Commonly Found Items

Hey there,

Here's a quick hit-list of things that you are more-likely-than-not to find on your next thrifting trip. 

If it's on this list, consider thrifting it before buying it new! I hope this helps you to be reasonably reassured that you'll find what you're looking for in Zürich's thrift shops with ease. ;)

If it's not on this list, you still may find it - but these are the items that I would always bet on being able to find. :) Good luck!

For the Kitchen / Dining Room:

• fondue plates with the little divisions, often in really funky 60's and 70's colours
• fondue caquelons
• fondue forks
• glass jugs and pitchers
• wine decanters (it wouldn't take very long or very many trips to find a nice one you like)
• all glasses of all descriptions (wine, champagne, high-ball, whiskey, juice....)
• zopf-shaped bread boards, and round cheese boards (often hand-painted, traditionally)
• wire fruit baskets
• tongs (and the small ones for tea bags)
• strainer-spoons (not sure what to call them - skimmers?) and slotted spoons
• small strainers, and often bigger colanders
• cookie cutters
• silver-look serving chargers and trays (trays in general)
• teapots
• white and off-white linen-blend or high-quality tablecloths (hint: buy a whitening agent the next time you visit the Apotheke! I like Dr. Beckmann Super Weiss)
• vintage-printed tea towels (souvenir ones from travels are quite common to find)

For the Home / Garden:

• small plant pots (i.e. orchid pots and the like)
• watering cans
• candle holders (for tealights, primarily)
• Christmas tree stands
• Christmas and Easter decorations (year-round)
• matchbooks
• screwdrivers, hammers and small tools
• obviously an endless assortment of records, CDs, books and videos, though whether any of them appeal to you is a different issue altogether!
• stationery and office odds-and-bobs (like rulers)
• those big earthenware mustard or schnaps 'jars' (I keep thinking that if I was redecorating, I could grow an entire balcony garden out of these!)
• bedding
• towels (though rarely a good deal - I would buy these new. Even as rags, they'd be pricey. Facecloths and hand towels may be an exception, however, esp. at Brockiland. Price-check!)
• vintage aprons
• wall-mountable decorative plates (they're ubiquitous!)
• knitting needles and sewing needles
• ugly plastic step-stools
• plastic containers and laundry hampers (Brockiland Wiedikon esp.)
• walking sticks (canes), crutches and umbrellas
• many, many articles of clothing from which to fashion any number of Halloween costumes!

Furniture:

• wardrobes
• old lamps (standing, or table-top), esp. torchieres
• wooden dining chairs
• entire dining room sets
• desks

If you're bored and up for a challenge, see if you can find everything on this list at one of the brocki's in Zürich! And do comment to let me know how you got on! :)