You see a chair on the curb. It's sitting right in front of your building and it's free. Or, you're at the thrift store and spy a cheap sofa. But something holds you back. You're just. not. quite. sure. If only there were guidelines — holy reminders if you will — of things to keep in mind while looking at used furniture. How do you decide if it's the right thing to re-do? Or if you should run in the other direction?
1. Thou Shalt Look for Tags - This should be first on the checklist: flip the piece over and see if there's a tag. If it says IKEA, boohoo. If it looks like it's from the 70s and reads Thayer Coggin, put a sheet and some caution tape around it as camouflage, then run — don't walk — to find someone help you haul it home. 
Random side note: This isn't to say that you can't take home the IKEA item; just don't invest money in re-doing it. See this side table/stool thing? I bought it at some random secondhand store in Burlington, Vermont. I think it was like $20 and it reminded me of these so I quickly bought it. As soon as I got it home, I flipped it over and — lo and behold — there was the dreaded Walmart sticker. Ah well. Live and learn. It's still in my living room, and will do for now, but I shouldn't have even paid twenty bucks for it, and certainly would never bring it to some guy to refinish. 2. Honor Thy Lines - It's all about looking past the baby-puke green or cat-shredded fabric that's on it now, and envisioning what it could look like in a luxurious velvet material, or a solid neutral. Squint if you have to. The top picture is something I found on Craigslist a ways back. I loved the tufting and smallish scale for a Chesterfield-style sofa. I bought it for $40 and got it re-done, and here it is now:
For other inspiration, the women at Chairloom are always doing great work.
3. Thou Shalt Not Worship False Furniture - If you're not sure of its origin, or don't care, then just take a look at the quality of the construction. Does it look like solid wood or veneered MDF? Are the joints dovetailed, or just nailed or held together with hardware? Is it sturdy? In this age of knock-offs, make sure you are looking at the real deal, and not just crappy furniture posing as something nicer.
4. Thou Shalt Sit On It - It's one thing if it's pretty (or has the potential). It's a whole other thing if it's the most uncomfortable thing you've sat on since the concrete amphitheater of 2008. If you hate how it feels now, you'll hate it even more $500 - 1000 later.
5. Thou Shalt Examine Any Cushions - Foam is actually pretty pricey, so if you can re-use existing cushions, it'll save you some money. If the foam is as hard as a rock, and crumbles under your fingertips, it's time to add another line item to the reupholstery budget. If the foam's still firm, then all you'll need is new covers.
6. Be Not Afraid of Simple Fixes - If a table has just a few scratches, and only needs minimal love, consider whipping out your own mouse sander and spending an hour or so on it. Similarly, it's easy to replace a cushion if that's all a chair needs. Chances are good that the results will outshine any effort.
7. Thou Shalt Not Kill Strong Odors (Easily) - If a cat peed on the sofa at some point, it may have gone down deep to the cushions. If there is a strong smell of kitty, or smoke, know that there is vinegar in your furniture's future. Be sure to sniff.
8. Thou Shalt Not Bear False Witness to Your Wallet - Don't get swept up in that $60 price tag, without considering the very real expense of getting it re-done. Even with re-usable cushions, you'll still have to purchase yards of fabric, then pay someone to upholster it. Mentally calculate what it will really cost you when all is said and done. Is it worth the expense?
9. Thou Shalt Not Covet - This is easy to ignore in the excitement of finding something that you really like. Do you really need it, and do you have space for it, both before and after it gets redone? (For the record, I'm still working on this one, but I still recommend it to others.)
I got this sofa off Craigslist for free a couple of years ago, and can't seem to part with it. I love the chrome against the fabric and it's otherwise very basic, clean and in good shape. Since then, I've proceeded to move it around to various awkward spots in my home and garage. Years later, I've received many a stern look from my partner, who can't stand the Scandinavian crack den look going on in this room. Someday, my friends, someday.
10. Remember Your Day of Rest - Make no mistake about it; this will probably be a pain in the ass. If it's a large piece, you'll likely have to find help moving it, and you might have to rent a van to get it home, then again to the re-upholsterer. Is it worth sacrificing a part of your precious weekend, before you even factor in the cost? Do you want to spend your time sanding off scratches? If you work hard and have limited time off, sometimes it's okay to forgo a time-consuming project, and head out to brunch and the farmers market instead.
