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    Home » Thrift Store Finds

    Rookie Thrifting Mistake

    Published by Pam Kessler | 299 words. · About 2 minutes to read this article. - 46 Comments

    I can't believe I made such a rookie mistake when I was shopping at the thrift store recently.

    I had been looking for a bedskirt for the guest room. One that wasn't too frilly. One that was burlap-ish in color. One that wouldn't set me back an arm and a leg.

    I had been to tons of places, both thrift store and (gasp) regular retail locations and could not find a thing. Just as I was about to stop looking, I finally found this linen one at the local thrift.



    And they were having a 50% off sale that day. So instead of the very thrifty $.99 original price, I only paid the super duper thrifty price of $.4950 or however that divides out. Let's just round up to two whole shiny quarters.

    I get my score of the year home and what to my wondering eyes should appear but a DRY CLEAN ONLY tag.

    The 50% sale had totally blinded me to rule #1 in buying linens at a thrift store. If you have to pay for dry cleaning, it is not a worth it. At all.

    Dry cleaning set me back $19.99 on my 50 cent find. Stupid, stupid, stupid.

    (No one can ever say I over-stage my photos, because this photo makes me think of a bedroom in a convent. And no, that silver bowl under the stand is not a chamber pot.)

    BTW, I paid all that money for the dry cleaning and, after two days on the bed, it's wrinkled?

    I did find this little guy for $1.91 the same day at another thrift store. So that took a little bit of my thrifting shame away. Just a little.

    Do you say a big fat NO to dry clean only items from thrift stores?

    « Spring Centerpiece: Vintage Farmhouse Style
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Anonymous

      April 08, 2013 at 7:33 am

      You need to check out Dryel - it's a product to dryclean at home in your clothes dryer - MUCH CHEAPER and works great!

      Reply
    2. Cheryl in Wisconsin

      April 08, 2013 at 2:59 pm

      I use Dryel also.

      Reply
    3. ThriftDee

      April 08, 2013 at 6:16 pm

      I buy Dry Clean Only items at thrift stores and launder them myself. I have had great luck with doing it myself.

      Reply
    4. Faye

      April 11, 2013 at 8:58 am

      I hate to say it too but I would have hand washed it, I've washed linen before. I also draw designs on primitive linen for my rug hooking patterns and I use the hottest setting with steam and the wrinkles come out super easy. But it is a beautiful bedskirt and I love the little collie dog! Congrats on being the 5 most visited blogs!!!

      Reply
    5. Object of Maya*ffection

      May 06, 2013 at 3:24 pm

      O think I would've taken my chances and washed on delicate and air dried!!

      Reply
    6. LivingVintage

      August 28, 2013 at 7:50 pm

      Oh, I LOVE the collie figurine! Great find!

      Reply
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