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These are the thrifted items I always keep as backstock in my home.
After years of being surprised, delighted—and yes, disappointed by thrift stores, I’ve come across a few staple items that I always look for (and am almost always able to find) that make the cart edit and come home with me every time. I like to think of these as “essential backstock” because they always come in handy, and I never regret buying them.
Related: I Thrift for a Living—These Are the 6 Items I Never Buy
Tension and Curtain Rods
There are many unique ways to use tension rods other than for hanging curtains; it’s always a good idea to have a little stash on hand. If you find them for a dollar or two, definitely put them in your cart. Additionally, heavy-duty curtain rods can be surprisingly expensive when purchased new, so keeping one or two around to use as needed is a great way to save money if you can find them for a good price. Just be sure they have all the mounting hardware, or you could end up spending just as much. You can always spray paint the rods with an enamel-based spray paint that adheres to metal to achieve the exact color and finish you want. Finish with a protective acrylic clear coat to keep the paint from chipping.
Glass Measuring Cups
As a crafter, I tend to raid my kitchen cabinets more often than not, grabbing the rogue measuring cup to measure anything from sequins to fabric dye. Since you can’t really know what they were used for once they’ve found their way to the thrift store, I recommend keeping thrifted glass measuring cups out of the kitchen and using them for anything other than cooking. Store a few in the garage or gardening shed for measuring fertilizer, and leave a few in the basement for measuring detergent.
Wicker or Reed Storage Baskets
The cost of new organizational bins at the store becomes ridiculous once you start buying them secondhand. Most thrift stores have an aisle full of storage bins, and once you start looking for the nicer baskets and bins, you’ll be really surprised at how easy they are to find. Besides their obvious beauty, wicker baskets are superior for storage (especially laundry), providing excellent ventilation that prevents mold and mildew from damaging your linens. Once you’ve brought home your secondhand baskets, remove the dust using an old paintbrush or a vacuum and clean them with mild dish soap and warm water. Use a rag to clean; do not soak your baskets.
Weathered Terracotta Flower Pots
There are many ways to achieve the look of an old, weathered terracotta flowerpot, but nothing is quite as stunning as the patina on an actual old, weather-worn container. The contrast, with beautiful blooming flowers, has delighted gardeners for ages, and if you’re new to the gardening game, you can easily get the look by buying aged pots secondhand at the thrift store. Once you bring them home, dust out the inside, but don’t wash off that beautiful patina on the outside—just go with it!
Related: How to Quickly Age Your Terracotta Pots
Wool Blankets
New wool blankets are an investment—the raw materials are costly, and production is labor-intensive. A queen-sized blanket from a trusted woolen mill, such as Pendleton, will run around $400, so if you can find one at the thrift store, you should absolutely bring it home. In addition to being breathable, wool is also hypoallergenic, antibacterial, and resistant to dust mites.
There are a few ways to clean a secondhand wool blanket that don’t involve taking it to the dry cleaner. My favorite way is “snow washing,” where you lay out your blanket in fresh, powdery snow and pat all around the blanket to free any dirt, then repeat on the other side. The other method is by hand-washing the blanket in a bathtub with cool water and a wool detergent. Never dry your wool in a dryer; always hang it in a well-ventilated area out of direct sunlight.
Read the original article on Martha Stewart