So there you have it. Now go, live wisely, and may the furniture gods look kindly down upon you.
(Images: Dabney Frake)
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you forgot to the most important commandment: check for bed bugs! you do NOT want hitchhikers!
I'm not sure I agree with your first commandment. Sure, a WalMart piece is not worth paying a lot for but if you like it and it's made of quality materials (and yes, some cheap furniture is) than why not buy it? Who else but you would know where it came from?
As a second-hand furniture junkie myself, this is really good advice. One other thing I learned the hard way. If its a fold-out sofabed, make sure you actually open it up and check the hardware - even if it looks brand new. Also be sure to check for bedbugs. Sometimes people are getting rid of things for a good reason.
These are great. Similar to the first comment - check for roaches too. And roach egg sacs. I live in the south - this is a must. Open all drawers.
Saw a great 30s vanity at a flea market but saw a cockroach egg sac in the cabinet. No thanks! I guess you can exterminate, but most pieces aren't worth it to me.
I've bought a lot of second-hand furniture. After the sniff test, I pick up a corner of the piece. If it's heavy, that's usually a good sign. If it flexes, not good. On sofas and chairs, try wiggling the arms. If they're solid, good. If not, I usually move on. The only time I forgot to sniff test, I brought a sofa home that had been in a smoker's home. I tried everything I knew to do; finally gave it to my son for his garage hang-out.
I like and appreciate all the advice about bug and bug eggs. Should've made the list. Especially in cities where the outbreaks are high... Chicago/New York/ DC I am giving you the side-eye.
On bedbugs: a tenant of our building brought in a sofa from the alley (against our landlord's policy) that was infested. Luckily, our apartment wasn't affected, but the landlord shelled out about $3k in extermination services to get rid of them. On a side note, the tenants were evicted - keep it in mind when you're bringing things in off the street.
Fabulous summary - some made me chuckle as I have learnt the hard way too. Love that chrome frame sofa - I would be hanging on to it too. Relieved to know I am in good company: I currently have 6 dining chairs and 5 armchairs awaiting inspiration, TLC and the funds to execute my vision all crammed into a storage cupboard so the husband doesn't know how many I have collected... :/
SOME used furniture, those that are easily disinfected, I will consider, but matresses, sofas, hell no. How do you know they are not full of bed bugs, fleas, even worse, someone's disgusting bodily fluids? No thanks! I will save for as long as I have to so I can get a new one.
My memory of grad school and finding street furniture in Tempe, AZ : black widow spider emerging from couch and friend with a good aim smacking it before it reached her little daughter. BE CAREFUL!
'the Scandinavian crack den look' -- very funny!
I also think that a huge warning about bed bugs, roaches and the like should have made it onto this list... and probably it should be at #1! People should also be reminded to have an added awareness if they live in apartment buildings and condos, etc where they can jeopardize other people's homes not only their own.
Bed bugs are my no. 1 concern when I look at used furniture.
And I love that Walmart side table - just spent considerable time on Walmart's site looking for it, but they don't seem to carry it anymore. If you didn't see the sticker, you'd never know.
I think the first commandment should be changed to Thou Shalt Look for Bugs, not Tags. A smart aleck can make a fake tag just so he can sell his used furniture.
I agree with lem326 :) I'd be satisfied with something like that from Walmart as well. That place is not the plague.
Don't forget to check for bedbugs in anything upholstered!!
Totally agree on bugs.
I'd also add that you should remember how much of a PITA it is to get RID of stuff, so while that table or (non-upholstered) chair could be awesome, if you don't have space for it, you're just signing up for a huge hassle once you cry uncle and decide it has to go.
#11. Always check for bugs...even on a mirror.
My hubs was kind enough to drag home a HUGE wood framed mirror off the curb one day. We are talking 4 ft x 3 ft. Perfect size for my bathroom remodel. He brought it into the dining room, placed it on the floor and cockroaches started falling out of it! He hurried it outside and pried off the back where he found hundreds of roaches in all stages of life. Definitely the most disgusting thing I've ever brought home!
