We have all been there. You just thrifted the very best MAGA red sweater but OMG, there is a stain on the front in the shape of Elon Musk’s head. How could you possibly have missed that? I feel like when I go on a thrift store shopping mission, I tend to hit up so many thrift stores in one afternoon that I miss a 
lot of important things; Missing buttons, zippers that stick and a stain or two. What is the sustainable fashionista to do? When it comes right down to how to thrift shop for clothes, there are a few tips I can give you on how to do sustainable fashion, the right way.
Let’s start with the obvious: buying clothes secondhand is smart, sustainable, and often smells like a closet in your grandma’s basement that hasn’t seen the light of day since Nixon was in office. How to thrift shop for clothes is not for everyone. It is for the fun and fashionable fashionista who loves this planet of ours and is not cool with wasting textiles in dumpsters. Want to curb your carbon footprint just a little? Start here, with how to thrift shop for clothes. I’ve been thrifting since I was in high school, way before thrifting was trendy. Yes, my small town had one thrift store. We had to take an even smellier bus to get there but still, a sustainable shopper was born back in 1996! How to thrift shop for clothes started when I was fifteen. I’ve never looked back.
Not sure if you can stomach the thought of purchasing someone’s used Steve Madden boots? Honey, d
on’t let that thrift store odor of “vintage despair” deter you. Recycled fashion is having a moment, and with a little sass, strategy, and stain remover, you can turn Goodwill into Gucci (okay, Gucci-adjacent), without needing to take out a second mortgage for a crop top. Also, there is white vinegar. If you want to be a thrift store diva, buy it at Costco. White vinegar gets out all those thrift store odors, naturally.
So, what are the starter rules for how to be a thrift store-centric fashionista? First of all, you are not obligated to buy a shirt just because it’s cheaper than a latte. That stained turtleneck is not “quirky.” It’s a biohazard. Use your judgment. Or better yet—bring a friend who will shame you into putting that glittery crop-top from 2003 back on the rack where it belongs.
Pro tip: Do a solid once-over before buying. Hold the item up to the light like you’re checking for watermarks on currency. If it has mysterious crusty patches, pass. Just remember, when it comes to bringing thrift store treasures home, yes, sometimes they have mystery smells. This is when white vinegar from Costco is your best friend. Throw one cup of white vinegar in with your thrift store load of laundry. It will do wonders to remove that gently thrifted smell.
Yelp Is Your Secondhand Spirit Guide
Driving across the country? Bless your brave little soul. But listen: Don’t just roll into any old thrift store with the blind optimism of a college freshman at a frat party. That’s how you end up with a suitcase full of mothball-infused croptops.
Instead, Yelp it up like a digital detective. Look for the reviews with phrases like “insane designer scores!” and avoid anything that includes “smelled like cat pee and broken dreams.”
How to thrift shop for clothes: plan ahead
Create a route. Plan your stops
. Prioritize cities known for fashion-savvy hipsters—Austin, Portland, anywhere with a farmer’s market and a kombucha bar. These places are hotbeds of discarded Anthropologie. No matter where you travel on vacation, you can find awesome vacation treasures at thrift stores across this great country of ours. Two years ago, I traveled and thrifted my way from Southern California to Toronto. What are the best thrift store towns in North America? I’ll tell ya!
The number one rule of any thrift store adventure day is to pay attention to all those details. Try things on. Take a good look in the mirror. Try zippers. Feel for missing buttons. Make sure both booties are the same size. The devil (Or that barbecue stain) is in the details when it comes to scoring an excellent Free People sweater this spring at thrift store prices.
Congratulations! You’ve found a vintage Levi’s jacket with a broken zipper and a faint smell of someone else’s armpits. Good news: we can work with that. When it comes to removing stains and odors from secondhand clothing, don’t give up and throw that Free People sweater in the donate pile. With a little time and patience and maybe some white vinegar, you can be looking snazzy this fall without the two-hundred-dollar Nordstrom price tag.
Here’s how to deal with your not-quite-perfect fashion finds:
- Broken zipper? YouTube has a video for that. (There’s also a zipper repair kit on Amazon for under $10. It looks like a medieval torture device, but it works.)
