More Charity Shop Bargains for 2018 & beyond!

sweetpea26

Haven't been on this thread for quite a while...was washing the dishes and staring out window admitting to myself how much I miss my little hunts around the charity shops.
I buy all my household items from spoons to tea towels, glasses, plates, cookware and bath towels too from the charity shops.  It is amazing that you can find items never used for only a couple of pounds.  At start of March I called at a little shop that uses its takings to feed the vulnerable and was fortunate to be there as they were putting out the contents of a lady's hot press.  She had done a real good clear out and most of the large bath sheets were brand new as were other towels.  I spent £8 on 2 large bath sheets 2 bath towels and 2 hand towels.  None of them had every been used.  I added them to my good stock at home and now have enough towels to last us 3 for a very long time.  
When I came home I went to my hotpress and genuinely could not find an item bar sheets for our king size bed that I hadn't purchased in a charity shop. Bedspreads, pillow cases and throws.   I am fortunate to have lots of beautiful linen tea towels and some of those gorgeous cotton towels people buy as souvenirs when the go to resorts.  I get such a buzz in searching and watching for items that I need or that my grown children who have their own homes need.  I dream of the day that they are all open again and we can spend a morning roaming them.  I look forward to a chat from all the people who work in those shops too...especially the older ladies who really enjoyed their one or two days volunteering.   They must be feeling very isolated in these times.

Blue_Doggy

sweetpea26 said:

I get such a buzz in searching and watching for items that I need or that my grown children who have their own homes need.  I dream of the day that they are all open again and we can spend a morning roaming them.  I look forward to a chat from all the people who work in those shops too...especially the older ladies who really enjoyed their one or two days volunteering.   They must be feeling very isolated in these times.

Do you think charity shops will actually reopen after this? I used to look in the local ones occasionally, especially for books, but would be very chary of buying “secondhand” goods again (even if unused as you have been lucky enough to find). 

DigForVictory

Dear gods I do hope so - if you can’t figure a way to decontaminate an item to an acceptable level of risk then it’s biohazardous landfill, which I think is bad squared.
Plus there are plenty of donations from areas which haven’t been exposed to the virus (as the box hasn’t been opened in decades for example) which really should be recirculated through charity shops & not just chucked.
This virus means if a lot of ‘dry clean only’ stuff is washed and survives, we may manage to get rid of that label & it’s terrifying chemicals. 

Plus the shops have months of stock to shift - the ‘rainbow’ sales will be fun, but the leftovers and then the ‘definitely out of season’ stuff has to go somewhere - please, let it be charity shops!

Sayschezza

The charity I volunteer for has already contacted us to ascertain who is willing to work when the shops open. Just waiting to hear my start date. 

sweetpea26

Thats good news !
I think if we are all sensible .... wear gloves if it makes us feel safer.... wash down what we buy when we bring it home. etc


 

Blue_Doggy

DigForVictory said:

Dear gods I do hope so - if you can’t figure a way to decontaminate an item to an acceptable level of risk then it’s biohazardous landfill, which I think is bad squared.
Plus there are plenty of donations from areas which haven’t been exposed to the virus (as the box hasn’t been opened in decades for example) which really should be recirculated through charity shops & not just chucked.
This virus means if a lot of ‘dry clean only’ stuff is washed and survives, we may manage to get rid of that label & it’s terrifying chemicals. 

Plus the shops have months of stock to shift - the ‘rainbow’ sales will be fun, but the leftovers and then the ‘definitely out of season’ stuff has to go somewhere - please, let it be charity shops!

Yes, biohazardous landfill would be bad, probably safer to incinerate what can’t be (bleach) cleaned.
 

There’s probably no way to be certain which items are safe and which might be contaminated without very careful handling at the receiving charity shop, and strict separation of “clean” goods.

DianneB

I will happily buy from charity shops when they reopen, I always wash everything thoroughly anyway and books will get a clinell wipe on the outside and left in the workshop until I fancy reading them which could be months. My main concern is for the volunteers doing the sorting.

luxor4t

My local CS is aiming to reopen when safe, and has alerted staff.
Today I sorted out the pile of 'stuff'  for the CS, bagged up like with like (e.g. sewing items) taped the bags shut and wrote the date on a label . I've been sewing for a "love of scrubs" group and this is how we've been asked to hand in our makes, so I borrowed the idea.
They are now in a box in the garage, along with things for the recycling centre which I'm gradually adding to. DH is weeks away from being able to drive, but when he is cleared to do so, and  the venues are open and able to take in, we will be ready.

Blue_Doggy

It’s nice to know that the charity shops are getting organised to trade safely. I’ve got some “hard” items which got sorted out, so can go to the charity shop when they open. But I think I will cut up the good bits of clothes and other fabrics for my stash (which I was trying to reduce and not add to) and bin the rest unless compostable (my local authority incinerates waste, so no landfill problems).
 

DianneB - I had to google “clinell wipes” as I’d never heard of them, nor remember seeing them for sale. Are they worth looking out for? I usually use carbolic soap or a bleach solution (and an old rag) as I don’t really like using disposable wipes in general.

suki1964

Cant see the difference between buying from a charity shop then a clothes shop tbh. Anyone handling the products as it goes through the supply chair could have added a bit of Covid along the way. Anyone in the shops picking up, trying on, could be leaving a liberal dusting. But seeing as it only lives 72 hours off the host Im not at all worried