Bedbugs can live on/in furniture that isn't upholstered as well.
Of course, the buggers have also been known to hang out in stores that sell new goods too.
my bargain chairs were no longer bargains after I shelled out close to $100 to get rid of the fleas that came with them. lesson learned.
Check the back and underside for bug eggs, too. I have seen some drawers look clean, until you inspect the underside.
so right...
my garage is full of crap I have to get rid of now
Whenever I hear someone talk about used furniture, I think of the Big Bang Theory episode where Penny takes in the red chair from the sidewalk. Makes me laugh and creeps me out simultaneously!
#12 - Don't put too much emphasis on pedigree. I love when I can find something with tags and clear-cut identification, but I still value unknown, unbranded furniture just as much because it's part of someone's legacy and heritage. When I buy something that has been part of someone else's life, I don't look down on it because it was worth something to someone at some time. It keeps you from being a snob.
I fell in love with a Victorian chair on Craigslist... It was in terrible condition, I overpaid, I drove an hour for it (it was true love,) and when I got it home, my cat jumped up on it, and fleas started jumping up off the chair… horrifying.
Well, sister, I agree with you. At home we have a firm policy of no large upholstered stuff, unless I have the budget to strip down the fabric and redo it. Even the stuffing can be smelly. Before the bedbug craze, I would spray the furniture for fleas (and I mean small chairs), but I not taking changes now.
It's expensive to have a sofa redone, so why you'd spend money on something of questionable origins? It makes more sense to buy it new. Major department stores like Macy's have sales with good prices.
Wood furniture can be sanitized by wiping with Lysol and leaving outside in a sunny day. If it is sturdy.... solid wood furniture can even be hosed down quickly, like hose and wipe dry immediately.
Now the Wallmart table was a real find, real cute.
Also look for dry rot in wooden furniture. I once bought a bureau that literally fell apart as I was carrying it out to the car. Another hard-earned lesson! On the other hand I have found several badly painted antique bureaus that shaped up beautifully after refinishing.
I've never brought anything upholstered home that wasn't new or from a trusted, bugless source. Anything I bring home makes a stop in the garage or basement before it's in a finished part of the house. A good inspection for sacks and cleaning with vinegar and water before it's fixed up.
I never thought about roaches living in wood furnishings, this will give me pause next time I'm eyeing up a mirror for sure!
How about "Thou shalt not be a furniture snob"? If you love it, what difference does a tag make? (Or if you hate it, for that matter -- there are plenty of things out t here that have pedigrees but that I really dislike, so I don't CARE how great a deal they are, I can't/won't use them.)
I like that Walmart table, although I think I'd be tempted to add a wider top, since it seems a little too much like a cylinder to me. (An advantage of no-name furniture: you can hack it without guilt!)
I had that Walmart table it was out about six years ago. I ended up giving it to a friend and regretting it ever since. Not sure why it makes a difference where it came from when it is a piece of wood basically. I think it is highway robbery how much you spend for most stuff like this just because of the name. I bet it will last as long as the ones from the more expensive designers.
Love this list. Found myself nodding to all of them – learned the hard way.
The point of looking at the tag isn’t brand snobbery; it’s knowing what you’re getting. Essentially, you don’t want to put yourself into a position where you’re going to be investing yourself into redoing an item that you could buy new for the same (or sometimes lower) cost. Or, if you do, that you know you’re doing it.
For example, I once nabbed a used chair from a cheap hotel overstock. I knew it wasn’t anything nice, but I liked the size and shape. I went into the redo with eyes wide open. After buying the chair and materials, I could have bought a similar quality chair for less at a box store, but I was willing to pay more for *that* chair.
On the flip side, I once fell in love with some glass wall scones at a thrift store. I thought I had the opportunity to get some adorable, vintage items for a steal. I later saw them at home depot for less than what I paid for them. I still like them, but I wish I had known before buying.
