Maybe you’ve heard of the Goodwill Outlet, but if you haven’t heard of “The Bins,” it’s Goodwill’s last stop for donated items before they head to the dump. It’s a place where literally thousands of articles of clothing are dumped into massive bins and you sort through them and pay by the pound. Every 30 minutes to an hour, the bins are restocked and loosely sorted into categories: shoes, clothing, houseware, accessories, textiles, toys, etc. Each category has a specific price and clothes are typically around $1.50 per pound. Over my last couple trips, I’ve managed to find a couple patagonia pullovers, a brand new North Face jacket, several pairs of Levis, and some cute dresses and tanks. Sounds amazing, right??
Not so fast. While you can find amazing clothes for dirt cheap, the bins can be overwhelming. Talk about sensory overload, your eyes and hands are moving a mile a minute while searching for the perfect piece. It’s also not the cleanest place on earth, not even close. But as soon as you can conquer all that encompasses the Goodwill Bins, you are sure to thrift the best pieces you’ve ever bought so here are my tips for you:
- WEAR GLOVES
I cannot emphasize this enough. First of all, if you’re a germaphobe, I would recommend never stepping foot into a Goodwill Bins Outlet. With the amount of items that you’re sorting through, it’s not uncommon that you’ll accidentally touch something a little ~gross~. Wearing gloves just provides an extra layer of protection so that you’re not grabbing anything that is sticky, wet, or potentially sharp. Along the same lines, there’s a certain smell at the Goodwill Bins that never really hits well. Since COVID-19 has forced us to wear masks while shopping, I don’t think I will ever go back maskless.
- Grab first, sort later
Once you see an item that peaks your interest, go ahead and make sure it’s functional – no holes, rips, stains, etc. Throw it in your cart because now is not the time to debate whether you actually need it or not. Things go so fast at the bins so I recommend throwing the things you like right in your cart and then moving on. Once you’ve hit your emotional and physical limit of thrifting, find somewhere where you can go through the things you’ve found.
- Keep an open mind
Most articles of clothing have the potential to be really cute. Since the clothes at the bins are so cheap, I don’t really put much effort into whether or not I should buy it. If I’m not sure if something will fit right or if I’ll wear it a ton, I still buy it because why not? It probably costs a quarter.
- Avoid peak hours
There’s truly nothing worse than a crowded Goodwill Bins. I typically like to thrift during the typical work week, so anytime Monday through Friday from 8-4. Do yourself a favor and NEVER go on a Saturday!
- Wash your clothes immediately
Only God knows where these clothes have been. Not only do I throw everything into the washer as soon as I get home, but I throw my clothes I wore to the bins in the washer as well and then take a steaming hot shower.
- Go often
Inventory changes daily, hourly even, so every time you go to the Bins, you are sure to see new items. I enjoy going around once a month with some friends and always end up with a couple scores of clothing.
The Goodwill bins are heaven to someone who doesn’t like spending a lot of money on clothes. The more you go, the more comfortable you’ll be in the Bins environment and you’ll develop a system so you don’t feel overwhelmed. If you ever need someone to go with, TEXT ME- I’m always down for a thrift trip:) We’ll even listen to Macklemore in the car.