Don't Forget About D.I.Y
If you feel like you never have any luck when you’re thrift shopping, maybe it’s because you’re not looking with the right frame of mind. Instead of trying to find the item that perfectly finds your vision/needs, look for the item that has good potential. You may never find that gorgeous decorative vase in pristine condition that perfectly matches the wall color in your dining room. Chances are, that perfect item doesn’t even exist….yet.
What you need to do is look for a vase that can be repurposed, so it can become it image you have in your head. Maybe you find something that’s the right shape, or size, but the color is all wrong and it’s pretty scratched/scuffed. Pick up some spray paint in the correct color, and apply multiple coats to cover up those imperfections. Next time you walk into Goodwill, try to remember all the ways you can repurpose and restyle an item in order to suit your needs. The possibilities are endless once you introduce the D.I.Y frame of mind.
Check out these great articles to get inspiration & learn more about restoring items for your home:
Home Stories A to Z; How to Flawlessly Spray Paint Furniture
LeCultivateur; Refinishing Must-Haves
ThirtyEightStreet; How To Transform Second Hand Furniture Easily
Location, Location, Location
If you feel like you’ve already exhausted your local Goodwill, check out another location for all new inventory. Depending on where you live, you can probably locate a few different Goodwill stores within reasonable driving distance. You can go to their website to find a list of stores in your area. (https://www.goodwill.org/locator/)
Expand Your Horizons
Goodwill isn’t the only thrift store of it’s kind. There are tons of similar organizations that offer second-hand goods for cheap. You probably have a few stores like this in your area, you just didn’t know they existed (until now). I’ve put together a list of trustworthy alternatives to Goodwill that are totally worth checking out.
Places that are Similar to Goodwill
- Savers: https://www.savers.com/
- America’s Thrift Stores: https://www.americasthrift.com/
- Beebe’s Treasure Chest: https://www.beebehealthcare.org/make-gift/thrift-shop
- Salvation Army: https://www.salvationarmyusa.org/usn/
- Family Thrift: https://www.familythrift.com/
- Habitat for Humanity ReStore: https://www.habitat.org/restores
- PennyWise Resale: https://www.fbwc.org/pennywise/
- American Flea Markets: http://americanfleas.com/
Don't Worry, It Can Be Cleaned
Try not to let a little dirt scare you away. We all know that sometimes items from thrift stores can appear a bit grimy and/or carry a musty odor. The staff at places like Goodwill have to sort through hundreds of thousands of donated items every year, so they don’t have the time or resources to make sure everything is cleaned off before it gets displayed in stores. Most of these items have seen better days- but don’t give up on them just yet.
Check out these great articles to learn how to properly clean/disinfect/sanitize your thrift store finds:
Molly Maid; How to Disinfect Thrift Store Furniture
Safe Bee; How to Disinfect Your Furniture
DIY Passion; Three Ways to Clean Thrift Store and Second Hand Furniture