I agree the purpose should be to know what you're getting, but of course the undercurrent in this post is that if it's a Wal-Mart table, it isn't worthwhile and you shouldn't pay $20 for it. Most of us made the point that it doesn't matter where it came from if you like it and are willing to pay for it. For some people, $20 for a Wal-Mart table is still less than what Wal-Mart would charge.
Love this post....I found a "Lee Industries" sofa, unholstered in cream crewel fabric for $65. It took the Chem Dry man a couple of hours of work on it, as it was filled with down, but I love it! Total investment $265......sofa that is comfortable, clean, smells sweet, fits my eclectic decor perfectly and when I tire of the fabric, it is quality sufficient to re-cover.
Totally agree about the bed bug caution!
I agree with "Thou Shalt Not Be a Furniture Snob". You found it, you loved it, you took it home. You probably thought it was too good to be true. : ) And if you have issues with WalMart's business practices, just remember you bought it second hand and haven't supported them in any way. And you've saved it from a landfill.
I've found upholstery foam to be surprisingly affordable at Hancock. Maybe it's not the longest-lasting kind (I'm not a pro, so I have no idea), but certainly for zip-in cushions, it's a good replacement.
Just a comment for future use: If you come in contact with a 'smelly' piece of furniture again, there's a liquid cleanser I buy from Sam's (WalMart's big Brother) called OdorBan and it is supurb for this! A friend from work had a couch given to her and it smelled to high heaven from dog pee and she was at the point of throwing it out because she had tried everything. I brought her a small amount in a spray bottle to try. It saved the day!! She's still using that couch!
lol Be careful you never know if you thrifted treasure may have a demonic spirit! (sorry I could resist!) http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/02/26/pat-robertson-goodwill-sweaters-demons-praying-video_n_2766810.html?utm_hp_ref=fb&src=sp&comm_ref=false
I'm guilty of breaking my intern's rule of never buying/salvaging any piece of furniture that someone might have had sex on :)
I would place heaviest emphasis on Commandment Number Nine.
There's a never-ending stream of stuff I'd like to have, but if I have no good place to put it, well, what's the point? If I were a dealer it would be a different matter, of course, but I'm not, so it isn't.
I'd add a Commandment that reads something like "Don't be reluctant to come away empty-handed." Thrift shop/craigslist/estate sale shopping is an almost daily habit of mine. The vast majority of those days have me acquiring absolutely nothing. But this home is very well furnished with stuff that was almost exclusively found in such places, and that wouldn't have happened had I not been almost constantly looking there.
Great tips! I haven't done a ton of dumpster/curbside diving, but have bought several Craigslist/thrift store pieces. In fact, I bought a Lawson arm sofa for $17 in January 2012 at a thrift store. I was smitten with its size/lines and even the amazing vintage chartreuse tweed that covered it. I knew from picking it up and taking it to my garage that any hopes of a proper steam clean were crushed ... I started itching/sneezing and suspect it had surfaced as the result of the EF4 tornado that struck my city the prior spring, since I had a similar reaction to air particles when helping a friend clean up his impacted home. I did have it recovered, however, and it looks great. Sadly the super-squishy springs in the cushion and seat - which my upholsterer said could be tightened - are still a bit squishy, but I do think for >$600 I did pretty well.
On that note, if you don't buy this lot of vinyl fabric - http://www.fabricguru.com/p-solid-upholstery-fabric/vinyl-spa-tweed - and choose a contrasting piping color to use on that AMAZING sofa, kittens will perish. I personally would go with this choice - http://www.fabricguru.com/p-fabric-by-the-yard/skin-patterned-vinyl-upholstery-pool - and pipe the cushions in white, but I'm loud like that. Not spamming either, by the way. I found this site for my 2 sofa reupholster projects and, as it turns out, they're based less than 40 miles up the road from me. I have had great service and received amazing fabrics from them.
