Maryland - ALL CITIES
How many times have you prepped and tagged your items only to have some of them returned to you? Here are five reasons sales say, “No thanks,” to clothes.
Stray threads, pulled seams and loose hems:
In the pie chart of fabric problems, this group is the easiest and cheapest to fix. These are all simple problems that can be fixed quickly with small scissors, thread and a needle while you’re watching TV.
Broken zippers and missing buttons:
Are all of your buttons there? Can an item be zipped and unzipped easily? If the answer for any garment is no, add it to your “To Be Fixed” pile and get back to work on your to-be-tagged stash. If you have time when you’re finished with your first round of sale prep, you can work on repairs.
Excessive stains:
Check the top, seat, arms and knees before you start tagging something. Bright, natural light will help you see problem areas. If something’s stained, don’t waste the time to tag it immediately. Work on stained items later.
Worn-out fabrics:
Faded colors, cracked screenprints and pilled fabric are clues that an outfit hasn’t held up well. Pills, those pesky balls of tangled fibers that pop up after clothes rub against each other, can be removed with a fabric shaver or disposable razor. Faded fabrics don’t stand a chance against a sharp-eyed volunteer. Add anything that doesn’t pass the color test to your cleaning rags bag. People don’t want to buy worn-out clothes. Don’t invest time to tag them.
Misshapen garments:
Whether something is stretched out enough to fit the Hulk or has shrank down enough to fit an American Girl doll, don’t waste time tagging something that doesn’t measure up to be one size above or below what’s on the tag. A small amount of shrinkage or stretching is a given when items are gently used. If the change is excessive, don’t take the time to tag it.
Almost every one of these issues can be prevent by taking care of your laundry from the get-go.
- Don’t let stains sit too long before you treat them. Skip the dryer to keep heat from setting the stain.
- Read your labels and follow directions.
- Avoid the hottest setting on the dryer.
- Wash clothes with like colors and fabrics. Save towels for their own load.
- Keep a basic sewing kit handy for fixing quick problems, like loose buttons.