Spring Secondhand Shopping: Guide to Thrift Stores, Flea Markets & Yard Sales

For some people, spring means Easter, gardening, and baseball. For me it’s all about the start of yard sales, flea markets and thrift shopping. The weather is nice, and families everywhere are doing their big, annual purges. They haul everything to Goodwill, or out to the garage to sell….and into my eager, waiting hands. In the spirit of the season (and my obvious excitement), here are some of our favorite posts of the subject.

If you are headed out for the first time, or need a refresher, read these tips and get ready:

WHERE TO GO

1. Best Kept Secrets: Hidden Thrift to Treasure Stores

2. Readers' Favorite Vintage, Thrift, & Secondhand Shops

3. Flea Market Guide: Coast to Coast

4. Best Thrift Stores and Flea Markets

5. 10 US Flea Markets Worth a Trip

7 Things You Can Do Today That Will Make Your Future Self Say Thank You

End your apartment search Today!

How to Clean The Things Everyone Always Forgets to Clean #NewYearCleaning

I'm always more motivated to deep clean in January than I am in the spring. While I always clean the big things, like closets, these eight quick project ideas are a good reminder that small stuff counts too.

1. If you haven't cleaned your lamp shades recently (or ever), here's a smart, one-minute tip from The Creek Line House.
   
2. Rid your stylish coffee mugs of unstylish coffee stains with this baking soda recipe from DIY Cleaning Products.
   
3. Make this the year you start actually sterilizing your kitchen sponges. Here's one quick way to do it from The Kitchn.
   
4. I've never cleaned my mattress past a simple vacuuming, but this lavender & baking soda recipe from Make It Do is a great idea.
   
5. My bathroom faucets are currently sparkling, thanks to the paper towel & vinegar trick in the post from Plumber Surplus.
   
6. Right now, I use baking soda and vinegar to clean my garbage disposal, but I want to try these genius Lemon Vinegar Ice Cubes.
   
7. If you have baskets that look a bit dusty, try this tutorial from eHow on how to properly clean them.
   
8. If you keep meaning to clean your humidifier, but haven't done it, you should. It may be gross now, but it will be sparkling after you do the steps in thisApartment Therapy post.

10 Necessary Essentials for Every Home - Guide for Living

1. An emergency light source. Keep a flashlight, candles and matches, or a Candela easily accessible (and charged, as the case may be). I hope you never need this, but if you do, you'll be greatly relieved to have it.

2. Towels. You may be an extreme minimalist who showers at the gym, but everyone needs towels at home. At the very least, two bathroom towels and two kitchen towels.

3. Basic utensils. A fork, a knife, a spoon. Even if you've never cooked in your life, you may hate the cheap knives that come with your delivery food or may forget a fork for your take-out salad.

4. A small toolset. A hammer, a flat-head screwdriver, a phillips head screwdriver, and pliers will suffice. You may not believe me, but you'll end up using it — to stop a running toilet, hang a picture, pry open a paint can, etc.

5. Bedding. A necessity, of course. And, if you're over the age of 20 and are still sleeping on your sheets from grade school, you need new bedding.

6. A small cleaning kit. Spills and mistakes happen, even if you have a cleaning lady. Your kit may contain only Dr. Bronner's and a sponge, but you'll use it at some point (hopefully regularly, to keep your place nice and clean).

7. An extra set of keys. Years ago, I gave a spare set of keys to my brother. I've only needed to call him for them once, but it was a huge relief. Alternately, if you're forever misplacing things, you can keep an extra set by the door. Use it on days that you really can't find your primary keys.

8. Art. When we were dating, my husband lived for a year in an apartment with beige walls and no art anywhere. It was not cool and minimal — it was sad and depressing. (He now admits this himself.) Frame a sentimental postcard, buy a reprint of a favorite painting, browse Etsy or local art fairs — just get something on the walls to make your home more warm and personal.

9. A comfy place to sit. Have one place you can cozy up for long phone calls, read books, have a good cry, or just stare at the wall. After all, your home is your sanctuary from the world.

10. One thing you really love. A framed drawing by your niece. A vase from your sweetie. A memento from a favorite vacation. Display one item that brings you joy, no matter how often you see it.