Check Out Your Local Thrift For An Item Martha Stewart Considers Essential

Your local second-hand shop can be a goldmine when it comes to scoring home essentials and décor. You can find just about anything and everything for adding that precise touch of interest to any room or theme. However, there are some everyday items that you may actually be giving a hard pass to, not realizing what a great score they actually are. Check out your local thrift for one of Martha Stewart's prized essentials — woven baskets. While you may not have to follow the home and lifestyle expert's footsteps by dedicating a whole small house to these handled containers, that doesn't mean you can't find a few to work into your own aesthetic.

As a thing professional organizers always hunt for at thrift stores, you can find a variety of baskets in different shapes, sizes, colors, and woven materials, including wood, straw, fabric, and plastic. You may find indoor or outdoor options, designer brands, limited editions, and vintage items during your hunt as well. With just a few trips to your favorite consignment stop, you can stock up on this essential for each room in your home. People use baskets for a variety of reasons, whether to hold and carry items, decorate a table or counter, or place around the house as practical storage — all of this makes it an item that shouldn't be skipped. However, before you take home any woven treasures, you'll want to inspect them properly. Once they pass the initial screening, you also need to clean them before decorating with them.

When you thrift these woven containers, don't head to the checkout without giving the basket a thorough exam. Pick options that are not degraded or mildewed. A basket catches your eye, but it has a bit of rust? You can easily remove rust with a cleaning hack hiding in your pantry — molasses. While looking, be aware of any tears, rips, frays, or holes in your basket. Some may be able to be rehabbed with patchwork or repairs, but most likely, you'll steer clear of these. Leave overly stained and odorous options on the shelf as well. While you get to make your own call, it's best to choose baskets that you are comfortable cleaning and maintaining — a.k.a., the ones you're sure you'll use.

As an object that once belonged to someone else, it must be cleaned and sanitized before you even think of setting it out. Depending on your container's material, there are numerous ways to clean it. You can even use common kitchen items that can get thrifted baskets squeaky clean. For a natural fiber basket, brush and dust it to remove surface-level dust, dirt, and other debris. Move on by wiping it down with a damp rag and mild soap. You can get plastic baskets even cleaner with multi-purpose spray or wipes — beware, they may not be suitable for the dishwasher. For oil stains on natural fiber, sprinkle baking soda over the spot. Allow it to sit on the stain for 15 minutes. Then gently wipe it away. Always be sure they're thoroughly dry before situating or placing anything inside.