Who doesn’t love shopping? I usually go to vintage and thrift stores abroad to look for key pieces that I can wear for special occasions. During the pandemic, I do it both local and online wherein I can find hidden gems that are valued at a steal. Thrifting is not a new concept. It has been in the system for quite some time now. It helps make the fast fashion industry more sustainable by increasing their lifespan, decreasing new production and support local non-government organizations by its profits from the sales.
Always wash your new thrift store finds before adding them to your respective closet. Here’s a quick guide on how to properly clean and deodorize thrifted clothes to remove both germs and odors.
Sort
There are different types of clothing fabric. Proper care for the different types of clothes in your closet can help keep them looking their best and prolong their use. Make sure you sort your thrifted clothes by the type of fabric used. Different types of fabric need special care or treatment so its best to always put the similar things together. Some of the most common type of fabric used on thrifted clothes are cotton, rayon, nylon, polyester, wool, and silk.
Examine
Make it a habit to examine the thrifted clothes really carefully. By examining the used clothes, you will be able to determine the age and condition, as it might need to take specific steps to restore them. There are a several vital information that you need to look for when examining your thrifted clothes:
- Any leftover stains that should be treated.
- Any tear or cuts that need to be sewn.
- Any worn out fabric that should be replaced.
- Any delicate fabric that needs to be handled with care as per label / tag.
Wash
Wash your thrifted clothes using the appropriate temperature water. You have to use an appropriate water temperature depending on the age and condition of the fabric to wash them. Damage or shrinkage can be a result if you didn’t use the right temperature for your thrifted clothes. Washing your thrifted clothes is promoting healthy lifestyle. Here are some examples:
- Always wash cottons in cold, as hot water may shrink them.
- Always wash colored fabrics in cold, as hot water may make them run.
- Always consider washing pre-shrunk or synthetic fabrics in warm water.
Dry
Appropriately drying your clothes is important in making sure you properly clean and preserve your new threads. If you dry your clothes improperly, you could damage your new thrifted clothes. Always buy a washing machine that has a dryer so it will be convenient for you.
Store
Make sure that your thrifted clothes are clean so you can store them properly in a cabinet. It will keep them clean and prevent them from developing new smells or possibly molds. It will ensure that you’re living a healthy lifestyle.
I admit that I really care about my clothing to last and look new for as long as possible. I save your advice!
I think washing cloth is the easiest way of cleaning thriffed clothes
Great tips! I live where it’s sunny and warm so I try to dry all my clothes outside. They seem to last longer when they avoid the dryer.
Wow! We call this as ukay-ukay in the Philippines. I have tried it twice. I’ll definitely take note of your tips. Good job!
I love buying thrifted clothes. I usually transform it into something new. Unique and bold are some of the qualities I look for thrifted clothes. I make sure that it is clean too. I will check the links on this blog post. I’m interested in buying Beko. What a cool brand!
There is something so wonderful about purchasing thrifted clothes for your wardrobe. But yes, you do need to make sure they are properly cleaned on purchase because you never know!
I am a fan of buying thrift clothes, and these are def great tips in cleaning them. Thank you!
Such great reminders and tips here. Love going to thrift stores and finding new treasures.
Great tips here. Thrift clothes are very common here and cheap so people love them but some dont know how to properly clean them. thanks for your tips
You’ll never know what treasures you’ll find in thrift stores. Whether you bought your clothes from thrift stores or they are brand new, it’s important to wash them first before wearing. Love your tips!
I have been itching to get to the thrift store. It’s been awhile.
You have shared the perfect guide for preserving our thrift clothing! I love my clothes well ironed and sewn.
Those were some really great tips! Here in the Philippines thrift clothes was a really nice business.
Great tips here, Thank you so much for sharing these x
First of all, it’s great that you are shopping for thrift clothes – it’s so environment-friendly. And yes, obviously, they need a good clean, hence, your tips are great.
So true, when using second hand clothes, hygiene can be a concern. I’ve not used any, but it can be very helpful to save some bucks. Proper cleaning is essential.
Great tips! I always buy used clothes every summer, i look for oversized shirts that i can cut into outfit and yes, cleaning them properly is very important esp losing the smell.
Love these tips and thrifted clothes are my favorites 😉 I always love going in and hunting around 😉
Great set of tips. It is important to get them to hygienic levels .
I love thrifted clothes. I agree with the steps above. We really need to clean it before you store or use it in the future.
I never have worn thrifted clothes. Now, I’m much more confident upon reading this article. Thank you so much for the valuable tips.
I never thought about using an appropriate water temperature depending on the age and condition of the clothes. Thanks for the tip