10 Tools for Cleaning and Restoring Your Thrift Store Finds

Shopping secondhand is great for the planet and your wallet, but it can be a time-consuming process even after you bring your thrift store gems home. Although there are many benefits to buying secondhand, one of the inconveniences is the effort needed to clean, fix, or refurbish thrifted clothing, furniture, and other home goods. As an avid thrifter, I’m always looking for tools to help me upcycle my thrifted finds. From cleaning upholstery to polishing jewelry, here are some gadgets to give your secondhand items new life.

_{Prices are accurate as of December 17, 2024. Subject to change.}

Bissell Little Green Portable Carpet and Upholstery Cleaner

Whether furnishing a new home or shopping for vintage rugs, it’s hard to thoroughly clean carpeting or upholstery without commercial equipment. This viral Bissell carpet cleaner may be the only device I’ve ever owned that truly targets tough stains and unseen dirt. From spot-cleaning rugs to deep cleaning a recliner, the hose design lets you access hard-to-reach places with powerful suction. I can’t imagine not having this portable gadget by my side the next time I bring home an upholstered thrift store find.

Beautural Fabric Shaver and Lint Remover

Whether you discover a pilled sweater among the racks or a lint-covered armchair, this fabric shaver will remove all of that extra fuzz, leaving your item looking brand new. It has two speeds and three shaving heights to adapt to more fragile items. For under $20, this affordable device can help restore secondhand clothing, bedding, and upholstery over and over again.

Nori Press

After washing your thrifted clothes, you may need to iron, particularly if you bought anything made with cotton or linen. I’m really not a fan of traditional irons and don’t have the space for a full ironing board, which is why I love the compact, lightweight Nori Press. The design reminds me of a hair straightener because all you have to do is clamp it on the material and glide, ironing in one swipe. It comes with six convenient fabric settings and a built-in steamer to make your secondhand clothes look brand new in mere seconds.

Magnasonic Ultrasonic Jewelry Cleaner

Sometimes you strike gold when shopping for secondhand jewelry, but you need to thoroughly clean and polish pieces to restore them to their shiny original state. Instead of doing this by hand or with harsh chemicals, this ultrasonic jewelry cleaner does the work for you using ultrasonic sound waves and can even clean non-jewelry items like eyeglasses or small tools.

Stitchy

When shopping for secondhand clothes, you don’t always have your first choice of fit or style. But the Stitchy, an innovative stitching tool, allows you to temporarily alter clothing, whether hemming, mending, or styling, without the need for a sewing machine. It looks like a glue gun, but instead, it dispenses single stitches with a click of a button to keep collars in place or hide gaps between buttons.

Chom Chom Roller Pet Hair Remover

If you find the perfect couch or sweater at the thrift store but it’s covered in pet hair, break out the Chom Chom Roller. This popular product is essentially a reusable lint roller that collects hair, dust, or debris in a compartment. It’s much more effective and economical long-term than sticky, tear-away lint rollers. Plus, if you’re a pet owner, you’ll find endless uses for this genius cleaning device.

Steamify Handheld Steam Cleaner

Have you brought home a vintage cabinet with dirty compartments or a secondhand couch that needs to be disinfected? This handheld steam cleaner can tackle anything from upholstery to your kitchen sink, shooting out hot, high-pressure steam. It kills germs and bacteria without the use of chemicals, making it a great tool for your whole home in addition to thrift store finds.

Mr. Clean Magic Eraser

Mr. Clean Magic Erasers are an excellent multifunctional cleaning basic to have on hand, especially for stained and scuffed furniture or appliances from the thrift store. With just a little water and scrubbing, these foam blocks can erase marks and stains on items from patio furniture to grill grates.

Rubbermaid Reveal Power Scrubber

This large handheld scrubber resembles an electric toothbrush with a lot more power. The tool is great for tackling dirt and grime in the nooks and crannies of secondhand furniture, and it comes with both bristled and microfiber attachments so you can adjust the aggressiveness of your cleaning to fit the surface. Plus, it’s cordless for easy transport around your home.

Daixism Furniture Repair Kit

It’s not uncommon for older wood furniture to get scuffed or scratched. If you don’t have the time, energy, or budget to completely refinish a piece, then spend an easy $10 on this wood repair set that includes a range of brown markers and wax sticks. The markers are great for covering light scratches, while the wax sticks can fill deep scrapes in the wood. From bed frames to dressers and desks, this repair kit is an affordable way to upcycle wooden furniture for your home.

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