WHAT TO LOOK FOR AT GOODWILL
This post may contain affiliate links
I took a 30-year hiatus from Goodwill after finding a Halloween costume for the Boulder Halloween Mall Crawl. It’s a good thing I didn’t meet my husband in college, because his go-to Halloween costume was a baked potato or the Domino’s Pizza Noid.
The irony is that we attend an annual Halloween costume party. We are still contesting our second-place title when we went as the Geek Squad.
GOODWILL HUNTING
But as a grown-up, Goodwill is like a scavenger hunt.
I have a friend who loves to thrift, so we occasionally meet up at Goodwill.
For me, the most challenging obstacle is the distinct smell of a Goodwill store. I know it’s not gross, and the floors are clean, but there’s something about thousands of household items coming together on shelves that triggers my senses. But the thrill of the hunt motivates me to push through the initial reaction.
I found these matching, brand-new baskets for $ 3 each. I was hooked!
But the thrill of the hunt takes over. It is best to keep a short list of what you are looking for. It is similar to a garage sale, but it is climate-controlled.
Perhaps that is why I endure the cellar’s smell; I avoid showing homes built before the 1950s.
I am amazed at how many brand-new items are stocked for a few dollars.
Or decor items that can be repurposed with a can of spray paint. I grabbed this leafy arrangement and vase at Goodwill.
Here are my go-to items on my Goodwill List. Please leave your Goodwill tips and finds in the comments, and I will update the list.
My readers have shared a few things to look for at Goodwill, and today I want to share their suggestions for what they look for when at a Goodwill or donation site. You ready?
GOODWILL FINDSFROM READERS
Oh, and if you have a few finds that you never thought to search for at a Goodwill site, please leave them in the comments. I routinely update posts here at Everyday Edits.
Books
Several of you suggested I search for cookbooks (new and vintage).
A close second is coffee table books.
Dishes: There is always an assortment of plates of varying sizes and ceramic dishes. I hunt for seasonal plates and platters! Most look brand new. Some of the Wilton baking cake pans are still in their original boxes!
Original, unopened boxes are like winning a $100 lottery ticket.
When I discovered this diy craft, I added glass plates to my Goodwill search list.
TABLE LINENS
Several readers suggested that table linens that look new are a good find.
I have a thing for cloth napkins, so I am excited to search for linens.
HOLIDAYS
Last year I dropped off five boxes of crunchy garland.
Once I found this pine needle garland, I was done with my impulse buy from 2020.
But someone with a crafty side could make magic with holiday garland. So always pop down the holiday aisle.
LAMPS
I found the cutest lamps while thrifting at the GW. I painted the base color my favorite creamy white, and it changed the entire look of a $5.00 lamp.
PRINTS
I usually run through the “artwork.” If you’re looking for artwork that is quirky or dated, I recommend checking out the back wall area.
MANAGE YOUR EXPECTATIONS
The most challenging aspect of the Goodwill Experience is managing your expectations. I read the best day to thrift is following a three-day weekend.
With that said, Mondays are not a day that works for me to thrift. And since my free weekends are usually filled with clearing clutter, I have to hide (stage) any must-have finds at a Goodwill or garage sale. I have a history of hiding projects from my (current) husband. Wink! Thank you for stopping by today! Do you have any good or funny stories of Goodwill hunting?
I look for vintage sheets at Goodwill, Salvation Army and flea market/antique stores. Sadly, they’re becoming harder to come by. Vintage sheets from the 50s thru the 80s were (for the most part) made from better, sturdier cotton than what can be found nowadays. Seems as though people want softer and softer sheets which simply won’t have the longevity of older sheets. Anywho, I use these older sheets in my quilting and to make shirts, skirts, dresses and pajamas.
Oh thanks for the ideas kim! xo laura