RE: "See this side table/stool thing? I bought it at some random secondhand store in Burlington, Vermont. I think it was like $20 and it reminded me of these so I quickly bought it. As soon as I got it home, I flipped it over and — lo and behold — there was the dreaded Walmart sticker. Ah well. Live and learn. It's still in my living room, and will do for now, but I shouldn't have even paid twenty bucks for it, and certainly would never bring it to some guy to refinish. "
I am not a fan of Wal-Mart but this sounds a little stuffy to me. If you liked it who cares where it came from? Isn't design about design? You make it sounds like the designer's name dictates if it is art or not...
doesn't leave you much to buy.. :-)
Oh! The first one! Check for tags! I used to do the books for a high-end interior decorator in Manhattan, and when we saw a leather chair on the curb, I stopped to check it out. Paul Smith! It was a $6,000 chair! It spent years in our living room before our new kitten kind of destroyed it. We gave it to Goodwill and they said they would recover it. Most expensive piece of furniture I have ever "owned"!
Here are a couple to add:
Buy in pairs whenever possible. Applies to accent chairs, end tables, lamps, stools.
Do you have time to wait to get it reupholstered in the future if you don't have the cash now, and do you have a place to store it until you do?
And the one that is hardest for me:
Do you have another project that will be delayed today if you spend the money to bring home a new baby?
I saw an AMAZING lounge chair for $150 at the local used vintage shop. I wanted it soooooooo bad. But it wasn't a pair, and I really want to spend that $150 on a roman shade for our master bath and new towels. So I let it go.
Great post! Love your honesty in revealing your 'Scandinavian crack look."
Yeah to all. I accepted a chair my sister's MIL was giving away--her son came over from the next town to haul it in his pickup. I sat in it for 5 mins, realized MIL was a smoker, & lugged it to the curb. Lesson learned--even freebies from people you know need to be checked out.
I can relate to what the post's author is saying in that if I found out it was from Walmart, for me, it would take away the spirit of the find for me. Just sayin'. I'd feel like the author.
I dont think the author was being a "furniture snob". I think he/she was trying to say 'pay for what you are getting'. If you know the origin, you can better assess the financial buy-in. $20 may be a good deal from anywhere. It may not be a good deal from big box retailers. Bargain shoppers - find a label and whip our your smart phones! Is it Eames? Totally pay $20. Is it Walmart? If it's cheaper or same price in the store, buy it new! then you have less need to worry about refinishing, bugs, and the like. And I also thing the author was saying - invest further in quality. A big box find in a thrift store or on the street is great, but bringing it to a re-finisher/upholster/rewired and finding out you could have bought a brand new one for same price? Look for your labels! That's just what the tip was!
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and bugs, bugs creep me out and sometimes prevent me from buying great things at Brimfield. So sad. And bad energy - I know @PattyK was joking, but if i have a bad experience with the person i'm buying from, i don't think the negative karma is worth it. makes me resent the piece as result of experience.
It's called a "flea market" for a reason. Nuff said.
A good way to infect your home with Bed Bugs.
Demonic furniture is an important issue that demands attention!
Thou shalt not be afraid of reupholstering it yourself, nor of checking with fabric outlets for great bargains on upholstery fabric.
REALLY fantastic tips. I wish I had had this list before having my sofa reupholstered - I still love it, but I would have loved to have felt better informed before leaping in with both feet. And I admit, while it is incredibly beautiful, part of me wishes I had held out for a deeper sofa! Should have sat on it first!
For those people who are saying "It's not worth it to reupholster a sofa" because you could get one for a similar price at Macy's, let me just clarify that that sofa you would be buying is *not* the same sofa. Finding the beautiful lines of a vintage sofa (not to mention the solid wood legs and kiln dried frame) is just not possible new, in a department store, for the same price.
I agree, don't do it as a cost saving measure if all you want is a place to sit down. But if you want a unique investment piece that you can personalize just how you want, AND you don't live in a bug bed-ridden city, then DO IT!
Vinegar is not going to get cat pee smell out. Unfortunately, I have too much experience in that department. Try Nature's Miracle or Urine Off. I prefer Urine Off - it smells better and it's fun to say.
My sister bought a couch on craigslist with every intention to reupholster it. It checked out otherwise. Brought it home and started stripping the upholstery and it was filled with maxi pads!
Someone once took a cardboard box full of wet, ant-infested lawn clippings (long story) from my curb. Just loaded it into the back seat of her Honda Accord and drove away.
