There are some things you shouldn’t buy from a thrift store. While we all love a good deal, I recommend you skip the following:
Mattresses
I have seen mattresses in a number of thrift stores. While they may look clean I wouldn’t encourage buying them second hand. I will note that there are some state laws that require mattresses to undergo a certain cleaning process if they are being sold used.
Baby Furniture
I would never suggest buying cribs, car seats or any essential baby related furniture from a thrift store. Safety laws change often and while you might save money, the risk isn’t worth it.
Makeup
Makeup is also a no-no. These products are going on your skin and if you don’t know the origin of a product I wouldn’t trust it. Be beautiful, but be safe.
Also on my list? Shoes and underwear. What things would you NEVER buy from a thrift store?
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yeah underwear and mattresses are on the no-no list for me
I buy shoes though if they look very close to new (especially kids shoes because they wear them for about 2 weeks!). If they are worn though, it is not worth it considering someone else's foot has shaped the sole.
Great tips! I won't buy socks either.
Catherine Denton
Why not they just go on your feet? Same as shoes. I have found some really great name brands and they are already broke in.
have bought new in pkgs. before
I would not buy men underwear either. I would go without it in any case.
Why not buy socks, you take them home put them in the wash and then wear them. You go into stores and try on clothes that you don't know how many people had that on. No difference.
Hats could also be a problem…stop and think
This mostly seems just like common sense!
Sense is not common Chris.
Definitely no swimsuits!!
Swim suits can be soaked in vinager, washed, and hung out in the sun, as the sun disinfects clothing. I have bought several suits, most like new, and never had any problems.
Good lord, I wouldn't buy those animal heads hung over that crib, either, unless you wanted your baby to scream in terror every night or you plan on raising a serial killer. Those things are frightening! What designer thought that was in good taste?
THEY ALMOST LOOK LIKE HALLOWEEN FACE MASKS!
I know! Creepy huh? That was my very first thought when I saw the picture.
LOL. I think they are awful no matter where they are. It's definitely a trend and I hope it's over sooner or later.
Crib mattresses make wonderful dog beds i recover with vynal sleeve and have also used old cribs cut off legs to make a cool queen size sleeping area for my Great Dane . Re purpose sometimes better use than original and much cheaper? just saying use imagination.B)
That's a great idea for a dog bed! Thanks for the suggestion…off to make a dog bed! COOL!
That is a great Idea for dog beds. I go out every fall and buy the foam and vinyl to make my dog a new bed. Even making it myself is rather expensive.The foam is the most expensive part . I am excited to hear there is an alternative. Thanks for the great idea.
Super good idea
I wouldn't buy pillows, stuffed animals or bed linens
pillows & bed linens can be washed
I wouldn't buy anything upholstered, like a sofa. You never know what might be living inside or what those stains came from. Eeww. I would buy, and have bought, a chair where the seat is upholstered because I was able to take that off and change it.
take a black light with you to shine over the furniture and you can see any hidden spots/stains before you would consider buying
what about underwear?
They mentioned underwear as a no-no in the article
underwear, socks and i wellnot also buy shoes. cos u don't kow what the other person had before time. blankets is anythere thing cos i have seen same reqal bad once in the store. i jsut go in and look and walk back out'
Underwear…ewwwwww!!! Thats wear i draw the line! quite happy about almost everything else, I lived in a drawer as a newborn, mom was a great thifter,lol
Must have been common during the 40's and 50's as a dresser drawer was my first bed too!!!! My dad always joked that when I cried to much my Mom just shut the drawer!
don't buy shoes, they are already conformed to someone else's feet! all this is common sense, but I supose some people who don't regularly buy second hand, haven't a clue.
I use thrift store baby changing table for my dog. I place it in front of our living room window so he can look outside (cut down legs to the right height) for the window)
OMG why would there be underwear at a thrift store. Gross. As said before common sense is a good thing. If it can hold bugs or germs it probably does. Have you ever seen an old mattress removed. They weigh twice as much as they do new. Any ideas why? Dead skin cells thats why. Yuck yuck yuck.
Yes , underwear is available at the Mennonite Re-Uzit stores here in PA!!!
Here where I live in Northeastern Colorado they sell underwear and bras at the thrift store
I have given away new underwear that I bought that did not fit. If it looks unworn it probably is. Wash it in hot water. After all you sit on upholstered chairs in offices and public places that are probably never cleaned and sanitized. Use your senses and good sense. It is is not that easy to catch diseases believe it or not.
Car seats (safety laws change) and helmets (if it's taken a hit, it should be tossed, and you can't always tell if it's taken a hit).
