Cleaning Those Thrift Store Finds

[ChrisMiss]

Have you any cleaning stories or hints to share?  I have a few so I’ll start this thread with a couple of my successes.

Using OxiClean for stain removal and also for whitening clothing is my absolute favorite.  Of course, I try not to buy anything that has an obvious stain on it but sometimes it happens.  I’ve had good success using the OxiClean to remove stains.  I use it also to whiten t-shirts and it works wonderfully for that too.

For removing stains or marks on dishes I’ve used a soft abrasive cleaner such as Soft Scrub with good results.  I’ve also used the Pfaltzgraff Stoneware & Porcelain Cleaner to clean those stubborn stains or scratches.  It works very well also.  

What are some of your hints to share?

[Good Buddy]

I got one..

For getting the sticky from price tags or wax pricing crayon off of your thrifted goodies, I've found a product that's called De-Solv-it and it's available at Wal-Mart and many other stores.
I've found this VERY usefill in getting the pricing gunk off of many things I buy at thrift stores. The product is based on citrus juices and extracts and is very environmentally friendly and smells very pleasant.

The website for the company is here..http://www.orange-sol.com/household/index.html

Enjoy!

[eclectic-girl]

In addition to removing sticky things like price stickers, I found that Goo Gone (citrus based cleaner for sticky stuff) can remove some scuff marks from some items.  I got a hot pink hard plastic suitcase and was able to remove some, but not all, black scuff marks on it with Goo Gone.

Also, baking soda mixed with liquid dishsoap to make a paste can make a gentle soft scrub for things.  Baking soda's great for all sorts of things.  Also, toothpaste can be used for a gentle softscrub like cleaner...smells minty too.  

[Zed Simon]

I've come to like Simple Green for basic cleaning. Dilute it according to the instructions, wet a rag with it and you're good to go.

[alexandra]

Does anyone carry around one of those Tide stain remover sticks?  I always have one in my purse -- since  I'm always spilling stuff on me when I eat or drink... but I also use them when I spot a spot on a potential find.  If the stain stick removes it,  I know the stain is removable.

Yesterday, I scored a really nice Papagallo polo shirt for a buck and a half -- it had a small stain on the front, which my stick removed.  If the stain didn't come out, I wouldn't have bought it.

I also hand wash a lot of stuff -- I found a great Vera Bradley bag last week (yes, I am aware of labels, it's part of what helps me make "informed" purchasing decisions) that I hand washed.  While it was drying,  I was reading a magazine that showed the same style (only in a computer bag) for $85 -- but I paid $3.99 for mine.  Now washed, it is in nearly new condition.

For other purses, which I can't necessarily hand wash, I use either Febreze or I put them in the dryer to fluff on low with a dryer sheet.

I once bought a pair of black leather pants for cheap -- but it cost me 30 bucks to have them cleaned.  Now I am more careful when I buy suede or leather garments.    If I don't think I can get the musty smell out without professional cleaning,  I take a pass.

Thriftily,
Alexandra

[ChrisMiss]

I once bought a pair of black leather pants for cheap -- but it cost me 30 bucks to have them cleaned.  Now I am more careful when I buy suede or leather garments.    If I don't think I can get the musty smell out without professional cleaning,  I take a pass.

Thriftily,
Alexandra

That is a good idea to remember.  Also check those care labels and if the item is dry clean only, I will usually take a pass on it.  

There are some areas of the country that dry cleaning isn't that expensive.  When we lived in Cincinnati Ohio it wasn't expensive at all.  I got to where I didn't even check the labels until after I bought the item.   Big expense when we moved to another area of the country!  I wound up giving away a lot of my dry clean only clothing.

