How To Find Treasures While Thrifting
My mom has been thrifting since she was my age. She would go to auctions and estate sales and bring new life into pre-loved pieces. I guess you could say my love for thrifting is genetic. My favorite way to spend time with my mom is going treasure hunting, although I do go by myself too. Shopping secondhand can be a daunting task if you don’t know what to look for. Lucky for me, my mom has taught me all her tricks.
The most important thing when thrifting is keeping an open mind. There were days in my youth when I hated going to Goodwill. It smelled funny and was dark and I was kind of grossed out by buying other peoples junk. Fast forward, and Goodwill is my favorite store! You never know what you’re going to find, so keep you eyes peeled.
Thrifting Guide
Rule 1: Have a Fully Charged Phone
Having your phone with you is rule number one. I constantly have my phone out doing research on items I find, or texting my mom. Some of my favorite things to look out for are brass items, midcentury swung vases, vintage wooden & gilded frames, and crystal. I’ve gotten pretty good at telling how real brass feels, but every once in awhile there will be a brand etched on the bottom. I like Googling the brand to see how old my item is. Age isn’t the biggest factor in what I buy, but I like having the knowledge. (And, finding true vintage pieces makes my heart skip a beat.)
Another reason I like knowing the history of my items is so I can look them up on resale sites later. There’s no better feeling than knowing you scored a great deal! For example, you can find swung vases on Ebay for upwards of $50! I keep track of how much I pay for things so if the time ever comes for me to sell my treasures, I know how much to ask.
Rule 2: If You Love It, Get It
I can’t tell you how many times I didn’t get something and regretted it later. Thrift stores have a rotating door of inventory. It’s very unlikely that it’ll be there for you later. My mom and I have fallen subject to this so many times so we created a insurance policy of sorts. We have a “Pitter Patter Rule.” Our hearts do a little happy dance whenever we see something that we really love. If you get the Pitter Patter then you need to get it. I haven’t gotten the Pitter Patter for every purchase I’ve ever made so it’s not completely fool proof. But, it saves you from missing out on something truly special.
Rule 3: Don’t Judge A Treasure by It’s Tarnish
When it comes to glassware or kitchen items, they might look a little too loved. Tarnish, cloudiness, or grease all have simple remedies to make your treasures look brand new. I thrifted an adorable stainless steel teapot, but it was covered in residue. My trick was to rub it with Dawn dish soap and let it sit for a few minutes. After a quick hand wash it was shiny! Most of my treasures have required a little clean when I get home, and it’s so worth it! Most people would pass something up because they aren’t sure if it can be cleaned or repaired. This is another instance where having a charged phone is helpful! You can always Google on the spot to make sure there is a remedy.
Rule 4: Time and Place
I’ve been super into thrifting since moving to Madison. There are so many great shops, and that’s really phase one of thrifting. Find stores that you love. My favorite store around here is Agrace. It has high quality pieces, it’s extremely clean and well organized, and has great volunteers! I also have been loving Saint Vincent de Paul stores. They are extremely organized and it’s never crowded. Goodwill is great, but the aisles are so skinny and people are always up in my business. (DEFINITELY NOT 6 FEET APART.) I find the clientele at Agrace & St. Vinny’s to be more respectful of social distancing.
Once you have your favorite stores established you need to think of the timing. I prefer to thrift during the week so there are less people, and the shelves are restocked from the weekend crowd. Agrace isn’t open on Monday’s so I usually go on Tuesday or Wednesday. There are 4 thrift stores within a 5 mile radius of me, so my entire afternoon is spent thrifting.
Don’t be shy about cutting a store out of your rotation. There’s one Goodwill in particular that my mom and I have stopped going to because they are lacking in high quality inventory, and during COVID the patrons refused to social distance or wear masks. We’d rather spend our time at a store we know has at least a couple high quality finds every time we go.
My Favorite Thrifting Finds
I’ve thrifted a lot of items over the years, but some just stick out. The best treasure I’ve ever found is a crystal decanter. My mom and I were up in Michigan for a little girls trip and we went into this Antique store. It just so happened that everything was 50% off. The decanter was sparkling even with the dim lighting and I got it for $15. On Friday I found a single crystal whiskey glass, so now I’m on the hunt to complete the set!
My mom and I love glassware. Like, LOVE glassware. The first items I started thrifting was Candlewick Boopie glassware. I have TONS of it now, and it’ll always have a special place in my heart because it’s what got me hooked on thrifting. Now, I’m hooked on Susquehanna 6 point star glassware. Each time I find a new piece I get the Pitter Patter.
My apartment in Chicago was styled entirely from thrifted or secondhand items. Some of my favorite items that I’ll keep forever are my thrifted lamps. From heavy duty brass, to whimsical gumballs, and midcentury statements. Lamps are so fun to thrift because they’re such a good deal! I also love thrifting items like these because then you’ll be original. No one else will have them!
What’re some of your favorite things to look for while treasure hunting? Follow me on Instagram for more thrifting finds, and excursions!