I would not buy anything that cannot be easily washed! Bed Bugs are reaching epidemic proportions so if I do buy it gets bagged tightly in plastic and it doesn't come in the house until it goes right into the washing machine!
Sometimes when I buy things at a thrift store that aren't washable, such as shoes, I double or triple bag them in plastic ziploc bags and put them in the freezer for several days.
Bathroom rugs, toilet brushes or toilet seats (yes I have seen them at thrift stores!!!!)
I would add to the list:
~underwear, I have seen thong underwear! can you imagine? YUK
~pillows
~slippers
~masks that cover your nose and mouth
~combs and brushes
DUH!!!!
Thankyou for the list
Only if it's small enough that you can boil it and sanitize it, (brushes & combs, barrettes, hair accessories, pot holders even socks, I say go for it.
When my son was a little boy (he is now 47 years old) I bought some used mattresses from the Salvation Army store to put on his twin beds. I would sing to him each night in his bed and we both broke out in a terrible rash. Didn't know what caused it until we realized it was the mattresses. We got rid of them fast. I was told that they were completely reconditioned before they were put out to be sold, but that was not the case. I never did that again. The motto in buying from a thrift store is: If it is hard (wood, etc.) it is okay, if it is soft (materials,etc) a no-no.
I have seen hemmorhoid cream at a rummage sale! Yes, it had been opened and used (but it was only a quarter!) Haha! Who does that ?!?! Needless to say as soon as I saw the hemmorhoid cream I walked away from that rummage sale.
Most items can be cleaned / sanitized / boiled / bleached / frozen.
When you purchase items, especially cloth, place them in a SEALED plastic bag until you can sanitize them. This is for germs, allergens, as well as pests (including moths). If you have room in the freezer, place books, etc (still in the sealed bag) into the freezer.
What I would not buy that was not in the list above are electronics. There is no way to verify they work nor how long they will work.
Having said all that, I have purchase many nice outfits at thrift-stores, some still with new tags.
Happy and Safe Thrifting!!
Most thrift stores in LA let you plug in electronics before you buy. Goodwill will give you a seven day return on electronics. I bought my turntable, receiver, and speakers at various thrift stores for under thirty bucks.
The Goodwill, tests and allows returns in 7 days. I have gotten stereo equipment and Lamps there and only occasionally there is a dud… However they only give credit.
With other Thrift stores you take your chances, however there are outlets to test things.
I have a baby bed i bought for when my granddaughter visited, she has out grown it, it is practically new but should i just throw away the matress instead of donating it?
Maybe you could see if a local volunteer animal shelter would want it?
Local shelters might also take it.
As long as the people know where it came from, they might want it ~ local church might need it, daycare, etc. Post it on a free site or in the paper for free if you want to donate it. The baby bed will sell if it is in good condition with all of the parts. Anyone concerned about recalls can always visit the manufacturer's site before buying.
Geez, what's the big phobia about underwear? Bring it home, wash it with some Clorox & it's good as new. Don't buy it if it's obviously and disgustingly stained, for Pete's sake. Little boys & girls grow out of all clothing so quickly that it hardly gets worn, let alone worn out. There's no reason not to donate used clothing of any kind, including underwear. Someone can always use the bargain who isn't able to always buy new.
Well, some phobias are cool! Apparently. I agree with you on the undies. They are expensive new and easily sanitized used. So why not. Most of the time kids outgrow them before they even look used. I am always glad to find a few pair in good shape for my little folk.
I have bought underwaer from the thrift store .And like you IO do wash them first .Even when I buy new ones I wash them first. I make sure there not stained .And about stuffed animals I throw them in the dryer to make them smell good and kill any grems if theres any on them
The only things I buy at a thrift store are big name brand items that are still in style and look like new. You can save just as much at an auction if you can get it hometo give it tlc. The seller should have it cleaned or swear by its condition.
NO NO NO Shoes even when they look really nice
or Handbags with lining ….
Stuffed animals for the same reasons as mattresses and upholstered furniture. You never know what little bugs are hiding in there, and they're not easily laundered.
I have washed many a stuffed animals if they did not have the beads in them…. and once you put them in a hot dryer they have killed anything that could have been alive. Most of the stuffed critters I bought new for my kids and handed down to my grandkids so I knew they were okay…. but I just thought I would pass the tip on to thrifters and garage sale junkies out there!!
Hats bras and undies!
What is the difference between a "thrift" store and say a garage sale, craigs list, classified ads. I agree some things are just common sense, but should all upholstered furniture simply be tossed?
