How to Sanitize Thrift Store Clothes Before Wearing? We Asked a Laundry Pro

How to make your thrifted treasures feel brand new.

Sustainable shopping — Credit: svetikd / Getty Images

Keeping thrifted clothes clean makes them feel brand new and safe to wear
Use a vinegar pre-wash soak to remove odors and break down stains naturally.
Machine washing with high-quality detergent and warm water can clean and sanitize most thrifted clothes.

Thrifting is more than shopping; it’s a treasure hunt! If you are looking for sustainable items to add to your wardrobe, shopping secondhand is a great way to extend your budget and find unique, quality pieces. While thrifted clothing should always be cleaned before wearing, Allan Roosz, owner of Splish Splash Laundry of Goodlettsville, TN, assures that it’s not as complicated as you may assume. With a little work, great pieces with small problems like stains or odors can usually be saved as well.

From vintage formal wear to modern workout clothing and everything in between, a thorough cleaning can make an imperfect piece wearable. Ahead, we’ll guide you through the essentials of cleaning and safely sanitizing thrift store finds with expert advice from a seasoned laundry professional.

Allan Roosz, owner of Splish Splash Laundry, Goodlettsville, TN

What You’ll Need:

Washing machine
Clothes dryer
Laundry detergent
White vinegar
Baking soda
Ice cubes
Clean white cloth
Optional: Garment steamer

Use a solution of 1 cup white vinegar per gallon of water as a pre-wash soak to help break down odors and stains. This natural method is safe for most fabrics and provides extra deodorizing power before the wash cycle.

Method 1: Machine Washing

For most thrifted pieces, an old-fashioned machine washing should be enough to get them clean, sanitized, and ready to use. It's a good idea for the first washing to wash secondhand clothes apart from regular laundry to prevent any cross-contamination.

Check the care label to confirm that the item is machine washable.
Add high-quality detergent according to the washing machine’s manual.
Determine the warmest water allowed for the fabric.
Run a wash cycle followed by an extra rinse cycle.
Immediately machine dry if the garment allows since many odor-causing germs die in the heat of the dryer.
If you want an extra layer of sanitary assurance, “Wash using vinegar in hot water by itself, then rewash using detergent,” Roosz suggests.

Washing secondhand clothes with detergent at a temperature of around 140 degrees Fahrenheit will clean dirt from the clothes—and will also kill germs and pathogens.

Method 2: Steam Cleaning

Delicate fabrics such as lace, chiffon, cashmere, and formal wear can be sanitized with steam or the dryer. Steam or tumble drying (either one at around 140 degrees Fahrenheit) is a great way to kill germs, remove odors, and smooth wrinkles and kinks.

Clothes Dryer:

Wrap and tie a few ice cubes into a clean white cloth.
Toss the ice pack into the dryer with your thrifted clothing.
Run a dryer cycle on low to medium heat.
Remove and hang clothes immediately.

Garment Steamer:

Using a garment steamer and distilled water, slowly run the steamer head over each section of the garment, covering the inside and outside.
Take care to thoroughly steam seams, collars, cuffs, and embellishments.
If possible, hang your garment in the sun or in a well-ventilated area until fully dry.

While cleaning and sanitizing thrifted clothes, be cautious of colored items that may bleed. Test a small, inconspicuous area for colorfastness before immersing the whole garment in water or steam. If dyes run, it could damage not only the item itself but also other clothes washed or treated together. Always handle vintage pieces with extra care to preserve their integrity and unique details.

Method 3: Handwashing

Hand-washing is the safest cleaning method for odor removal and mild disinfection of fragile or vintage items. “If you have fine delicates, like silk, they should only be hand-washed gently and hung dry,” explains Roosz.

In a basin or sink, create a solution of one part white vinegar to four parts water.
Fully submerge your thrifted clothing for 30 to 60 minutes.
Rinse thoroughly with cool, clean water.
Create a basin of cool water with a teaspoon of laundry soap.
Gently swirl clothing through the soapy water, creating agitation.
Rinse again with cool, clean water until all soap is fully removed.

Expert Tips for Cleaning and Sanitizing Thrifted Clothing

Keep the following advice in mind and your freshly thrifted treasures will soon feel brand new.

Sunlight is an especially effective stain remover for organic stains like sweat, food, or mildew, and it’s a gentle, eco-friendly alternative for whitening whites or brightening light fabrics.
Read labels carefully if you choose to sanitize with a commercially available laundry sanitizer. “Many modern washers are not capable of stopping to allow a soak,” says Allan Roosz, a usual requirement for proper sanitizing.
“Most folks use too much soap when washing," Roosz says. "Too much soap will build up in your clothes and cause skin irritation.” To avoid a soap overload, soak the garment in a vinegar solution by itself, then rewash using only the correct amount of soap (per your detergent's guidelines).