- Missing button? Replace it with a mismatched one and call it “boho.”
- Too big? Belt it. Wear it oversized. Call it “intentional.” Or learn how to sew. (JK. Just take it to a tailor. You’re not Laura Ingalls.
- Itchy wool sweater? Throw it in the freezer. No, really. It calms the fibers. And if it doesn’t work, at least you’ve chilled your rage.
I love this romper, I rescued from a thrift store in Toronto.
Stain, Stain, Go Away
Some people see a stain and give up. You? You’re a fighter. Trust me, I’m a food blogger. Do you know how many of my gently used clothing items are covered in curry stains? An embarrassing amount, let me tell you. Not to mention, after this last camping trip, my favorite romper has grease on it. My overalls are covered in tree sap, and after trekking nearly thirty miles in three days, these pit stains on my white tank top are beyond serious. Luckily, removing stains from secondhand clothing is easier than you would think. Here’s your laundry battle plan:
- Yellow pit stains: Soak in a mixture of hydrogen peroxide, baking soda, and dish soap like you’re marinating a pork chop. Let it sit for an hour. Scrub and wash.
- Grease: Cornstarch or baby powder to absorb the oil. Then treat with dish soap. It’s basically a spa day for your pants.
- Mystery stain (uh-oh): Try OxiClean. If that doesn’t work, dye the whole thing black and start a goth phase.
Basically everything in this photo, except for the dog, is a thrift store treasure.
How to thrift shop for clothes like a champion
When it comes down to how to thrift shop for clothes, there are some great tips I can provide on how to get the most out of your thrift store shopping shenanigans.
- Bring cash. Some shops are stuck in 1997.
- Wear leggings and a tank top. I really don’t know why so many clothing stores no longer have dressing rooms. It’s just dumb.
- Set a budget. Because 17 $4 blouses are still $68 you didn’t plan to spend.
- Have a vision. Are you channeling Coastal Grandma? Disco Cowgirl? Depressed Brooklyn Barista? Know before you go.
How to thrift shop for clothes smartly
How to thrift shop for clothes starts with sweaters and moves on quickly to boots and jackets. Trying on that jean jacket like it’s 1996? Make sure all zippers work even if it’s 90 degrees out. Many times, I’ll find I purchased a zip-up sweater where the zipper does not hold together at the bottom. That is usually quite fixable, if you are careful.
Boots with a zipper stuck? My hiking winter boots’ zipper stuck from the minute I brought them home from our local thrift store. These are great booties! So comfortable, relatively waterproof. But frustrating to try and zip up or down! Never fear! WD-40 is here! Spray a rag with WD-40 and very carefully wipe that down your zipper. Your zipper should be brand new!
I always keep extra inserts on hand for any boots or booties I purchase gently used that might not be so comfortable when you get them home. For this reason, I try to buy boots a size larger than I need. Sometimes I’ll even bring an extra set of inserts in my purse to try on with boots. Yeah, I love boots that much. Bringing home a cute pair of vintage boots that has you walking like an old cowpoke is the very worst.
How to thrift shop for clothes and cowboy boots
If you like to purchase new-to-you used cowboy boots like I do, then a good leather cleaner and boot cleaner kit is something you need to invest in.
Try on that white sweater in a mirror, look for stains or tears. It’s always helpful and fun to thrift shop with a friend. It’s nice to have a second pair of eyes checking out those Lulularoe leggings just to make sure there are no holes in the butt. 
My favorite thrift store, Savers, here in California, offers discounts on Tuesdays for seniors. I swear I always end up going on Tuesdays and the store is always packed! This will some day be awesome when I’m over 55 years old but these days it’s a pain in the ass to shop when the store is packed. If you are heading to a chain thrift store like Saver’s, Value Village or Angel View, see if they give discounts on certain days and if those discounts help you, or if you just end up having to shop in an uber-packed shop.
With just a few helpful hints, how to thrift shop for clothes is an easy way to find gently loved fashion treasures and yes, even curb your carbon footprint just a little!