WHY would someone take a very heavy and large box from the curb without looking inside first? So weird.
Violet + Violet, that story of yours is hilarious! Can't believe people just grab boxes of anything from the curb.
Geez, you would think a warning about bed bugs, fleas, etc. would be the number one tip. I am not taking a chance on used upholstered furniture. There is just too much "stuff" that could be on it or inside it or ugh just ugh! I will do without until I can find something new on sale.
Bedbugs love to hide in tiny spaces and can live a year without feeding. And, they are getting more common in Northern California, especially San Francisco. THEY ARE HERE!
What if someone died on the sofa or chair? Creepy to think about, though bedbugs would be worse. Years ago I bought a used couch and chair very cheaply, and it served us well. But that was before bedbugs came back.
True confession: I sold the chair that my elderly mother passed away in. It was one of those electric lift chairs and It looked brand new.
I live in the city and used to love finding curbside treasures and flea market finds to refinish but I've given that up since bed bugs have made a comeback. Someone in the neighborhood infested her entire house with bedbugs after bringing home a piece of furniture from a thrift shop. Since bed bug eggs are so small they can hide in the tiniest spaces where you can't see them, (joints of chair rungs, etc.), you can never be sure you're not bringing them home.
The aforementioned victim paid thousands of dollars to rid her home of the pests and went through 18 months of hell -- six extermination sessions, nightly visits to the laundromat to dry every piece of clothing, linens and curtains in a hot dryer, bagging everything in plastic and getting it out of the house, sorting and tossing out many possessions, constantly checking for bugs everywhere, and living with the misery of big welty red bites all over her body. Plus they invaded the structure next door as well so that person had to go through the same process. Ugh. To me, it's just not worth the risk!
YES, RE: bed bugs!
I bought a very nice, well made couch and two wing chairs second hand. I got them home and shortly afterward, I woke up with terribly red, very itchy, red welts over my body. BED BUGS!
My apt became infested with the buggers and it affected me so badly mentally, I had to go see my doctor and get a cream for my skin as I became extremely allergic to them. I had asked my landlord by written letter, three times before she would take any action. I got the public health dept in, too, to hurry it along.
Eventually, no matter what I did to rid these bugs, I moved and had to throw out ALL my soft furnishings, bed frame, mattress etc etc...the cost was terrific.
ALWAYS check for signs of bugs. Check for their casings, blood stains ( they leave stains behind, like little black dots )
Educate yourselves.
I wonder if the flea markets will reduce their prices on vintage furniture now that there is a bug bed epidemic? Could bargain with that..hee.
reverse that.
Beware of Bed bugs! I work for a hotel company and have developed our policy on how to handle...through this process I have spent a lot of time with the experts. Cincinnati, Ohio has the largest percentage of bed bugs in the country because they have more garage sales than any other city. You cannot see the eggs and the nymphs are clear until they feed. An entomologist told me that the only foolproof way to get rid of them is to completely tent and fumigate the entire building...which would be next to impossible to do. So sorry Irish Eyez that you had to go through this.
The best pieces of advice I've read in a while. I'm a repeat offender when it comes to picking up furniture that we don't really need. I'm constantly 'saving' furniture from the side of the road that at the time, I'm certain has promise - but after sitting under the house for 6 months or so, sort of loses appeal. Will keep these questions in mind next time I drive past a rattan bookshelf or wonky old table. Thanks for posting!
off topic, but does anyone know what kind of plant that large "tree" is in the background of the second picture?
Thanks.
I have a full garage of projects that i just KNOW that i can FIX UP, so this makes sense to me.
As a landlord, I would want to hold a tenant responsible who brought bedbugs into the building. Why should I pay thousands of dollars to rid your apartment of something you brought in? Not to mention possibly needing to fumigate the other tenant's spaces in this wood frame building as well as the stress of bagging, dumping, and otherwise ridding yourself of things you've owned for year? When new tenants move in, I give them a bed bug information sheet because now even folks who frequent the public library in Vancouver are bringing them home in the books they borrow!
Can someone please invent a non-toxic way to rid ourselves of these pests???
