Cleaning Those Thrift Store Finds

[lizardsally]

Goo-Gone, De-Solv-It and Citra-Solv are all great products, especially for use on plastics and other hard surfaces.  But you what my favorite adhesive remover is?  Lighter fluid.  You can even use it on paper such as books and cardboard boxes to remove sticky labels, because it has no water or oil in it, so it evaporates completely and leaves no stain at all!  (I usually buy it real cheap at estate sales too.) 

I love the tip about using the Tide pen on potential thrift scores - great idea!  I do have one but I never thought to use it for that, duh!  I love Oxi Clean too, and I especially love that it works so well on colored clothing as well as white - I used it to brighten up a dingy green vintage dress with lace and ribbons - it looks amazing now!

I also like Soft Scrub with bleach for cleaning up old dishes - I use a good scourer pad with it and it even takes the grungy dirt of the bottom of old coffee mugs!

But seriously folks, try lighter fluid for getting stickers off books and stuff - you'll be amazed!

[ChrisMiss]

Lighter fluid....is that the kind to start charcoal or is it the kind that is used in cigarette lighters?  I guess you shouldn't smoke while using the lighter fluid; unless of course you like to live dangerously.

[Thrift Shop Romantic]

Yup-- I wish all my forum friends to be safe-- and eyebrows intact. :-)

[ChrisMiss]

Eyebrows getting a little bushy?  Need to pluck or wax?  No need with the new improved lighter fluid method!  None of those pesky rules of using in a well ventilated area.  And best of all no assembly required!  Only tool required is one match...oh and one emergency room. 

[ChrisMiss]

No, seriously though, which kind of lighter fluid.  Would it work on books and record covers and not remove any of the color?  That would be cool if it did.

[Other People s Junk]

No, seriously though, which kind of lighter fluid.  Would it work on books and record covers and not remove any of the color?  That would be cool if it did.

My MIL uses lighter fluid all the time to get the price stickers off of books and sheet music.  (And it doesn't take off anything but the sticker/goo.)  She swears by it!  I was thinking it was the kind in a cigarette lighter, but can't remember for sure.     Sorry!

[Thrift Shop Romantic]

Chris, you cracked me up! I think you could have a fine future in advertising. :-)