Our Cleaning & Odor Disclosure

How We Prep Every Piece Before It Reaches You

At The Thriftanista Closet, every secondhand item goes through a hands-on inspection and cleaning process before it is listed. We believe you deserve to know exactly what that looks like — and we document anything we can't fully resolve so you can shop with confidence.

Pre-Sale Inspection

Each item is examined for the following before listing:

  • Visible stains, pilling, fading, or discoloration
  • Structural issues such as broken zippers, loose buttons, or seam separation
  • Odors — including mustiness, smoke, perfume, or storage smells
  • Label integrity and fabric composition

Any flaws found during inspection are photographed and noted directly in the product description.

Our Cleaning Routine

Items that are machine-washable are laundered with fragrance-free detergent and air-dried before photographing and listing. Where appropriate, items are steamed to reduce wrinkles and light odors.

Items are stored in a clean, smoke-free, pet-free environment after cleaning.

Materials We Cannot Wash

Some fabrics and constructions cannot be safely machine-washed or submerged. These include:

  • Dry-clean only fabrics — such as silk, wool suiting, structured blazers, and acetate linings
  • Leather and faux leather — wiped down with a dry or lightly damp cloth only
  • Embellished or beaded pieces — surface-cleaned to protect decorative details
  • Vintage or delicate knits — handled with care; not machine-washed

For these items, condition and any detected scent are always disclosed in the listing description.

Scent & Odor Disclosures

We take odor disclosure seriously. If an item carries any detectable scent after our cleaning process — including light mustiness from storage, faint perfume, or a vintage smell — we will say so clearly in the product description using notes such as:

  • "Light musty scent from storage — recommend airing out before wear"
  • "Faint perfume detected — washed, but scent may linger slightly"
  • "Vintage scent typical of older garments — no visible flaws"

If a listing has no scent note, the item passed our sniff check after cleaning.

Questions?

If you have questions about a specific item's condition before purchasing, feel free to message us. We're happy to provide additional photos or details.