No, do not toss upholstered furniture. Someone somewhere may need it and if you can afford to toss upholstered furniture, you probably keep a clean house without the 'bad' bugs. Not every one can or does because they can't afford it or don't know any better. Those items can be used by the less fortunate.
Thrift/second hand stores in my state are forbidden from accepting mattresses of any kind. There are places that will take them and destroy them for you, but health reasons prohibit them from being resold. I've bought plenty of children's toys, clothes, home accessories, but I do draw the line at underwear, toiletries and that kind of stuff.
I went to a garage sale and saw adult mens dirty underwear, you can tell it had not been washed. Left without saying anything to the man or his wife. YUCK!
I agree with all the "no no's" listed as what not to buy in a thrift store, but unfortunately as the economy dives, this is the cheapest store around, underwear and all, regular stores have been out of my budget for years.
I disagree about the baby furniture. Changing tables don't change standards, as well as fixed-size cribs. All you need is to make sure the gap between rails is correct (I believe it's 1.5 inches?). I also got a great wooden high chair at a thrift store for $20 that I trust a lot more than a cheap plastic one new from the store. Strollers are also great to score used, as well as large toys and clothes.
Carseats, though, should be avoided. You never know if they've been compromised by a car accident!
I agree with all of those except shoes. What's so bad about used shoes?? I've bought plenty of pairs of shoes back in my high school days of thrift shopping and never had any problems…
Shoes are okay if they are pretty new. My sis has bought some DocMarten's there and they were barely worn.
Shoes, as a rule because of the damage they can cause to your feet , if you are walking in someone elses feetprints, although I did get one little pair of practically new little Italian mules, with sequined tops that were perfectly fine.
I worked in a Thrift store & we we not allowed to sell make-up, car seats, helmets & other childrens stuff due to laws & safety issues. Mattress' never cuz they are most likely wore out (& icky) & most definately UNDERWEAR!!!! (Unless they still have the original new tag)
a crib, not the mattress can be washed, people it is hard times, I would say if you have a PC, you most likely will buy new baby furniture. Think about day cares, hotels etc. you and your baby sleep where others have.
I saw an enema kit once eww
I purchase most everything including clothes at the local "boutique"s in my area. new in the package panty hoes are a poor purchase as by the time they are at the thrift store, the elastic at the waist line is rotted. Older, new shoes fall into this catagory too. the glue which holds the soles to the top will dry rot as will the molded foam based soles and the shoes will literally fall off your feet as you walk. i read that ( wish i could reference this, sorry) that a major source of contamination in the home is the small amount of water that remains in your washer, and comes from… well.., your underwear. It is contaminated with fecal material. ( wish i did not know this.) However, to sanitze your washer & washable items, the article suggested turn up your hot water heater and use the hot water cycle only. i REALLY hope that article was right!!! : ). So, i definately by new / like new bras (no undies), cotton sheets, etc. and yes, i have bought bathing suits, too, always washing them in the hot water first. So far so good after 10 years of thrifting.
It is nice to have the luxury not to shop at thrift stores, but with the outrageous prices for new items, thrift stores are some peoples only option.
I saw dirty mouse tra
ps at a garage sale 25 years ago…………………..ugg…
Come on now. There is no difference between charity thrift stores, commercial thrift stores, used items on ebay or craigslist, or garage sales. Well, maybe one difference: if you are buying from a charity thrift, you are helping others.
Times are bad right now, but smart people shop at thrift stores any time. 90% of the time I walk out with nothing, but I have also found real treasures/new items donated with the store tags still on them. Try it. It's fun.
I find nothing wrong with going to Thrift Stores. They have saved me thousands of dollars over my kids' lifetimes, since kids grow SO FAST! See, I never HAD to have my kids in the latest NAME BRANDS…I just wanted them to be cute, which they were!!! Recently I found ALL of my daughter's maternity tops and a couple of maternity dresses at Thrift Stores. They were in perfect condition, some with original tags on them, and some were only 25 cents, and nothing was over $3.00. I also found lots of baby blankets, crib sheets, and baby clothes for her….all in perfect condition and several with original price tags on them, but nothing over a dollar. She loved everything I purchased for her and her baby! I LOVE shopping at thrift stores, and I appreciate it when the snobs don't shop there, but appreciate it even more when they donate their stuff to the Thrift Stores so they can write it off on their taxes!!! After recently getting 6 or 7 bags of stuff for under $20.00, I took everything home and immediately washed them with my usual brands of detergent and softener, and afterwards the clothes came out fresh and clean, soft and they smelled wonderful!!!