How to Clean Thrift Store Clothing

September 21, 2005 by The Budget Fashionista on September 21 2005 , 7 Comments

There’s nothing I like more than a shopping spree at my local Salvation Army. I never really paid much attention to disinfecting the garments, until I learned that a fashion editor friend of mine received a nasty infection from not cleaning her thrift store purchases properly. This tool gives you tips on cleaning and disinfecting your thrift store purchases.

Never, ever, wear a thrift store purchase without first cleaning the garment(s). In most cases it’s best to send the item to the dry cleaners for cleaning. The to dry clean garments kills pretty much every germ imaginable.

If the garment can’t be or your just too broke to afford a high cleaning bill, then wash the garment once in the hottest water possible, with a cap full of Pine Sol or other disinfectant and then a second time with a table spoon of baking soda (to remove the Pine Sol smell). Test the disinfectant on the garment prior to washing to make sure the chemicals don’t stain or otherwise damage the clothing. Dry the garment in your dryer at the highest possible heat.

For shoes, jewelry, and other accessories, wipe the piece down with rubbing alcohol (test a small area to make sure it doesn’t damage the piece) or spray with Lysol disinfect spray. This might not completely disinfect the garment, but it will kill some germs.

Tagged as: clothes washing, clothing care, salvation army, thrift store, used clothes

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{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }

1 dawn nelson November 4, 2005: i also find that a nice trip through the laundry is sufficient. i like to add white vinegar to the load to rid the clothes of any odors. perfumes, musty smells or most importantly…the multitude of laundry soaps the rest of the world uses that just about kill me!
2 PC November 4, 2005: I am in the habit of “disinfecting” clothes bought from stores (all undergarments!! packed or not!!) – although I haven’t tried the PineSol/baking soda potion. So what about trying on the clothes in the dressing room (department, consignment or thrift)?? How do you protect yourself from contaminants? Is there a “3 second rule” for this as well?
~P
3 Sue November 16, 2005: Does anyone have a cure for musty smelling shoes.
I am a very thrifty shopper and have just a hair short of 300 pairs of shoes.Unfortunately until I organized them into clear see-through plastic bins, a large portion of them became musty smelling(obviously having that many pairs of shoes had to be stored on basement shelves)…thanks to any tips!
4 Shirley Plummer January 24, 2006: Bottom line use common sense. If the garment looks well worn, you might be better off just leaving it on the rack. I don’t like to purchase underwear at the thrift store unless it still have the folds of the package and I stll wash it in hot water and bleach,just like I do my own whites every time I wash them. That rids those garment of whatever there might be. And if you are that phobic you would be better off shopping at the outlet stores or learn to make your own.
5 Judi April 13, 2006: Does anyone know how to clean the rope of “old” espadrilles?
6 mbaquino24 October 7, 2008: Wow – thanks for this info! I’ve always been hesitant about buying stuff at thrift stores – but in times like these… It leaves me with no other choice!!

Thanks!