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Invest a little time, elbow grease before garage sale
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More from LifestyleIt's garage sale season, an excellent time to remove clutter from your home, help the environment by eliminating excess trash from landfills, and make a little cash (just don't use it to buy more stuff).
To increase buyer interest — and your profits — invest a little time cleaning and repairing the sale items. Weiman Products, a cleaning-products manufacturer, offers the following tips for sprucing up common garage sale merchandise.
n Clothing: Wash or dry-clean all clothes before a garage sale so that they are fresh and spot-free. Display clothing on hangers; it will be easier to sift through.
n Wood furniture: Check furniture for any scratches that might have occurred during storage. If scratches are noticeable, select a wax crayon or paste shoe polish that matches the color of the wood. Apply it to the scratch to hide the damage, then buff the area with a clean, soft cloth.
White rings on furniture can end a sale quickly. To remove the marks, use lemon polish and steel wool, making sure to rub the stained area in the same direction as the wood grain.
n Children's toys: Wash plastic toys with hot, soapy water and a sponge, then rinse thoroughly and dry. When washing stuffed animals, put the toy in a pillowcase and tie a knot at the top before placing it in the washing machine.
n Silver: To remove tarnish build-up from silver, use polish when a light gold film begins to form on the item. Discontinue cleaning silver once it looks clean and shiny, even if the cloth is blackish.
n Leather purses and wallets: Use a high-quality leather cleaner/conditioner that is rich in natural oils to keep leather clean and supple. Be sure to test the product on a discrete area before using it.
— From staff reports
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