Thrifting Bedding: What to Know Before You Buy

Okay, bestie—if you remember, in my previous blog, we talked about a slew of things I would never thrift.

And you may have been surprised to see that secondhand bedding didn’t make the list.

Admittedly, I realize that even considering the purchase of used bedding might set off some alarm bells—especially if you’re new to thrifting.

But humor me for a minute, because a little discussion might have you seeing the potential the way I do.

Why Thrift Secondhand Bedding?

I found this 100% cotton like-new bedspread at Volunteers of America for $12. The brand is The Vermont Country Store and originally retails for close to $300. Need I say more?

Let’s be real—most of us want our homes to have that Pinterest worthy aesthetic, whatever style that means for you.

But also? Most of us have champagne taste on a beer budget.

I mean… in this economy.

Maybe you can’t afford to drop $300 on that viral LoveShackFancy bedding.

Or you don’t want to buy one more mass-produced thing that’s going to fall apart in a week.

Maybe you want to do your part to reduce your carbon footprint.

Or maybe it isn’t about any of that.

Maybe it’s the vibe.

It’s crawling under the covers of a vintage quilt on a frigid winter night.

It’s being cozied up on the couch under an afghan, binge-watching Gilmore Girls for the millionth time.

It’s finding lace-lined pillow shams so romantic, they look as if they were ripped from the pages of your favorite novel.

Now imagine all of those things wasting away in a thrift store—and those moments with them.

Secondhand bedding is practical in all the obvious ways: it’s cheaper, saves you money, and is better for the environment.

But it also adds a touch of magic in all the unexpected ways that really matter—bringing personality and helping create those meaningful moments.

With these tips, you’ll be thrifting smart (because of course), and embracing all the unexpected charm of secondhand bedding in no time.

It’s all the best bedding thrift stores have to offer—and none of the bugs.

Just don’t overthink it. Mkay?

Practical Tips to Thrift Secondhand Bedding

1. Don’t Overthink It

Seriously bestie, do not overthink it!

Listen, bestie. If you’re interested in thrifting some vintage or high-end bedding and linens, do yourself a favor and just don’t think about it.

Because obviously.

I’d be lying if I said I don’t understand why some people have an aversion to buying bedding secondhand. It was definitely on my no-thrift list for a while.

I mean, let’s be real—there’s been a whole lot of who-knows-what (you know) happening with God-knows-who. And my knee-jerk reaction is: oh hell no.

But then I remind myself of communal spaces.

You know—like staying in a hotel and sleeping in sheets that thousands of other people have slept in. Drying off with towels that, Lord only knows, how many people have used.

Sat on a public toilet seat, perhaps? Swam in a public pool, maybe?

Then Pot, I’d like you to meet Kettle…

Which is why I’m so serious right now: just don’t even think about it. Otherwise, your mind will spiral down a rabbit hole of red flags that’ll have you ditching your cart and making a beeline for the door.

Honestly, just typing that had me reevaluating my life choices for a second.

Then I remember the amazing blankets I’ve thrifted—and I’m back.

If you’re going to thrift bedding, take comfort in three very important things:

1. There isn’t much that soap, water, and a splash of vinegar can’t fix. (More like a heavy pour—am I right!?)

2. For everything else, there’s heavy-duty stain remover, bleach, and the age-old power of sunshine. (If you know, you know.)

3. And most important—you don’t know what you don’t know, and sometimes? Life is better that way.

So don’t let your intrusive thoughts or fear of judgment run wild.

Because if you do, you’ll miss out on some really amazing bedding and linens.

2. Set Your Own Standards

My thrift standards including bedspreads, throw blankets, and pillow shams—but one thing I never keep are the pillow inserts/forms. Those are a hard pass for me.

I’m just going to say it: some people will definitely give you the side-eye when they see you thrifting bedding. Just like some people will judge you for thrifting in the first place.

If you ever feel like someone’s judging your thrift choices, own it.

