Down and Dirty!

[dewdrop_me_a_line]

I love the thrill of the hunt. I know that's why I am addicted to TS. Dirty = baking soda, peroxide, Mr. Clean eraser (cheaper knock off),Priced to ruin: Alcohol, peanut butter, gasoline!

I try to determine the value vs. the effort of removal of stains and sometimes the error of price markings.

What is your greatest coup? Anyone care to share their greatest clean-up or price removal methods?

[Good Buddy]

Somehow I was given a bottle of De-Solve-It...
http://www.orange-sol.com/household/index.html
..and it gets most everything off of thrifted items without damaging the purchase.
For price stickers nothing works better, I think. It also removes grease pencil pricing with ease.
It's a citrus based product and it leaves a definite orange smell, but it really works wonders..

[Firekinghunt]

Goo-B-Gone works great for sticker residue. I also like the Magic eraser for marker prices. Be careful with the Goo-B-Gone on plastics (especially vintage) and rubbing alcohol works just as good!

[mccoysnina]

Not a clean up story but a quick fix story.  I found a large wooden bowl that I really liked.  It was a bright red  and white finish, which of course I what i really liked about it.  But the edge around the top had chips in the finish that, against the red surface, really stood out.  I think it was less than $10, so I thought, gotta be a way to fix it.  Home came the bowl.  I thought about it for a few minutes, took out a Qtip and a bottle of red food coloring and went to work.  The repair is visible if you are looking for it but the chips blend in so well you almost have to be looking for them.  Repair is food safe so I can use the bowl for food and if it needs a touch up, all I need is a Qtip, a few drops of coloring and a couple of minutes.
Jeannie

[valleythriftshopper]

Thant reminds me of a tip I read in one of Rachel Ashwells books for chipped glazed ceramics- use a matching shade of nail polish on the chip as it will dry with a shiny finish like the glaze. 

The magic eraser sponge (Mr. Clean or generic, it doesn't matter Mr. Clean falls apart just as quickly) is my best friend for sure.  Use carefully on some finishes though.  I have used the clorox bleach pen on some discolorations on old dishes with mixed results, it helped a few times but not others.  It is great for little spots on white linens though!

Oxyclean or generic has worked on yellowed linens, you have to use the hottest water though & sometimes soak 2 or 3 times, which is a pain.  I do take risks & use bleach alot, mostly with great results.  I just mix the bleach in well with water in a big rubbermaid container then add the linens, almost always fine no bleach spots, sometimes minimum fading.  Clorox Ultimate Care is a buffered bleach that will fade even less too.     

They sell bleach pens, generic magic eraser sponges, generic oxyclean and Goo Gone at Dollar Tree too. 

[dewdrop_me_a_line]

I call the local Grocery Outlet store the "Used Food Store". I also call the Bakery Outlets here the "Used Bread Stores". Get it? Bakery Thrift Store? Anyway, it usually gets an "Ugh!" or a giggle from folks. I buy my generic "Magic Erasers" there. I also like peanut butter on stickers cause it stays without drying out and dissolves glue. (Learned from daughters with long hair and gum!)[/color It works well on grease pen.

Vinegar is a great friend. I use gallons of it. It takes out stains in the wash and it gets out those awful perfume and smells that used clothing sometimes has. I can't live w/o baking soda and borax. Borax kills bugs too . . . who could ask for anything more!

dew

[valleythriftshopper]

Goo-B-Gone works great for sticker residue. I also like the Magic eraser for marker prices. Be careful with the Goo-B-Gone on plastics (especially vintage) and rubbing alcohol works just as good!

I bought a top at the SA ther other day that was new with tags, but noticed a permanent marker dot on the front after I got it home.  The employees sometimes get marker on the clothing when they are pricing stuff which is annoying.  I remembered your suggestion of rubbing alcohol & put some on a Q-tip.  I got about 75% of the marker out so it is not visible unless you were really looking.  Great tip- thanks!