Thrift stores can be great places to find quality items without paying full retail prices. You might walk in looking for one thing and leave with a solid wood table, a great book, or a vintage jacket you didn’t expect to find.
But not everything on the shelves is a good deal. Some used items are worth bringing home and can last for years. Others may come with hygiene concerns, safety problems, or a good chance they won’t last long.
Knowing what to look for can help you spend your money wisely and avoid buying something you’ll regret.
Solid Wood Furniture
Older furniture was often made from solid wood instead of particleboard or other inexpensive materials. That can make a big difference in how long a piece holds up.
Don’t let an outdated finish scare you away. A good sanding job, some paint, or a new stain can give an old table, dresser, or chair a whole new look. You can sometimes get a much sturdier piece of furniture for less than you’d spend on a new one.
Before buying, check the drawers, joints, legs, and the underside of the piece for damage or signs of pests.
Related: 10 Thrift Store Discoveries That Feel Like Hitting the Jackpot
Lamps
Thrift stores tend to have plenty of lamps, and they’re often easy to update. A different lampshade can completely change a lamp’s look, and replacing old hardware is usually pretty simple.
Look for lamps with interesting shapes, sturdy bases, and shades in decent condition. If the lamp has frayed wiring, a damaged plug, or other electrical problems, leave it behind.
Books
Books are one of the easiest thrift store purchases to justify. You can find novels, cookbooks, coffee table books, children’s books, and older editions for just a few dollars.
You don’t need a rare first edition to get a good deal. If you find a book you’ve been meaning to read or a cookbook you’ll actually use, paying a couple of dollars instead of full price makes sense.
Just give used books a quick look before buying them, especially if you’re bringing them into a home with a lot of other books.
Related: Say What? People are Freezing their thrifted books
Artwork and Frames
Thrift stores can be surprisingly good places to find artwork. You may come across an original painting, an older print, or a frame that’s much nicer than anything you’d find at a big-box store.
Sometimes the frame alone makes the purchase worthwhile. You can remove the existing artwork and use the frame for family photos, prints, or something you’ve made yourself.
Check the frame for cracks, loose corners, water damage, and warping before buying it.
Related: While Thrift Store Prices Keep Rising, This One Charges Absolutely Nothing
Designer Clothing and Vintage Outerwear
Good clothing can be one of the best thrift store finds, especially if you know which fabrics and brands tend to hold up.
Look for leather jackets, wool coats, quality denim, and designer clothing that still has plenty of life left. A piece that would cost hundreds of dollars new might be sitting on a thrift store rack for a fraction of that price.
Take a few minutes to check the seams, zippers, buttons, cuffs, pockets, and lining. Look closely for stains, moth holes, tears, and worn spots that aren’t immediately obvious.
Related: 12 Clothing Items People Wish They Never Donated
Cast Iron and Vintage Cookware
Cast iron cookware can last for generations, which makes it a particularly good thrift store find. You can also come across older glass bakeware and other sturdy kitchen pieces at low prices.
A dirty or rusty cast iron pan isn’t automatically a bad buy. Many can be cleaned and seasoned again. Just inspect the cookware for cracks, serious damage, or other problems that can’t be fixed with a good cleaning.
For vintage cookware, it’s also worth checking the material and condition before using it for food.
Related: 9 Things You Should Never Do With a Cast-Iron Skillet
Hand Tools
Old hand tools can be surprisingly well made. Hammers, screwdrivers, wrenches, pliers, and similar tools can still be perfectly useful after years of use.
Look them over before buying. Check for cracks, badly damaged handles, heavy rust, missing pieces, or anything that could make the tool unsafe.
A sturdy older tool that’s in good shape can be a much better buy than a cheap new one.
Related: 12 Household Items Better Off Somewhere Other Than a Thrift Store
Collectibles and Vinyl Records
Thrift stores can be fun places to look for collectibles. You might find old toys, sports memorabilia, records, cameras, holiday decorations, or other items you don’t see very often anymore.
Of course, there’s no guarantee you’ll find something valuable. But you don’t need to. Finding an old record you love, or a vintage item that reminds you of childhood, can be enough reason to buy it.
If you’re buying records, check the actual vinyl for scratches and warping. For collectibles, look for missing pieces or damage before paying.
Related: Streaming Took Over Music. It Still Couldn’t Kill CDs and Vinyl
6 Things You Should Always Skip
Not every thrift store item deserves a second chance. Some things are better purchased new, especially if safety or cleanliness is involved.
Mattresses
A used mattress is an easy thrift store purchase to regret. You can’t tell its whole history by looking at it.
Mold, bed bugs, allergens, stains, or odors could be hiding inside. Even a mattress that looks clean may have been used for years.
Saving money isn’t worth the risk, so I’d skip this item.
Car Seats
Car seats protect children during crashes, but you can’t always see damage after an accident. A seat may also be expired, recalled, missing parts, or have an unknown history.
If you don’t know exactly how a used car seat was stored and whether it has ever been involved in a crash, buying new is the safer choice.
Related: The One Thrift Store Item I Never Buy (And Why)
Cribs
Used cribs can come with similar problems. Safety rules have changed over the years, and an older crib may have been recalled or may no longer meet current safety requirements.
Missing screws, damaged parts, or incorrect assembly can also create a serious problem.
For something a baby will sleep in, a new crib is usually worth the extra money.
Upholstered Furniture
That thrift store sofa might look perfectly clean, but you can’t see what’s inside the cushions and fabric.
Upholstered furniture can hold onto odors, allergens, stains, and pests. Cleaning the surface doesn’t always address what’s underneath.
If you do buy a used upholstered piece, inspect it very carefully. Otherwise, plenty of other thrift store finds are easier to feel good about bringing home.
Non-Stick Cookware
Non-stick pans have a limited lifespan, and you don’t know how much use a thrifted pan has already had.
Scratches, peeling, and worn coating are all reasons to pass. Since you can buy new non-stick cookware at reasonable prices, saving a few dollars on a used pan may not be worth it.
Related: If You Spot These Issues on Your Nonstick Pan, It May Be Time to Retire It
Untested Small Appliances
A thrift store blender or coffee maker can look like a great deal until you get it home and discover that it doesn’t work.
If the store can’t let you test an appliance, you won’t know whether the motor, heating element, buttons, or other parts still work properly.
Sometimes you’ll get lucky. Other times, you’ll end up paying for an appliance you can’t use. Unless you can test it first, I’d leave it on the shelf.
