11 Tips for Finding Quality Clothing at Thrift Stores

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Haven House Thrift Store
https://havenhousethriftstores.com/11-tips-for-finding-quality-clothing-at-thrift-stores/
11 Tips for Finding Quality
Clothing at Thrift Stores
B L O G  |  H A V E N  H O U S E  T H R I F T  S T O R E S
https://havenhousethriftstores.com/
Have you noticed the price of brand
new quality clothing lately? Nothing
seems to go below $60. 
For tightwads, this is way too
expensive, especially when there are
other options like secondhand
shopping in thrift stores.
Many people have happily embraced
thrift shopping, filling their
wardrobes with cheap good quality
clothes that are only a fraction of the
cost of retail items. They are also
loving the idea of wearing or using
vintage items, which are
exceptionally unique and classy.
Things to Check
Finding quality secondhand clothing
does not have to be a guessing game.
There are indicators:
1. Metal Zippers
Plastic zippers are generally less
durable, easier to pull off the track,
and harder to zip. Save yourself from
a lot of frustration by choosing clothes
with metal zippers.
When washing and drying though,
the teeth of metal zippers can easily
damage the fabric of your clothing. Be
sure to zip it up before laundering to
make them last longer.
2. Natural Fibers
Synthetic fabrics like spandex,
polyester, nylon, and acrylic are made
from plastics. 
They are more prone to piling and are
easily damaged by too much heat
during drying and ironing.
If you want clothing that holds up
naturally after washing, get natural
materials like linen, wool, or cotton.
3. Patterns That Align
When buying quality clothing, details
matter. Check how well the plaids,
stripes, and other patterns align at the
seams.
Details matter. Check the seams of the
clothes and see how well the patterns
align at the seams. Aside from looking
unsightly, poorly matched patterns
are indicators of hasty, poor-quality
production.
4. Durable Seams
Stitches join two or more pieces of
fabric in a seam. Most wardrobe
malfunctions are due to faulty seams. 
To make sure this does not happen to
you, you must learn how to spot
quality seams. They should be laid flat
and free from raveling, puckers, and
other irregularities.
The best types of seams are busted
seams and flat-felled seams. With
busted seams, the fabrics are stitched
together and then pressed open. 
An overlock stitch finishes every raw
edge. The latter is common in work
attire and jeans. Flat-felled seams are
thick and identifiable by two lines of
stitches.
5. Quality Stitching
Without good stitching, it’s
impossible to produce quality
products. 
Always look for stitches that are
straight, uniform, and reinforced at
all stress points, including the
shoulder area, armholes, pockets,
waistband, belt loops, crotch, and seat
of pants.
Give the item you are eyeing a little
tug test! Pull lightly on the seam.
Quality stitches should hold tight and
keep the fabric in place.
Things to Avoid
You don’t want obviously worn-out
clothes, but that’s just the first on the
list. Clothing with any of these signs
must be left on the thrift store rack:
1. Snaps and Zippers That Don’t
Work
When shopping for secondhand
clothing at thrift stores, you need to
test everything! Do it twice or more if
possible! Examine the items carefully.
Quality clothing should have snaps
that are working properly.
2. Stains and Discoloration
Unless you are going for the popular
early 1990’s distressed look or you
want a white-washed pair of jeans,
you should not buy stained or
discolored clothing.
Stains normally occur in the armpits
and collars of shirts, tips of ties, fronts
of jackets, and anywhere on pants.
Although it is possible to remove
stains with common household
products, it is best not to gamble.
Fading is also common in clothes that
have been exposed to direct sunlight
too long. One piece of clothing may
fade faster than others. 
For example, most men wear their
trousers more often than the blazer.
Due to frequent washing and drying,
they may discolor and no longer
match the suit.
3. Pilling
One reason why that piece of clothing
is in a thrift shop is probably because
those loathsome lint balls start to
appear. 
Do not buy pilled clothing! While you
may remove them temporarily using
lint brushes or razors, they will
reappear the next time you wash it.
4. Hanger Bumps
Shoulder horns are common on knit
shirts and sweaters that have been
hung for too long. Over time, fabric
fibers are stretched, creating bumps. 
While there are tips on how to get rid
of them, most weren’t really effective.
Save yourself some time, and trouble,
by avoiding clothes with hanger
bumps.
5. Offensive Odors
When thrift shopping, you have to
trust your senses! Even if a piece of
clothing looks very appealing to the
naked eye, it is still best to do a quick
sniff test!
It is not just the smell of cigarettes or
mold that you should avoid. Heavy
scents are also obnoxious and difficult
to get out of fabrics.
Would you want to try shopping for
cheap good quality clothes from a
thrift shop? Check Haven House
branches in Panama, Santa Rosa, and
Destin FL. We also have one in
Lebanon, TN.
(850) 267-1061
PHONE NUMBER
https://havenhousethriftstores.com/
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