You guys know that I practically live at the thrift store, but I'm also super picky about cleanliness. I love recycling used goods, but they must be properly cleaned as soon as I get them home. Here is an example of how I went about cleaning a collection of faux produce:
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I found a big bag of fake fruits for only $1.99 that would work perfectly in my laundry room Faux Pantry Wall Display. I was especially happy because I could see that there was a pineapple, a cut cantaloupe and some chocolate covered bananas!
With the bag opened up you can see how filthy the items are, whomever had them before wasn't big on dusting! But that's ok, they clean right up with a little effort. The dust was stuck on with grease to each item so I didn't have to worry about it floating around, but if the dust is loose or there is any kind of mildew/ mold (think damp basement storage) or smoke then I'll do my cleaning outside to protect my allergies.
I like to mix up dish detergent, Oxy Clean (Dollar Tree version pictured here) and hot water. If the items can handle it, I'll add some bleach too.
I loaded up my sink and let everything soak before giving it a good scrub, changed the water and then scrubbed again. Once cleaned I shook out each piece to remove any water that had settle inside and let air dry for 24 hours.
*Because faux fruit items are often hollow (and take on water) is why I didn't use bleach this time. I didn't want any bleach water to come out later and ruin anything. If you really need to use bleach to sanitize a hollow item, mix up a bleach solution and use a rag to wipe down the outside rather than submerging it.
Such a difference!
And here is how everything looks after a good bath, such a difference! There are many items that you might pass up while thrifting just because of their condition, but a little cleaning and you will have a perfect treasure!
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I hope you enjoyed this thrifting post, thanks for stopping by!
-Jennifer
© Studio 27 by Jennifer Adams 2024
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I often pass up items because they look too grubby to salvage but this has inspired me to think about different ways to clean them.
ReplyDeleteI love being able to breathe new life into neglected treasures!
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