No no no! I love market finds but these horror stories are killing me right now. Cockroaches BEHIND the mirror. Oh no no no!
Did you offer to share the cost of getting rid of the bedbugs since you brought them in? Some states are including bed bugs in their landlord/tenant law and are starting to ask renters to share the responsibility when the renters have brought the bugs in.
Just purchased an Adrian Pearsall and it needs recovering and I do not know what color to go with. ..these are the times I had an amazing blog with a million readers so I can get a vote- its got great lines, quintessential Pearsall bones but needs a new face. HELP!!! Will be posted on the enchanted fig tree on etsy unless someone has an amazing idea? Stephanie Fig
How are bed bugs and pests not #1? I was a frequent thrift/ vintage store shopper for years! And then had the unfortunate experience of bedbugs via houseguest. We caught it fast (within a month) and were told that we were lucky. 2 extermination visits, living out of a plastic bag for over two months, treating our belongings every time we came home or left the house... It was mentally exhausting. Here are some useful tips out of the experience:
Treat all new or new to you clothing before putting it away.
Rubbing alcohol kills bugs and eggs .
Boiling water kills bugs and eggs.
45-60 minutes on high in the dryer will kill bugs and eggs.
Prolonged temperatures below freezing kills bus and eggs.
The Packtite heating box kills bugs and eggs. It is also safe for books and papers.
Hotshot strip bombs in contractor bags for at least two weeks will kill anything.
Most renters insurance will cover the costs incurred by an infestation.
Keep outdoor clothing separate from indoor clothing, i.e. don't sit or lay down on your bed in clothes you wore out in the world. Be aware of any place you sit that many other people sit (doctor office, school, bus, train, restaurant).
I still thrift. But I put what I buy in the freezer as soon as I get home, or wash it, or spray it down. It sounds paranoid, but I never want to wash every piece of fabric I own In a massive $100 trip to the laundromat ever again. We never even saw them, they were too small. The only way we knew was little bites by priming and a bedbug sniffing dog )$275 for the visit) confirmed.
I still think my housemate and I could write a book. It was expensive, stressful and socially isolating. Not worth free anything. Have a plan before you bring it into your home.
Glad I saw this before hitting the Saturday yard sales. It probably saved me money, though I may have developed a long-lasting fear of upholstered furniture. Cockroaches behind the mirror --- nightmare material.
QUOTE: I can relate to what the post's author is saying in that if I found out it was from Walmart, for me, it would take away the spirit of the find for me. Just sayin'. I'd feel like the author.
You can be serious.
*can't*
Really?
RE: bedbugs. I started to do research and it has me itching all over like when I was a kid and watched Ripleys Believe It or Not specials on bugs.
Anyway as someone who travels alot and does Craigslist shopping I am discovering its pretty hard to detect bedbugs and that is whats crazy/scary. I always do a mattress check in hotels but the thought of getting bedbugs from library books from NYPL is horrifying.
In my research I found this site http://www.vdacs.virginia.gov/pesticides/pdffiles/bb-identify1.pdf which was somewhat helpful.
I wish there were more sites that showed what you are looking for with the naked eye and WITHOUT a magnifying glass.
NEK2NYC thanks for your info. I will develop a better plan for bringing stuff into my house. Right now I dont bring soft furnishing in unless its been drycleaned first. Wood furniture I spray down with an alcohol mixture but now will make sure its 100% alcohol. I need to up my game with the few thrift clothes I find and clean them immediately.
If people have other concrete tips or useful sites please share...
This inspires me, but it's also good to hear words of caution when it comes to work and cost. Sometimes I'd rather just have the cheaper furniture and live with it than something "fabulous" that ends up being a project I never actually invest in. I should really learn how to upholster.
ashley erin mayer
The bug comments really make me not want to risk going to a flea market!
70 + bug comments really ruined a good topic. I seriously doubt Dabney was clueless (or negligent in mentioning) about the 'bugs' issue. I took it rather, in his "run away". Talk about posters beating a dead horse clear to the center core of the earth!
@Horeselips.....The plant in the picture is a schefflera, the umbrella tree type, and fairly mature.
