How to properly wash second-hand clothes: 7 important rules

And of course, we shouldn’t forget that eco-friendly thrifting is one of the simplest and most enjoyable ways to personally contribute to reducing the environmental impact of the fashion industry. But to participate in this useful business, you need to know a few rules, which is why today we will talk about the correct washing of second-hand clothes.

Hygienic washing of second-hand clothes requires a certain sequence of actions. So, let’s get started!

This is the first and most important rule of washing second-hand items: figure out what they’re made of. Study the labels that tell you how to care for your pants or jacket – what temperature they should be washed at and whether this can be done.

Here, of course, many people have a question: how to clean second-hand clothes if they do not have a tag? “Sometimes you can intuitively guess what fabric your new item is made of. Not completely sure? In this case, my advice for washing second-hand clothes is very simple: choose a delicate cycle or do not put your find in the machine at all, but put it away with your hands,” recommends stylist Charlène Zeroual.

Safe washing of used clothes at certain stages is no different from the usual procedure: one cannot do without sorting. Whites should not be washed with colored ones, a silk blouse should not be put in the drum with jeans, and heavily soiled items should not be combined with almost clean items. Only one very important additional rule is added: the first time you wash items from a flea market separately from others.

The next step in preparing second-hand clothing is to inspect it carefully. A small puff or hole after washing can turn into huge tears – they need to be sewn or treated with textile glue. Detergents must first be applied to the stains, protruding threads must be cut and pellets must be removed with a razor or a special machine.

This scent is familiar to everyone, but no one likes it, so it’s better to get rid of it right away. Here’s how to eliminate flea market odors using a recipe from stylist Roberta Lee: “Add 200 milliliters of nine percent white vinegar to four liters of warm water, place items in the mixture for 15 minutes, then rinse. If you don’t have vinegar or don’t like its aroma, dilute a glass of soda in eight liters of water – it is better to leave things in the solution overnight. Plus, sunlight and fresh air do a great job of deodorizing: hang your purchases outside to air out for a day. Cold works just as well: seal your purchases in a bag and put them in the freezer for 48 hours,” advises the expert.

So we figured out how to get rid of the second hand smell. Let’s move on to the next item on the checklist: if there are stains on the clothes, they need to be treated. You’ll find instructions for everything from spilled coffee on your blouse to grass marks on the leg of your jeans.

“The rules for caring for second-hand clothing are no different from those we use for items purchased on the mass market. But the first wash is an exception: before this, it is better to soak the finds overnight or for several hours in disinfectant powder. Do not be afraid to invest, this product will come in handy more than once – for example, for washing clothes worn by a sick person, but which are harmful at a temperature of 60 ℃, ”says Roberta.

And there you have it, the end of the step-by-step washing of second-hand clothes: it’s time to put them in the drum. There are no special features or pitfalls: you just need to run a cycle adapted to the fabric. If you want, you can add a glass of vinegar and a few drops of water-soluble essential oil to the conditioner compartment to not only freshen up your thrift store clothes, but also scent them.

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