Embrace so much delusional self-confidence it has them mistaking you for Kanye. Because your life’s dope, and you do dope shit.

Owning your choices with confidence will have them second-guessing theirs—simple, yet effective.

And remember: you set your own standards. Just like I set mine.

Everyone has different standards of living, budget constraints, health conditions, personal preference, biases, skill sets—hell, even “ick factors” are out here seriously determining our life choices.

So what you choose to thrift?

That’s entirely your prerogative.

3. Look For Like New and Gently Used Condition

The $12 thrifted bedspread was seriously like brand new—not a snag, stain, or pilling to be found anywhere!

Speaking of setting standards—I like to keep my guidelines for thrifting bedding pretty simple: only like-new and gently-used.

I’ll be honest, when it comes to blankets and linens, there’s a lot out there—but most of it isn’t even worth the metal hanger it’s on. It just takes too much work to get back to a usable condition.

That’s why I recommend focusing your search on like-new and gently-used items. While they’re a bit harder to find, they offer way better value for the money.

And just to be clear—when i say “like-new,” i’m talking about condition, not age.

Decades-old pieces can be in pristine shape if they’ve been well cared for.

A hand-sewn quilt from the ‘70s can be in better shape than something mass-produced last year. It all comes down to the quality of materials and how it’s been cared for.

Trust me—sticking to better-condition pieces will make your life so much easier. Like-new and gently-used items are far less likely to have major flaws. Which means less cleaning, fewer repairs, and an overall lower cost, all things considered.

Which makes the transition from thrift store rack to your home practically seamless.

We’re all about that work smarter, not harder life, bestie… because here at the Thrifted Touch, we’re definitely slazy.

4. Inspect Thoroughly

The time to bust out your magnifying glass is before you buy, not after. Always, always do a thorough in-store inspection, because once you’re home it’s too late.

As for being slazy—if you want to avoid unnecessary hard work, put your efforts into doing a thorough in-store inspection of all items.

You need to be inspecting bedding with the same level of enthusiasm (and low-key insanity) you bring to your mans social media activity. I’m just sayin’.

Be on the lookout for the red flags—you know the ones.

We’re talking everything—from rips and tears to stains and discoloration. If you’d be disappointed to find it later, check for it now.

Don’t be out here falling in love with potential—hoping for the best but ending up forever disappointed. (We’ve all been there.)

And whatever you do, do not skip the smell test.

I know what you’re thinking: “Smell test? Gross. But like… what do you mean, smell test?”

Here’s the thing—thrift stores all kind of have this… signature scent hanging in the air.

It’s like a mix of old sweat and musty cardboard—think grandma’s basement meets gym locker room.

So, what’s the smell test? Pick up an item and take a gentle whiff.

I know—it sounds gross, but you’ve just gotta do it. Because if a funky odor is strong enough to overpower that thrift store smell?

Then bestie, you’ve got yourself a red flag wrapped in a comforter.

Is it a problem worth dealing with? That’s for you to decide.

Just remember: some smells linger longer—and are harder to get rid of—than a bad date.

5. Don’t Overcommit To Repairs of ANY kind

It’s all fun and games in the beginning—remove a little stain here, sew a little rip there.

But before you know it, you’re knee-deep in a pile of blankets, living out your own version of a period drama as a full-time washmaid, part-time seamstress.

Remember, vintage pieces can be delicate and prone to even more damage if not handled properly.

High-quality items can require specialized care—like dry cleaning. Some rips can’t be mended, and some stains can’t be removed.

And it can be difficult to differentiate between which is which.

Sometimes it’s better to pass on what you find today in favor of finding something better tomorrow.

Also, remember: nothing says every issue or flaw needs to be fixed. If you’re particularly fond of a piece, consider if you’d be satisfied with the item as is.

• Would you still want that blanket even if you couldn’t get the stain out?

• Would you actually use that pillow sham if the rip never got repaired?

If so, fantastic—you’ve just removed the burden of repair.

