One of the best parts of shopping at Goodwill is never knowing what you’ll find. A quick trip to the store could lead to a sturdy piece of furniture, a vintage serving dish, or a useful item you hadn’t planned to buy.
Not everything on the shelves is a bargain, and some of the best finds are easy to miss. Before your next visit, keep an eye out for these items and take a moment to check their condition before buying.
Solid Wood Furniture
Dressers, nightstands, side tables, and wooden chairs can be great buys, even if they need cleaning or a fresh coat of finish. Check the joints, drawers, legs, and frame for wobbling or damage to gauge how much work the piece might need.
Related: 12 Kitchen Items That Could Cause a Dangerous Explosion
Cast Iron Cookware
A cast iron skillet or Dutch oven can be a good find, especially if you’ve been looking for a particular size. Surface rust may come off with cleaning, but leave behind cookware with cracks, serious warping, or damage to an enameled cooking surface.
Vintage Pyrex and Other Bakeware
Look for patterned Pyrex, glass casserole dishes, mixing bowls, and other bakeware you could use in your kitchen or enjoy collecting. Check each piece for chips, cracks, and heavy wear, and confirm that older dishes are suitable for the cooking method you plan to use.
Related: 17 Household Items That Disappeared and Left Us Feeling Nostalgic
Leather Handbags
A well-made leather handbag can be easy to miss among rows of everyday purses. Inspect the material, stitching, straps, lining, and zippers, and skip bags with stubborn stains or damage that would be costly to fix.
Picture Frames
A picture frame can be worth buying even if you don’t like the artwork inside, especially if it has a solid wood build or an appealing vintage design. Replace the picture with a photo or print, or give the frame a fresh coat of paint to suit your room.
Related: 18 Common Household Items That Are More Expensive Than You Think
Table Lamps
Look through the lamp section for ceramic, brass, glass, or wooden bases that could look great with a different shade. An outdated finish may be easy to change, but inspect the cord and ask whether the lamp can be tested before you buy it.
Related: Do Goodwill Employees Get First Dibs on the Best Donations? Here’s What Goodwill Says
Vintage Glassware and Serving Pieces
Colorful drinking glasses, etched bowls, silver-plated trays, and unusual serving pieces can be mixed in with everyday dishes, so scan the shelves carefully. Look for patterns and materials you like, and check each piece for chips, cracks, or damaged handles.
Books, Movies and Video Games
The media shelves may hold cookbooks, children’s books, older hardcover editions, favorite movies, and games you’ve been wanting to try. Open DVD and video game cases before buying to confirm the correct disc is inside, then check for scratches.
Name-Brand Clothing and Special-Occasion Outfits
You might find a well-made jacket, pair of jeans, dress, blazer, or formal outfit for much less than you’d pay at a regular clothing store. Focus on pieces you’ll actually wear and inspect the fabric, seams, zippers, and fit instead of buying something just for its label.
Brand-New Items With Tags
Some of the more surprising Goodwill finds still have their original tags or sealed packaging. Compare prices with new items sold elsewhere and check the condition, since an unused product isn’t automatically a bargain.
