Want to Be Eco-Friendly? Visit a Thrift Store

Going to your local thrift store is like going on a treasure hunt. You never know what you will find, but there is always a good chance that you will happen upon a hidden treasure. Many people shop at thrift stores to save money or to find unusual things. Choosing to thrift rather than buy new also has advantages for the environment.

Reducing Trash in Landfills
Think about all the thrift stores near your home. Think of how big they are, how many aisles of clothes, books, toys, furniture and electronics they have. Now imagine all those things in a big pile. It's getting pretty scary right? People give thrift stores items that they would otherwise just throw away. If no one gave to thrift stores our landfills would be overflowing.

Reusable Commodities
Many people shop at thrift stores for clothing. Clothes, especially children's clothes, can be grown out of before they are worn out. Since thrift stores sell these used but still wearable clothes at cheap prices it cuts down on waste. People who go thrifting don't need to buy as many new clothes, reducing their consumption of goods. This same principle applies to appliances, furniture, toys, luggage and housewares. Thrift stores act as a filter for post-consumer waste.

Repurposing and Recycling
There are many things you find in a thrift store that you can alter to suit your needs. For example, you can find sheets that can be easily turned into curtains. Pillowcases can be modified into adorable pillowcase dresses for little girls or pillowcase tops for adults. Men's dress shirts can be refashioned into cute little dresses following this tutorial. Wool sweaters can be turned into diaper covers for cloth diapers. The sleeves easily sew together to make pants for small children. The same applies for any fleece shirts.

If your children are anything like mine, you know that they just love to play "grown-up." Thrift stores are amazing for this. You can pick up old dance costumes, uniform hats and shirts, wallets, purses and shoes to play dress-up. Pots and pans can find a new home in a child's play kitchen.

If you are in the mood to craft outside of clothing, the thrift store probably has something for you, too. There are always dozens of picture frames and photo albums to decorate. There are also books and magazines that can be cut up and used to embellish scrapbooks or children's art projects.

For those of you who are up for a real challenge you can tackle the furniture department. You could buy a coffee table with a scratched top and add a pillowtop to make an ottoman. An entertainment center or cabinet can convert into a play kitchen.

Many people go to thrift stores to save money. While this is important, now you can go with the confidence that you are making a real difference. Every time you go to a thrift store, you are taking part in Reducing, Reusing and Recycling to save the Earth. Way to go!