I run a luxury fashion resale company – my super easy method will clean tarnished hardware on a used bag right up
THE thrift world opens up when you have a few restoration tricks up your sleeve.
An expert thrifter has shared her technique for cleaning up tarnished hardware on pre-loved bags.
Marina Lukianov (@luxuryoutletnj), the founder of The Luxury Outlet, a secondhand designer handbag market, shared the cleaning tips with The U.S. Sun.
She explained that her go-to method required an inexpensive metal polish and some supplies most people would have at home.
“All you need is Brasso, cotton stick, old rag, leather brush, and leather conditioner,” Lukianov said.
“Put a dab of Brasso on the tarnished area and let it sit for 20-30 seconds.”
Next, with cotton, she rubbed the Brasso polish into the area in circular motions.
Lukianov wiped off the excess Brasso with the old rag and applied the leather conditioner.
“Scrub with the leather brush for about 20 seconds, then wipe off with a rag,” she said.
The expert added that Kiwi Saddle Soap and Apple‘s leather cleaner and conditioner are two of her favorite products for leather repair.
Lukianov, who’s been re-selling luxury goods for over a decade, explained that she stumbled into the career field purely by chance.
Like many teenagers her age, she hoped to make some extra cash by selling items she no longer needed.
“After graduating high school in 2012, I wanted to make some extra money, so I started selling clothing, shoes, and accessories on Poshmark,” she said.
“I would sell my own clothing that I didn’t want anymore, but would also sell my family members’ and friends’ items for commission.”
A lucky trip to a thrift store taught her she had the right eye and the drive to enter the secondhand fashion industry.
“One day, I walked into a thrift store and saw a pair of Fendi shoes for only $12,” she said.
Valuable thrifting finds revealed
Here are some of the best thrift store finds:
- Tiffany & Co. earrings that sold for $0.34 and are valued at $430
- American Girl doll that sold for $5.99 and is valued at $300
- Bionicle toy that sold for $14.95 and is valued at $18.101
- Gold record plaque for DJ Quik’s 1992 album Way 2 Fonky that sold for @20 and is valued at $200
- Rothy’s brand Sugared Berry pointed-toe flats that sold for $155 retail and are valued at $250
“I was not familiar with any luxury brands at the time. I just figured that maybe I could sell them and make a few bucks.
“These shoes changed my entire life.”
Lukianov was shocked when her $12 purchase sold for $180, opening her eyes to how lucrative the market could be.
“This was when my mindset shifted in terms of business,” she said.
The small business owner explained that she’d learned all her tricks on her own as she navigated the road to being a small business owner.
“I primarily look for items that are higher than 5/10 condition,” she said.
“Whenever there are small imperfections, it’s easy to watch a YouTube tutorial to possibly fix the items to resell.”