To Clean Or Not To Clean!

If your husband/significant others are anything like mine they count every penny you spend. So because of this I have learned how to make the most of my consignment items. The extra money I make consigning my items I use to fund my consignment shopping habit!
If I devote a few hours of my time, I can actually make some pretty good money. Let’s be honest who could not use the extra money around the holidays? I know I can!
So here are my tried and true methods I use:

1. Keep all of your cleaning items together and in one place. Last week I told you how to save some time with having all your needed items in one place.  This also applies to helping you to make the most money for your items. When I am getting my items ready for the sale, making sure they are clean and spot free is a must.  The newer the items look the more money someone will pay for the item.  Some of the items I keep in my cleaning tote are:
   1. Clorox Wipes
   2. Magic Eraser
   3. Dish Soap
   4. Stain Stick
   5. Sewing Kit
   6. Lint Roller
   7. < >< >Shoe Shine Kit
2. Wipe Down your toys and outdoor items. When cleaning an item I have to decide if the extra work and time is worth it. If a minute of my time makes me a few extra dollars then I go for it. If it will take hours I just donate.  For most toys/outdoor items a good wipe down with a Clorox wipe, a soapy cloth or a quick run in the dishwasher will make the item look like new. With some outdoor toy items a Magic Eraser can work “magic” no pun intended.  It works great on plastic and rubber so an outdoor playset or a bike can look sparkling with just a quick swipe.
3. Refreshing your clothing.  If your kids are anything like mine they can wear something once and spill something on it in a hot minute.  The stain stick is a miracle worker in my house.  So when preparing my items it is worth applying a spot treatment on a small stain to save it from the donate pile. In the winter months a razor can come in handy with some piling on a sweater. A sewing kit can be used to fix a loose button.  Did you know that most shirts with buttons have a spare sewn into the shirt on the inside bottom? So if you lose one you have an extra.  It takes me less than a minute to sew on a button to save the item from the donate pile.
4. Refreshing your shoes.  I’ll be honest most of my kids shoes never make it to the sale. My kids are so hard on shoes they are usually in to bad a shape to resale. Occasionally I will have a few pairs that still have some life in them. I have found with tennis shoes a toss into the washing machine works wonders. A swipe with the Magic Eraser on the rubber soles will get rid of the dirt and make it look new again. I also find with sandals and dress shoes a wipe with the Magic Eraser or a rub down with a shoe shine kit will make the item look shiny and new.
5. Refreshing your baby items. Most baby items like high chairs, bouncy seats  and car seats have removable covers that can be removed and thrown into the washing machine. The plastic pieces can wiped down with a Clorox wipe or a Magic Eraser to make them look new again. If they covers cannot be removed a soapy rag or Clorox wipe can be used for a quick wipe down or spot removal.

In the consignment world where there are most likely more than one of the same item for sale the buyer will always be willing to pay a few dollars more for the item that looks cleaner and newer than the same item with a little wear and tear.  Next week we will focus on pricing your items to sell so you can bring home less and make more on your check.