Does your thrift wash stuff?

[superiorgirl]

I had an antique store and it was my policy that nothing went on display that wasn't clean - or at least as clean as I could make it without disturbing patina or damaging the item. It's common sense - clean dishes sparkle and sell better. A clean store smells better and doesn't offend people.

My local ts actually has a washer and drier and I often hear it working as I am shopping there. However, I don't think they clean anything else. For the most part the store is clean. From time to time things that customers have done become apparent - like leaving a partial take out coffee cup on the shelf or stuff like that. BUT, I don't think they ever clean other merchandise. Salt shakers get sold with hard salt in them. Cut or pressed glass dishes have grunge. It takes a lot of time to clean stuff and even if they did clean it, they probably wouldn't mark it differently.

Does your thrift wash stuff? Like what? What things do they sell 'as is'? How does it affect your buying habits? What wouldn't you buy 'as is'?

[valleythriftshopper]

I think the Salvation Army must make some effort because I don't ever see really dirty stuff there, though I am sure it just limited to dusting stuff off.  There is a very sweet lady at the food bank thrift who cleans all the jewlery and washes stuff.  There were a bunch of vintage hankies out a few weeks ago and they looked so perfect I commented on them & she said she had soaked & pressed them.  She told me she used to own a dry cleaning business so I guess she couldn't stand to put out yellowed hankies!  I just learned the other day that her husband died unexpectedly so I hope she comes back to that thrift at some point.

I don't mind buying dirty glass or pottery as long as they don't have chips or cracks.  I can recognize now what kind of grunge I can get off with the Mr. Clean Magic Eraser Sponge and what is permanently discolored.  It would be great if the clothes were washed, but if that meant paying higher prices, I'd rather wash them myself.

[anastasiabeaverhausen]

I think the TS wipe stuff off here. But I wash everything ESPECIALLY clothes when I get them home, so to me it dosent make a difference, especially if it would make the price go up!

[Punk Glam Queen]

When I had my flea market biz and shop I always cleaned everything! I believe by law if you sell used clothing it is supposed to be cleaned, but I've seen bugs at some thrift stores (needless to say I no longer shop there.) Regardless of the condition everything that comes home with me gets cleaned again. I'm by no means a clean freak, but I don't want to imagine where these things have come from. Oh, and when I donate to a TS or Freecycle, everything is always clean as well.

[mlogan]

I don't think any of them do here but like other posters, i would rather wash it myself to keep the prices from going any higher.

I will say that I hate trying on something like a shirt or sweater that you can smell the perfume of whoever that donated it:) yuck

[Pedeka]

   I kinda answered this in my post on the "Do you try clothes on?" thread.
   All of the thrifts around me are different, but I am not sure if that is due to things being washed before they are sold or washed before they are donated. Does that make sense? I think some thrifts just get a better class of donations. Some places fumigate the fabric items before they are put on the floor. You can smell it. I can't think that I have ever noticed clothes at any thrift that I have been in that seem like they are "freshly" washed, just things that don't show any dirt. But I could always be wrong.

[Firekinghunt]

There is only ONE thrift store that I know washes stuff by me. It is more of a "resale" store and they charge a lot more for their items. Any true thrift store around here has waaaaaay to much inventory coming and going to spend the time and $$$ to clean stuff. I expect to wash the items when I get home, it is all sold "as-is." In fact i prefer that I clean my glassware/antiques because a careless employee might not be careful. Clothing always goes straight in the washer with hot water and lots of detergent.

[Lcmsa]

NO way.... I work at my thrift I do about 25/30 large black trash bags (average day), if we had to wash everything our prices would got through the roof.  It is surprising how many people THINK we wash the clothes. We don't put out any visiably dirty clothing nor do we put out clothing from smokers or hairy clothes. We really try very very hard to put out useable clothing. LCMSA

[superiorgirl]

There's no way that they wash everything. I'm sure they are very selective about what gets washed. They check clothes for condition and things that are stained or damaged get sent to their rag cutters and sold by the pound. Now I'm wondering just what they wash - jackets, higher end clothes, or what. I'll have to ask.

[Mattie]

I overheard an employee at St. Vincent's tell a customer that they spray the clothing with a mixture of Downey and water.  Everything smells clean, even if it's not.  I once found dishes in a thrift with food stuck to them, which is inexcusable, but other than that, most thrift store merchandise that I've seen/handled/bought has been relatively clean.  I think most people wash items before donating them, and of course I wash whatever I buy.  I'd wash brand-new retail items before using them, too.

[DianneK]

Oh Mattie thats just gross.I know we have a SA in Kissimmee and even though clothes appear clean,I can't really tell if they have been washed.The housewares always look clean and the furniture looks clean,but I would spray sofa's and armchairs down with bug spray before sitting on it because you never can tell if someone has sat on it and has head lice.