that can help you easily test for lead.
- If they’re lead-free, then you can wash them as you normally would with hot soap and water or run them through the dishwasher if they’re dishwasher safe.
Cast Iron
Cast iron is a wonderful thrift find and can be cleaned and restored back to its former glory pretty easily. You can learn more about how to strip and re-season cast iron here and how to clean and season cast iron here.
How to Care for Secondhand Wooden Items
Easily Refinish Wooden Items
- I love using oven cleaner to remove old stain from wooden items. Simply spray on a thick layer, let it sit for 30 minutes and scrub it off. Repeat if necessary.
- Allow the wood to dry fully then sand it down smooth.
- Apply your preferred stain, then seal it OR apply a wood conditioner or mineral oil.
Re-Conditioning Wood
I love using my homemade wood conditioner to breathe new life into wooden kitchen items. Simply clean the item, allow it to fully dry, then rub the wood conditioner all over the surface and allow it to seep into the wood, then wipe away the excess.
For wood furniture, I like to use something like Feed n’ Wax to condition the wood and bring back a little life. This is especially good for older wood furniture and even decor.
How to Care for Secondhand and Vintage Brass
I’m a sucker for vintage brass. I have a whole post on how to clean tarnished brass!
How to Care for Secondhand Books
I’ve thrifted my fair share of books and something you may want to consider is freezing them to remove any potential pests like book lice. Book lice love moist environments, so it’s important to keep books in a cool, dry environment. To kill any pests and prevent further issues, I recommend sealing secondhand books in an airtight plastic back and keeping them in the freezer for at least 48 hours.
Tips & Best Practices When Caring For & Cleaning Secondhand Finds
- Check for excessive wear and tear like cracks, chips, stains, holes, mold or mildew before purchasing secondhand.
- Test items like fine china, coffee mugs and painted furniture for lead before using them.
- Leave items that may have been exposed to fire or secondhand smoke.
- If you have allergies, pay attention to items that may have been exposed to pets.
- Always check care labels / material properties before cleaning or fixing secondhand items.
- When in doubt, start with gentler methods of cleaning before moving to stronger ones.
- When cleaning or refurbishing items, always test your methods in inconspicuous spots before going full in.
- Be patient and let things fully dry before using them.
In Conclusion
I hope this post helps you find some peace of mind if you’ve ever struggled buying secondhand. It’s not as big of an issue as you might think and with a little cleaning, you can bring secondhand items up to par to meet your standards!
Happy thrifting!
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