Even though buying pre-loved has become more of a trend these days (which is amazing!), there’s still some confusion about how to keep the pieces fresh and proper.

For someone who’s new at the whole pre-loved game, I can understand the strange feeling of buying something that’s been used (and often not washed before you put your hands on it). Sometimes you’re able to smell the perfume from the previous owner and so on. But let’s be real, during all these years buying second hand there’s only been a few pieces that really smelled bad. Only a few pieces during these years, hands down.

I’m also certain that we all need to let go of the idea that garments must smell like harmful chemicals because they’ve been sterilized before they end up on a hanger, as they do in the fast fashion stores. They treat clothes with all these chemicals, which make them smell ”new”, to prevent mildew, wrinkling and parasites which can occur during shipping. When buying pre-loved, they’ve already been loved and used and those chemicals are already long gone. It’s a whole mindset change that needs to be done, step by step.

It’s the end of a great summer, a summer that (at least for me) consisted of a lot of second hand shopping. Can you relate? So, the timing for this blogpost felt perfect. Let’s show some love and care for our ”new” pieces and organize our closets before autumn knocks on our door.

Don’t be afraid to ask!

It’s true, don’t be afraid to ask the staff where the clothes come from and how they select which garments to sell and not sell. When doing/trying something new, getting some facts straight sometimes help to feel more comfortable. My personal opinion and experience is that people who work in second hand stores are super nice and friendly. In some places they even work voluntarily, and even if they don’t they’re most probably very passionate about second hand which means you can easily ask whatever questions you have.

Inspect the garment before buying it

Even though there are some things we need to unlearn when it comes to buying more pre-loved than new, it doesn’t mean you should feel obligated to buy something regardless of extreme defects or stains. I’d recommend trying it on, and while doing so also inspecting the garment closely to look for stains or other unfortunate defects. Another reason to really try the garment on before buying it is also to minimize unnecessary consumption.

The freezer is your new best friend

This may sound weird, but it’s one of my best pieces of advice. First thing you do when returning home with your new pre-loved beauties, is throwing them in the freezer for at least 48 hours. This is something you do before washing them in the laundry machine. If a garment has a strong smell, the freezer will take away some of it. It’ll also kill any potential pesticide (even though that’s really rare these days). My partner is now used to basically always finding bags of clothes in the freezer, and there’s no questions asked anymore.

How to remove stains

So, if you've decided to purchase something even though it has some stains, there’s still a chance to get rid of them.

One thing I always make sure I have at home is gall soap. It manages to get rid of the majority of stains, honestly, and it’s great. You put some lukewarm water on the stain and then rub the soap on the stain for a minute. Let it sit for a short time and then rinse it off with lukewarm water before putting it in the laundry machine (or wash it by hand if the care label isn’t there to make sure you’re not doing any harm to it.) This works as a pre-treatment. I can’t promise that this works for you and your garments, but it has helped me so many times! You can also use baking soda or vinegar.

Bad smell?

Vinegar is (usually) something that actually works. Put the smelly piece in a bathtub (or in a big bucket) and fill it up with a mix of 1dl vinegar and the rest with water. Let the garment soak during the night and then throw it in the laundry machine.

If you’re interested in harmless care for your garments, check out https://steamery.se/ which is a Stockholm based company who sell products to help your garments last longer.

No matter how, make sure to always wash before wear

Regardless of how sensitive your garment/the material is, and although this feels pretty obvious, always clean your garment before introducing it to your daily life. You can wash it by hand or in the machine, but always wash it. You don’t know who had and used the garment before you, so play it safe by always washing before using.

I think we should all start changing the way we think of our clothes. Instead of seeing ourselves as the owner of our clothes, let’s instead see ourselves as the caregiver for our clothes. You take care of the garment until it gets a new owner, once you’re not using it anymore. Think circularly regarding your closet, and do your best to take good care of your items so that they last longer. When you’re selling it/donating it a new owner can then take over the role as the new caregiver.

Good luck!

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