Cleaning Clothes for Resale
To clean clothing items:
- Sort the clothes and put detergent and dish soap into the washing machine.
- Vinegar removes smells.
- Check care instructions on the label before washing.
- Handwash gently if it says "Dry Clean Recommended".
- Test vintage clothes for dye bleeding by moistening a small spot with soap and water. Blot with a towel to check for colorfastness and shrinkage.
- Sort and wash like colors together.
- Put white vinegar into the "fabric softener" dispenser to get out smells.
- Air dry on a clothesline or rack after handwashing.
- Wash new clothes once before wearing to remove chemical finishes and excess dye.
Selling and Donating Clothes
- Poshmark charges $2.29 for purchases under $15, or 20% for sales over $15.
- eBay may be better for more expensive items as it has lower fees.
- Sell clothes on Poshmark, Depop, Etsy or your own website. Use Instagram to promote your clothing line and drive traffic to your online store.
- Donate or sell unwanted clothes at thrift stores. Simplify your wardrobe and support better purchases.
Tax Information and Profit Margins
- Most businesses need a resale certificate to collect sales tax in South Carolina.
- You need a tax ID number to sell on Etsy if you have a partnership or LLC. Etsy sellers must pay income tax on earnings.
- Profit margins for retail clothes range from 4% to 13%.
Cleaning Tips for Different Clothing Types
- For "dry clean only" clothes, take them to the dry cleaner.
- For machine washable clothes, use hot water and high heat settings.
Reselling Clothes Online
- Do you need to wash clothes before selling? Yes, all pre-owned clothes must be clean prior to listing, which includes washing and ironing.
- This guide covers the essentials of reselling clothes online including finding clothes to flip, the best brands to resell, how to prepare and price clothes, where to sell them, and additional flipping tips.
- Goodwill doesn’t wash donated clothes because it’s time-consuming and expensive. However, Goodwill follows strict hygiene standards and sanitation protocols.
Important Considerations
- Washing thrift store clothes before selling enhances value and appeal.
- Clean your items. Cleaning your clothes is an important step to selling online.
- You also need to consider the time invested in washing all your items to see if it is worth your time on a mass scale.
- Goodwill has cleaning routines in place to maintain a clean environment, including disinfection of surfaces and regular maintenance.