CURBSIDE RESCUE GUIDELINES
It’s my favorite time of year! No, not Christmas… Ok, second time of the year, Bulk Pickup!
For those of you whom may not be familiar with the term, it’s a designated time when people can put larger items out for the town to pick-up and dispose of at no additional cost (well I’m sure taxes cover it).
People toss things ranging from old appliances to… You guessed it, furniture!!! It breaks my heart to see well built furniture on the curb just because it may be outdated or has signs of wear that comes with age. There’s just something about the thrill of finding a treasure out of all the junk! Of course, some stuff is better than others, which brings me to the “guidelines” that I use to determine whether a roadside find is worth the rescue. So before you grab your gloves and head out the door, check out these five things that I keep in mind when “garbage picking”.
Neighborhood/ Home. I’m usually familiar with the area when picking and gravitate towards the better neighborhoods, I pay attention to how well the house is kept and I stick to the areas I drive through frequently so I have an idea how long it’s been exposed to the elements.
“Wellness check”. I check for water damage, mold, bugs, and smell! The last thing you want is to expose yourself to any of these and contaminate your home or rest of inventory. Oh and make sure you look with your eyes first.
Is it real wood? I personally, stay away from particle board. It can not be sanded and absorbs much more moisture than real wood. I’ve recently gone as far as adding dovetail drawers as a must, I find that dovetails usually translate to quality. But that may limit you a bit.
No upholstery! Unless it’s a seat on a wood chair, that’s easy enough to reupholster. Aside from that, upholstery is a no go for me. Too much risk and besides, upholstery is definitely not my forte.
Is it worth it? I ask myself do I like the shape of the piece and if not, can it be re-purposed? For example, we recently picked a full size bed. The scale was a little large and bulky for my taste, so it will be made into a bench. If you like the shape and size, chances are paint will do the trick! There have been some that I couldn’t envision at the moment but took anyway because I could tell it had potential and figured it is better to take and discard (as long as you can afford the storage).
ALWAYS clean your new found treasure before bringing it into your home! I spray my finds with white vinegar and essential oils. Vinegar will kill mold without releasing the toxins from it, unlike bleach. Vinegar also deodorizes. Essential oils lends cleaning properties as well as pleasantry factor.
As far as chair cushions go, I strip the cushion and and fabric and keep the wood portion, if it is bad condition, I will trace onto a new piece of wood and dispose of old. And don’t forget your mask, gloves and protective eye wear!
Happy picking! My hope is that together, we can save quality pieces from ending up in landfills. Better for our environment, easy on the wallet and helps preserve our history. All around win if you ask me!