Yes and if you click on the link of the stool/table from Eames it is $879.00 plus $30.00 shipping! Which is just, "Pardon my French" stupid!
The label issue is not one of snobbery, but provenance, and a question of whether a piece is investment-worthy or not. My mother bought a gorgeous sofa 50 years ago and has had it reupholstered four or five times: totally worth it because the bones are good. Still looks great. Years ago a friend bought a chair at a moving sale and left it in his garage for a few years, finally deciding to resell it. In the process of moving it around, he heard something solid moving around inside; tore open the underlining and found a little box with many 100-dollar bills in it. Drug dealer hiding place?
I wish I could get rid of my phobia of used sofas -who did what on that???- because I reallly need one and I cannot afford a new one, not even a cheap one!!!
Exactly!!!!
reading some of these comments make me want to throw up. cockroaches behind the mirror. oh, my, god.
the only things i have bought or will buy off of craigslist are things like coffee tables, vanities, and dressers. for the most part, they are easy to clean and easy to spot any animals in or on it.
BUT OH MY GOD. COCKROACHES BEHIND A MIRROR.
Did someone say craigslist? Used funriture check out this wagon wheel table... http://orangecounty.craigslist.org/fuo/3606635947.html.
"The label issue is not one of snobbery, but provenance, and a question of whether a piece is investment-worthy or not.
Excellent point to be sure, and one definitely worthy of consideration. Just not the message I received from the comments here. I have a couple of inherited pieces which resemble your mom's couch and which I would never part with. Good bones, as you say. However, if I find a good sturdy piece which I love, no mere 'label' is going to prevent me from purchasing ir OR steal my joy in my find;)
Rubber Tree! They're great plants.
We've been a bit behind the bed bug surge in the PNW and I craigslist/thrift frequently. Thanks so much to all for the great information. So, a vinegar spray/ soaking will work?
My young three boys beat the tar out of the upholstery of a chesterfield sofa after 10 years of abuse and being frugal, I opted to replace it with a new sofa from Macy's which didnt last 3 years. Twenty years later, I still pine for my orange velvet chesterfield that the boys grew up with - especially when looking at old photos. That sofa rocked. I wish I had it now to reupholster.
The expense of reupholstering is worth every penny when its a piece that you love to live with.
Makes me want to listen to "Thrift Shop" right now.
I got the creepy-crawlies reading these posts!
I feel very fortunate to live somewhere(small CA beach town)the bedbug epidemic has not hit(yet). My daughter just bought a platform bed, an antique wrought iron bed and a dresser on CL in DC. I was sure to warn her about the little buggers before she bought, but I'm keeping my fingers crossed!
The whole provenance debate reeks of class warfare to me. I love well-crafted pieces as much as the next design-conscious person, but it seems like the only reason to charge 7000 bucks for a side table is to reassure the obsessed-with-appearances wealthy that, yes, they really are different from us less monetarily blessed.
As demonstrated nearly daily on this site, people with more creativity than money are designing rings around the folks with more money than sense.
Just sayin'.
Thou shalt fully unroll carpets for inspection for bugs and more.
http://www.nytimes.com/1984/01/30/nyregion/3-students-discover-corpse-in-a-carpet-found-on-street.html
(This was a local story when I was in high school....a real eye-opener!)
Great post. Useful and really funny. 'Scandinavian crack den' - well played!
I can't stomach the idea of picking up a used couch (or anything upholstered) from a curb and reusing it. Gives me the skeevies just thinking about it.
I agree with looking at the tags. There's a local consignment store in town that tends to mark everything up. He was selling some accessories from Ikea for four times as much as Ikea's retail. You may still want it of course but it helps you establish your bottom line for negotiation.
RE: bedbugs.
bedbugs can live in the carpet of your home for a LONG time without human contact.
The only way to be sure is to have the place fumigated. Every piece of furniture should be fumigated too. - Old or new.
Had to fumigate our new place after two of the tenants broke out in bites/rashes. (We're both allergic to them!)
It was about $100 (NZD) and we were allowed back inside within 5 hours of having it done. (Had to ventilate the place).