Who doesn’t love charity shopping? You can spend hours rifling through the rails and shelves to find the pre-loved goods that you never knew you needed. But what are the hidden treasures you should always keep an eye out for?
There are some rough diamonds that often go ignored in charity shops. That’s usually because they’ve seen better days and we think they’re past saving. But, think again! With the right household cleaners and techniques, these unwanted gems can be restored to their former glory. Here’s the hidden treasures you need to look out for and how to save them.
1. Singed Le Creuset pots
As you’re scanning the shelves, something catches your eye. A classic Le Creuset casserole dish in volcanic orange; something which looks as good as it is useful. Ideal for simmering autumnal stews! But then you lift the lid and your heart sinks. It’s burnt to a crisp on the inside.
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Le Creusets (and cast iron in general) can last a lifetime, but when it gets neglected, the base will blacken and it becomes unusable. According to Linzi Pucino, kitchen manager at GH: ‘If you don’t have enough fat – oil or butter – in the pan then whatever you’re cooking may start to dry out and stick to the bottom of the pan. A splash of water will help move things along but a glug of wine will do the same and, as a bonus, add lots of flavour! Eating or cooking in a burnt dish may result in an unpleasant taste and you won’t be able to sauté your veggies, simmer your soup or char your meats properly.’
The good news is singed Le Creusets can be saved but there is a caveat. You need to check the enamel hasn’t been damaged in use first. Look for chips and cracks and run your fingers over the cooking surface to feel for any inconsistencies. You should also consider the age of the pot and if it’s induction safe (if that’s what you need).
Once home, fill the pot with water to just above the residue, then throw a dishwasher tablet in there and simmer for 10-20 minutes. The water will look like gravy by the end. Leave to cool, then rinse and scrub away the residue with a nylon brush and soapy water. You may need to repeat depending on how bad the singe is. Use a simple bicarb paste for marks on the outside; let it sit for an hour before scrubbing if needed.
2. Tarnished silver
A lot of silver ends up in the charity shop, as well as at auctions. If there’s a piece you spot which you particularly like the look of, don’t judge it by its tarnish – it can easily be restored. But, before we get onto cleaning silver, it’s worth checking that it actually is silver; it should be stamped or marked somewhere to indicate the purity and manufacturer.
Once you’re happy with that, you need the right items to clean it. A silver polishing cloth and silver spray or cream makes for an ideal combination for intricate items. For larger items, like platters, a foaming paste can help. And for particularly tarnished items, wadding can effectively clean, too.
You need to work in straight, even strokes without applying too much pressure (silver is very soft). Do not rub it crosswise or in a rotary movement. Be patient and the tarnish will come away. When using silver creams or liquids, leave to dry to a powdery state, then buff with a dry cloth. For foaming paste, rinse in water and dry thoroughly afterwards.
3. Stained leather bags
Leather bags often grace the shelves in charity shops. We don’t so much mind the everyday wear and tear (a distressed look is almost a selling point with leather); it’s when the inside is filled with crumbs and fluff, and the outside is stained with denim dye and greasy marks from handling, that we’re not so keen on bringing it home. Thankfully, you can restore a leather handbag.
Start by opening every pocket and zip, turning it upside down over your bin and shaking it to empty it out. Then, once the worst is removed, use the crevice tool and a low power setting on your vacuum to collect the rest. If residue is really embedded, you can use a small lint roller to pick up what remains. We usually wouldn’t recommend lint rollers on suede though; in that case, use a suede brush to flick out anything that remains.
For stains on the outside, use a dedicated leather cleaner with a microfibre cloth or leather-cleaning wipes. Test in an inconspicuous area first to make sure it doesn’t stain, then apply it evenly with a circular motion, gradually working your way around the bag (if needed) without over-saturating it. Once dry, you can then apply a leather restorer to protect and moisturise the surface. Leave to dry and set (it shouldn’t feel tacky) before wearing and you’ll be looking at a whole new bag.
4. Cloudy crystalware
From flutes to tumblers and vases, all kinds of crystalware are up for grabs in charity shops. The main thing that puts us off? Limescale.
With regular exposure to hard water, glassware turns cloudy until you can no longer see through it. It feels rough as you run your fingers over the surface and looks more like a lost cause than a centrepiece. But, you can bring back the shine! And the solution is simple…
First off, keep crystalware out of the dishwasher; the abrasiveness of the cycle and detergent could end up damaging it! Instead, try soaking the glass in a strong solution of citric acid for a couple of hours. If you want something a little more powerful, try a mix of half distilled white vinegar and half warm water. Check the progress after a few hours; rinse thoroughly once the limescale has dissolved.
If the marks still haven’t shifted, you might be dealing with tiny, light scratches instead. In this instance, you can try using very fine steel wool (grade 0000) to buff them away, but you need to be gentle and work in a circular motion. Note: this won’t remove deep scratches. For any valuable or especially delicate items, have them professionally repaired instead.
5. Scratched furniture
Distressed furniture isn’t for everyone, especially if there’s only one or two scratches ruining an otherwise perfect appearance. To fix minor scratches on wood, there’s a quick and surprising solution: walnuts.
You simply take a walnut from its shell, chop the end off to expose the meat, and then rub it over the surface of the scratch to erase it. It sounds crazy, but it works. The oils in the nut help to blend the scratch in with the surface, leaving it looking like new again!
For darker wood, you could alternatively try combining water with coffee grounds to create a paste (one teaspoon of water to every two tablespoons of coffee). Just leave it to soak in the scratch overnight, then wipe away the next day and the scratches will be dyed and blended.
