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

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.