Your ultimate megaguide to thrifting in Tri-Cities. Where to go and what you need to know
Thrifting for clothes has been growing in popularity over the past decade or so, becoming a mainstream pastime, according to numerous reports. Influencers, such as @VintageAndy_, are posting viral “thrift hauls” and young entrepreneurs are opening home-run shops full of thrift finds.
The motivations for thrift shopping vary by individual. Some people thrift out of economic necessity, some for sustainability and environmental concerns, some simply because it’s trendy. No matter the reasoning, there’s no denying the influx of customers at any given thrift store.
Interest in second hand and vintage goods has become so popular that events like the pop-up Tri-Cities Vintage Market have been established. The market routinely brings vendors to the Uptown Theatre for a one-stop shop.
This can make good finds that much more rare, the experience of thrift shopping more of a hassle and thrift culture more exclusionary, which is the opposite of its intent. Use this guide when thrifting in the Tri-Cities area to maintain a perfect balance of ethical discount shopping.
Tri-Cities thrifting tips for beginners
There are certain practices that lead to a better thrift shop experience for both you and those around you, the community and employees. Tri-Cities has consignment shops, chain thrift stores and recently-opened local options. Each offers discounted second hand goods, with varying specialties.
Thrift only what you need
First and foremost, remember that thrift stores are a vital community resource. Remind yourself who the resource is for — low-income community members who rely on the discounted prices. Whether this means cheap maternity clothes, scrubs or business wear, just make sure you’re considerate of those who need the shop’s offerings.
Thrift shops also decrease waste, allowing community members to drop off donations for free instead of taking usable items to the landfill. It’s estimated that around 85% of textiles in the country end up in landfills, according to the United States Environmental Protection Agency. It’s a problem around the world. In some places, like India, circular fashion and thrifting has arisen as a response.
When you go thrifting, don’t overdo it and buy a majority of the rack, always leave something for others.
Avoiding overconsumption is a key aspect to successful ethical thrifting. If you don’t need something, give it some serious consideration before buying it. You want to avoid buying something, wearing it once and re-donating it. Or worse, throwing it away.
If you find yourself on the fence about an item, try the three-outfit technique. Try to imagine three different outfits, using only clothes you already own, to go with that item. If you can’t come up with three, you might want to put the piece back on the rack.
Have a strategy
You can save some serious cash by thrifting, especially if you have a logical strategy in place ahead of time. If you go in looking for specific items, you have a greater chance of finding what you need. It helps to plan ahead and buy out of season. Warm weather clothes are typically cheapest when it’s cold, and vice versa. If you know what you need for next summer, consider buying it this winter.
If you’re hoping to have the most variety of goods, try stopping by after the winter holiday season or near the start of spring. Ask employees at local stores when they get new stock, so you can come when shelves are updated.
Bring some tools
It can also help to have a few supplies with you.
Carry a few batteries in different sizes to test out any electronics you find thrifting.
Most stores will have outlets so you can test anything with cords.
If you won’t be able to fix any issues without spending more than it’s worth, leave the item.
You can also carry a measuring tape to eliminate the need to try on clothes. If you know two key measurements before you get to the store, your chest and hip measurements, you can measure whether clothes will fit.
If it’s quality you’re after, give the fabric a good feel. You might even try giving it a light tug near the seams. More expensive brands will often sport woven tags, not printed tags, according to the Krazy Coupon Lady.
Risk prevention while thrift shopping
There are certain safety measures everyone should take when buying thrifted clothing. Because you don’t know where any of the clothes have been, or how well they were taken care of, it is vital to properly wash all thrifted clothing immediately. Each store will have different intake protocols, so some might wash donations. If you have sensitive skin, you’ll probably want to wash any thrifted clothing two or three times.
You should also inspect clothing carefully before purchasing, making sure there are no safety concerns like mold or bugs.
▪ Bed bugs
You should keep an eye out for signs of bed bugs. It is much easier to prevent bed bugs than it is to get rid of them. Bed bugs are small, round and a reddish-brown color, but big enough to be seen by the naked eye, according to information published by Oklahoma State University. Inspect clothing, bedding and furniture at the thrift store for the creatures before checking out by looking closely at the seams for signs of stains — black dots near the seam line occur from a feeding bed bug. You may also see dead bed bugs still attached to the fabric.
Even if you found nothing when inspecting for bugs, it’s still safest to wash everything you buy as soon as you get home. Throw it in the washer, isolated from your other belongings, and dry on high heat. If it cannot be washed, put it in the dryer for one full cycle or have it dry cleaned. Furniture should be cleaned outside and left to dry completely. Use a steamer on it afterwards if you can — heat kills bed bugs, according to OSU.
▪ Dry rot
Dry rot occurs primarily in t-shirts dyed in a certain period around the ‘90s and 2000s. The sulfur-based dye can break down if not washed properly, leading to fabric with essentially no flexibility or integrity. If a shirt makes a cracking sound when you move it, smells kind of like mold and mildew or has a gray or white dust on it, it’s likely because of dry rot. Prevent dry rot in your clothing by properly laundering and storing your shirts. To check for dry rot in a shirt at the store, tug around the seams to see if the fabric is broken down.
Most mold that can occur in clothing is easy to spot. If you spot mold on an item at a thrift store, there is a possibility it could be cleaned, but it’s safer to just wait for something else.
Thrift shopping options in Tri-Cities
There are many options for secondhand clothing in Tri-Cities, including chains, consignment shops and small vendors at pop-ups. If you are interested in donating as well as shopping, inquire to individual shops. Here are some choices:
Store locations
Chaplaincy Repeat Boutique - 1331 George Washington Way, Richland
Community Thrift - 303 Wellsian Way, Richland
Foster Thrift - 810 S. Dayton St., Kennewick
Goodwill - 345 S. Columbia Center Boulevard, Kennewick - 201 Wellsian Way, Richland - 3521 W. Court St., Pasco
Goodwill Outlet - 307 W. Columbia St., Pasco
Jenny’s Thrift Store - 108 Vista Way, Kennewick
New Beginnings - 1016 Lee Boulevard, Richland
Plato’s Closet - 7303 W. Canal Drive, Kennewick
Sails Outlet - 408 N. Fruitland St., Kennewick
Second Hand Heaven - 322 W. Kennewick Ave., Kennewick
SuperThrift - 1120 W. Sylvester St., Pasco
TCP Habitat for Humanity Store - 309 Wellsian Way, Richland
Threads Boutique - 127 W. Kennewick Ave., Kennewick
Tri City Treasures - 311 W. Kennewick Ave., Kennewick
World Wide Missions Thrift Store - 1208 N. 20th Ave., Pasco
Find local vendors
Tri-Cities Vintage Market
Have a question about thrifting? Know another vendor in the area? Want to ask the Service Team something about the Northwest? Let us know here:
