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Upcycling is a great way to make use of secondhand furniture and clothes (Image: Getty)<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n Secondhand is no longer second-best. Whether you\u2019re trying to do your bit for the planet, have your eye on a particular designer steal, or are looking for cost-of-living-friendly purchases, second-hand is the smart way to shop.\u00a0<\/p>\n However, while pre-loved clothes, accessories and furniture might be more wallet and planet friendly, they can sometimes throw up issues not seen with their box-fresh counterparts.\u00a0<\/p>\n But from stains to smells, we\u2019ve got you covered.\u00a0<\/p>\n Here our experts share how to spring clean your secondhand finds so your old buys feel fresh and new.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Snagging vintage Chanel at a steal is a lot less appealing if your beloved new suit happens to be home to an army of animal-fibre munching moths. These creatures feast on wool, silk, cashmere (and other high-in-keratin fabrics), so check any potential purchases thoroughly before committing to them.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cWhere there are holes there could be moth eggs,\u201d says Joanne Watkinson, stylist and owner of pre-loved brand, By Elleven (byelleven.co.uk\/vintage).<\/p>\n No visible holes? Phew \u2013 but prevention is still best practice.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cPut clothes in a pillowcase and into the freezer to kill them off. And never put stained clothes away; moths find them delicious,\u201d says Susie Nelson, vintage fashion expert and founder of Modes & More Vintage (modesandmore.com).\u00a0<\/p>\n Also, be warned: moth larvae also enjoy nibbling on second-hand furniture, rugs and carpeting \u2013 and can hitch a ride into other rooms on the soles of your shoes.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Sometimes our pre-loved item has a funky smell. But even if you\u2019ve glanced at the label and the garment isn\u2019t machine-washable, don\u2019t panic.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cPut cheap vodka in a spray bottle, spray the armpit area of the fabric and leave to air dry,\u201d says Susie.<\/p>\n \u201cHand wash anything delicate and throw the rest in on a 30 degree cycle. Washing really is the only way to remove smells, and if it’s lasted this long a little spin won\u2019t do it any harm,\u201d adds Joanne.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Many yellow and brown patches seen on second-hand garments are the result of oxidation and can be quite tricky to remove, even for a professional. Clean your second-hand clothes once you\u2019ve brought them home, and again after each wear, advises Lynnette Hecker, owner of Lovely’s Vintage Emporium (lovelysvintageemporium.com\/). \u201cPerspiration stains can appear after a few months, so wash an item after wearing it, especially if you\u2019re not likely to wear it again for a while, like a Christmas party dress, or wedding outfit,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n Dabbing white vinegar or diluted vodka onto the stain and rinsing will help. \u201cOr break a couple of aspirins in a cup of water, rub into the area, and leave for 15-20 minutes, rinsing and repeating if needed,\u201d says Susie.<\/p>\n To store, fold bias-cut pieces in tissue, avoiding wire hangers and giving clothes space for air to circulate. Take anything delicate to a trusted dry cleaner.<\/p>\n \u201cNever store pieces in plastic bags, as the items will get mouldy and have mildew as they cannot breathe and may fall apart,\u201d says Lynette.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Secondhand handbags can be updated using simple sewing methods (Image: Getty)<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n While having some basic sewing and mending skills is handy for extending the lifeline of your garments, care and repair platforms like The Seam (theseam.uk) can connect you with a local maker who can alter, embellish or restore your pieces.<\/p>\n \u201cHandbag and footwear restorations erase scuffs and restore colour to leather items that have been highly worn,\u201d says founder Layla Sargent.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cYou can source a pre-loved designer bag for a fraction of the new price, then have it restored to like-new condition.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n What happens when you inherit your grandmother\u2019s beloved jewellery pieces, which hold sentimental value but don\u2019t quite fit with your style? Jewellers like lab-grown diamond specialists, Kima\u00ef (kimai.com\/uk) offer cleaning, repair, resizing and redesigning services for all pieces.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cTransforming an old piece of jewellery into a more contemporary style can be done simply by resetting any existing stones into a completely new design. It’s driven by a desire for uniqueness, sustainability, and historical appeal,\u201d says co-founder and gemologist, Sidney Neuhaus.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Kids\u2019 clothing can set parents back hundreds of pounds each year, which is why second-hand finds (from local Facebook groups, school swap events, charity shops and more) can be so useful.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cLoved clothes last,\u201d says Eve Kekeh, founder of kids\u2019 rental site Bundlee (bundlee.co.uk).\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cKeep clothes looking tip-top by pre-treating any stains with a dab of detergent before putting them in the wash, washing on a low temperature and avoiding tumble drying where possible.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cWhen sunny days arrive, drying clothes outside can act like a natural bleach, helping remove stains and keeping lighter clothes looking bright.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n A new set of buttons, eye-catching patch or updated handbag strap can give an item a new lease of\u00a0life. And the same goes for interiors.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cThink outside the box; old wooden trays and bread boards can become chess boards, jumpers with a lovely pattern can make wall art when stretched in an embroidery hoop and an upside-down colander always makes a great start for hanging garden windchimes.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cEven if a chest of drawers is too large for your space, the drawers themselves can be painted and mounted on the wall to make shelving units,\u201d says Becci Coombes, owner of Scandi lifestyle website Hygge Style (hyggestyle.co.uk) and author of Sustainable Crafts, Gifts and Projects for All Seasons.<\/p>\n Elsewhere, she says, chalk paint makes for quick furniture updates, odd socks work for silver polishing and applying furniture wax. \u201cA 50\/50 mix of white vinegar and water will rid furniture of unpleasant smells, and a DIY paste made from a couple of tablespoons of sodium bicarbonate and warm water will treat tannin stains and spruce up dirty glassware. Mayo is your secret weapon for minimising scuff marks and scratches too. Leave overnight so the oils can soak into the wood before wiping off with a rag.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cStooping\u201d is the trending practice of picking up furniture left out on the street, and a great way of bagging something beautiful for free.<\/p>\n \u201cThere is plenty of street treasure to be found if you keep your eyes peeled,\u201d says Becci. \u201cJust make sure your preloved pieces aren\u2019t housing bed bugs by checking any fabric meticulously. Also notice any tiny holes speckling the surface, as these could be a sign of ringworm.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n[ad_2]\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" [ad_1] This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more Upcycling is a great way to make use of secondhand furniture and clothes (Image: Getty) Secondhand is no longer second-best. Whether you\u2019re trying to do your bit for the planet, have your eye on a …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":34657,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/farratanews.online\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34655"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/farratanews.online\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/farratanews.online\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/farratanews.online\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/farratanews.online\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=34655"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/farratanews.online\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34655\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/farratanews.online\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/34657"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/farratanews.online\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=34655"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/farratanews.online\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=34655"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/farratanews.online\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=34655"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}![\"Woman](\"https:\/\/cdn.images.express.co.uk\/img\/dynamic\/12\/590x\/secondary\/Upcycling-furniture-clothes-secondhand-5301359.jpg?r=1712165677982\" "\\"Woman")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/p>\nBANISH MOTHS<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n
ODOURS BE GONE<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n
THE STAIN GAME<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n
![\"handbag\"](\"https:\/\/cdn.images.express.co.uk\/img\/dynamic\/12\/590x\/secondary\/secondhand-handbags-5301373.jpg?r=1712165678039\" "\\"handbag\\"")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/p>\nHELPING HANDBAGS<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n
SPARKLE & SHINE<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n
THE KIDS HAVE IT<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n
CRAFT HAPPY<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n
HOLE-Y MOLY<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n