All that stuff in grandma’s cupboards might seem ordinary at first glance, but take a look again, and you might find that it’s better than any new version you can get.
The heavy one
It’s easy to ignore an old cast-iron skillet. It’s battered and bruised, for starters, so it doesn’t seem like it’s worth anything more than a trip to the dump. But hold on. A little rust doesn’t necessarily mean the skillet’s out of action, and you can probably fix it quite easily.
A bit of scrubbing, a bit of oiling, and then some seasoning. That’s all it takes. Honestly, it’s been around for so long anyway that it’ll probably last many more decades, too. Any mostly intact pieces that can still sit flat are worth saving.
The bright stack
Another valuable kitchen item is the Pyrex bowls at the back. The fact that they look like something from a church basement is part of the charm. You might find ones with collectible patterns.
Sure, they’re nice, but the real value comes from the less fancy ones that you can use for everything. They usually stack well, too. As long as they don’t have any chips or faded paint, you might want to think about holding onto them.
The folded pile
You might get tricked. A handmade quilt looks like an old blanket, so you may just write it off as something to toss out. It has no value. Or does it? Open the quilt up, and you might see some mismatched cotton prints and fabric from old clothing.
That took someone hours to make, maybe even days. A little musty smell isn’t that hard to fix. Air it out gently, keep it dry, and you’ll have a blanket that’ll keep you warm even on the coldest of nights. Don’t throw away all that labor.
The drawer nobody opens
So many people ignore the magic of embroidered tablecloths and cloth napkins. That is, until the holidays arrive and they’re left scrambling to find one that’ll fit the table. Those moments are why you shouldn’t toss out any old ones you find.
They may have monograms or lace edges that add so much personality to every stitch. Don’t worry if they’re yellowing. You can usually treat it, although you don’t want to be too aggressive and tear the fabric.
The glass shelf
Here’s the thing. You can’t use every old Mason jar for canning because some of them just aren’t fit for that purpose anymore. They might have chipped rims. They might be cracked. But that doesn’t mean you should throw them away. Far from it.
You could try using them for storing things like dried beans or rubber bands. New coin jar, anyone? They’re great as decorative pieces, too, so don’t overlook any worn-out ones.
The fancy dish
You might think that a crystal candy dish belongs next to ribbon candy and a bowl of mixed nuts nobody touches. You’d be wrong. Older candy dishes are often made from real lead crystal, and that has a way of catching the light.
Maybe don’t store any fresh food or drinks in it. But you could put some wrapped candies or keys inside. Something as small as a classic crystal candy dish can make a table look a lot more appealing.
The tiny cup
Most people have no idea what to do with a single porcelain teacup and saucer. They’re just useless breakables. However, take a look underneath, and you might see that it’s a lot sturdier than it seems. Bone china and porcelain are especially good.
They might be delicate, sure, but they’re not weak, and you could use them as a catchall for anything around the house. Or maybe you could use it as your special espresso cup. Whatever floats your boat, because really, not everything has to be a full set to be functional.
The closet extras
All those scarves and gloves look too much like something from a dress-up box. An old handbag? When are you ever going to use that? However, these items might be worth more than you think, especially if they’re made from real leather and have rolled silk hems.
Think about it this way. These items have managed to last for all those decades, so a few more years aren’t going to hurt. A lot of these pieces are made with small finishing details that you won’t find on any new pieces, too.
The sturdy row
Wooden hangers can actually be as valuable as the clothes they’re holding up. A shaped one is better for a wool coat or blazer than a bent wire one, for starters. It’ll stop the shoulders from collapsing so easily.Â
It’ll also prevent heavy clothes from drooping. There are some extra-special old ones that come with famous hotel or store names on them. You don’t need antique clothes to use them.Â
The winter coat
An old wool coat can be deceptive. You might brush it off as being too long or too outdated, yes, but the wool itself could actually be in good condition. Don’t forget, wool’s a great fabric. It resists odor and wrinkles, while also dealing with stains pretty well, too.
Check that the fabric’s in good condition. If it is, then that old wool coat could have many more years in it, even when the buttons are missing or the sleeves are too long. It’s not too difficult to get that fixed.
The brass pair
They look dusty. They’re usually not. Even when brass candlesticks have old wax stuck near the top and green stuff in the grooves, they could be worth something. It’s all to do with the material they’re made of.
Brass is made from copper and zinc, which makes these candlesticks heavy. Heaviness means durability. Have a look underneath for any maker’s mark, and make sure to polish them, too. That’ll make it seem even more valuable.
The cool sheets
It’s kind of weird how people misunderstand linen sheets. They see the wrinkles and assume the old ones are tired, but that’s not always the case. Linen is linen. It’ll crease and it’ll soften, it’ll also last for years, as long as you don’t leave it somewhere damp.
The older kinds of sheets also come with some extras. You know, like monograms or embroidery. The kind of things you’d have to pay top dollar for these days. They might not exactly be crisp and perfect, but there’s a certain charm to old sheets that you can’t deny.
The denim pair
Don’t put old Levi’s in the giveaway pile. At least, not right away. Check them for a button fly or red tab. You might also want to look for selvage edges and odd labels because these are the things that people like on old pants.
Pocket details never look bad, either. They might be worth a little, or they might only be good jeans, but whatever, they’re going to be something useful.
Sources: Please see here for a complete listing of all sources that were consulted in the preparation of this article.