Again, sourcing like-new and gently used items will help reduce the need for extra repairs.

But if you do find yourself purchasing pieces that need a little extra love—consider yourself warned, because repairs can take a lot more time, money, and skill than you might think.

6. Have A Plan Before You Buy

I’ve definitely had to plan for a few post thrift laundromat adventures, and trust me they are so worth it.

Speaking of repairs and all the time, money, and skills required—you definitely need a plan, bestie.

Imagine stumbling across an immaculate vintage hand-stitched quilt or a practically new luxury cotton bedspread. It’s easy to get swept up in the excitement.

Your only focus is on the find, and all logic and sense of responsibility gives way to girlish enthusiasm. Not exactly the recipe for making practical plans. Am I right?

But I caution you, even the most pristine piece (I’m talking not a foul odor, stain, or rip in sight) needs a game plan for cleaning.

Small and easy to clean items like throw blankets and pillow shams might have a plan as simple as being tossed in the wash the second you get home.

Bulky items like a comforter might mean a stop-off at the laundromat. Delicate items might require a quick pop in to your local dry cleaner.

At the bear minimum having a plan for cleaning thrifted pieces helps mitigate the risk of bringing home an unwanted bug infestation. Thankfully the only hitchhiking critters I’ve ever found are the occasional dead spider (may they rest in peace), but still proper cleaning is essential.

And before you hit the checkout, don’t forget to plan for the more complex issues and repairs that were discussed in the previous section.

Jot some things down in your notes, schedule them in your google calendar, create tasks in your notion, for the love of God, at the very least make a few mental notes.

Does it need repairs? Okay—do you have the skills, if not, who’s going to do it? Granny perhaps.

And supplies to complete those repairs? Are they affordable? Can you pick them up, do they need to be ordered, can you use the old five-finger-discount from your parents?

All things considered, will you even have the time? Like… really

Mark my words—without some sort of plan, those fabulous finds are going to end up shoved in a pile in the back of your closet, long forgotten.

And every sound plan factors in the overall cost.

7. Consider The TOTAL Cost

Thrifted bedspread $12—Laundromat fees $10—the feeling of thrifting a like-new $300 bedspread for a total of $22—priceless!

Okay bestie, the key to thrifting effectively is always applying what I like to call savvy thrifter logic.

What’s that you ask? It’s calculating the initial cost of the item plus all additional costs to determine if you think the total cost is still a good deal.

For instance, a $5 thrifted duvet might feel like a steal… until you consider the cost of dry cleaning and purchasing a replacement insert.

That initial price certainly gives you a little thrift rush (been there). But sometimes it’s only a fraction of the total cost you actually need to consider.

Some additional costs keep in mind:

• Are there cleaning costs beyond a normal load of laundry? (Laundromat, drycleaning)

• Will special detergents and stain removers be required? (Outside of those you already own?)

• Do you need repair materials? (Buttons, zippers, thread, etc.)

• Are professionals services required? (Tailor, seamstress, etc.)

• Does it require replacement pieces? (Like a duvet insert, pillow forms, or matching shams)

Let’s be real—sometimes you’re out here buying a whole project without even realizing it.

So aim to thrift smart, not just cheap.

Don’t be seduced by that low “fixer-upper” price, when you can pay a few dollars more for something that’s ready to use.

Bottom line?

Don’t just check the price tag—do the mental math and decide if the total cost (plus the extra hassle) is still worth it.

If the answer’s yes? Then by all means, meander your little booty over to the checkout—because you found yourself a gem.

As we wrap things up, try to remember that if you’re new to thrifting, certain categories can feel intimidating— and bedding is definitely one of them. But here’s the thing: you don’t have to start there.

If you’d feel more comfortable easing in with some of the more straightforward categories, take a look at some of the less nuanced options here.

Either way, with a solid plan, a strong strategy, and a sharp eye, you’ll be snagging thrifted treasures—regardless of what you decide to hunt for.