[Cookie]

Hi Alexandra and welcome t0 our site!  I am going to get myself one of those Tide sticks tonight.  That is a GREAT tip.  I usually pass up everything with stains but now I can check for myself to see if it can be removed.  Thank you!  I also had a dry cleaning expense problem.  I thrifted a beautiful tan 3/4 length suede coat from the 70's in Albuquerque when I was in college, and the dry cleaning was so expensive that I ended up getting rid of it.  Now I never thrift anything that needs to be dry cleaned just out of habit.  

We're glad you found our site, and we hope to be of service in all your thrifting adventures!

Cookie

[ChrisMiss]

Does anyone carry around one of those Tide stain remover sticks?  I always have one in my purse -- since  I'm always spilling stuff on me when I eat or drink... but I also use them when I spot a spot on a potential find.  If the stain stick removes it,  I know the stain is remove.

Alexandra

Does the Tide stick fade the color of the item?  There used to be something like that to pretreat stains as soon as they occurred, you pretreated the spot and just threw it in the dirty clothes until laundry day.  I found that it seemed to fade the color where you used it.  When you use the Tide stick how does it seem to do on fading?  Thanks in advance for your response.

[alexandra]

I have not found that the area the stick is used on is adversely affected.  I've also used it on a leather purse which had a pesky pen stain on it.  It didn't totally remove it, but it faded it very well.  I have never used the stick on a huge stain -- but when I do something dumb (like spill coffee on myself), I'll opt for the Tide stick any time -- it's far better than the stain!  But if something at a store has abig or conspicuous stain, I generally pass on it.

If you are concerned about it fading the area, once the spot is removed, blotting it with water might help.  

The stick is not a pre-treater, and I think it works better than they do too.  I am guessing that the longer the stain is set in, the less chance it has of  being removed -- and the stick is a great way to test if the spot will ever come out in the wash.

I used it last week on a cashmere/silk blend sweater with no problem.

Thriftily,
Alexandra
www.livingwithoutmoney.blogspot.com

[ChrisMiss]

Thanks for answering my question.  I'll have to get one of those and try it out.  My husband loves to wear white t-shirts and he's always spilling something on them.  I usually soak them in OxiClean before washing, it works really good.  I would like something though for colored clothing to remove any stains, so I'l give this a shot.

[ChrisMiss]

Clarification regarding using the Pfaltzgraff Stoneware & Porcelain Cleaner.  It works great on removing utensil marks from dishes.  

I haven't found anything yet that will remove cloudiness from glasses that have been washed too often in the dishwasher.  Has anyone had any good results removing the cloudiness?

I've seen the results of a product that is used to shine hard plastic.  I can't remember the name of it though.  It cleans and shines older radios up very well.

[kylesgram]

Thanks for the info about OxiClean-great stuff.  One trick that I use is Murphy's Oil Soap.  I use it to remove greasy stains from clothing.  Just pour it on and use a toothbrush to rub it in.  

I also sell used books online.  I clean them up so they look really good.  If there is a sticker or sticker residue on the cover I use vaseline and a soft tissue to remove the residue.  I then use a baby wipe to clean the covers and erase any pencil marks.  I've been doing this now for 6 years and works well.  You can also use vaseline to remove sticker residue on glassware, plastic stuff (like an eyeball of a huge stuffed frog).

[ChrisMiss]

I will definitely have to try the Murphy's Oil Soap!  If it can remove grease from clothing that will be great.  How many times have we dropped something greasy on ourselves like a french fry and it leaves a spot.  I can't wait to find some of that soap and give it a try.

I'll also have to try the vaseline to shine up plastic stuff and to remove sticky residue from stickers and stuff.  That's sounds like a great idea.

[Emmapeel]

I just tried some of that citrus stuff on some old labels. They came off brilliantly!

[Thrift Shop Romantic]

These are some great tips! Especially on the Murphys, but I''m definitely going to try the Vaseline on the sticker residue and see how that goes, too.

I''ve used peanut butter before to remove sticker residue-- it works well, and certainly smells good, but would prefer to use it on a sandwich.

--Jenn
www.thriftshopromantic.com