Some of these may surprise you. They may even SHOCK you. Several months of quality inspection and research from my own experiences in thrifting retail has taught me a few things. Here are my top recommendations on some things NOT to buy or accept thrifted!
1) T-Shirts: Generally speaking, people don't get rid of their t-shirts until they are well worn out. For this reason, many of the t-shirts you'll find at thrift stores tend to be quite worn and faded. Which is great if you're just working or sleeping in it - otherwise the selection might be slim pickings.
2) Mattresses: Unless you personally know the person that is giving you a mattress, I do not recommend accepting or purchasing a used one. This has a lot more to do with the 'ick' factor (my 'ick' tolerance is quite high) and instead has more to do with the dreaded possibility of a bed bug infestation. Enough said.
3) Baby Items: Cribs, strollers, car seats and even some toys have been banned from sale in all respectable and well-known thrift stores. This is because of changing safety regulations. If you're considering buying one at a thrift store/garage sale, or are being offered one, keep this in mind. It's worth the extra money to purchase new, if it means your baby's safety.
4) Pillows: I was a little torn on this one because I know we've all seen the perfect vintage throw pillow that would look totally chic with our bedspreads at one point or another, but I wouldn't recommend this one without hesitation. Pillows are a lot harder to wash than clothing or bedding, which makes them harder to really clean. The older the pillow, the more dust mites it's collected over the years. If you have allergies, this could be a problem!
5) Rainboots: Ah, I've had a personal disappointment with this before. Since it's impossible to test whether a pair of wellies are waterproof before you actually purchase a pair, it can be a hit or miss for the quality. Even on close inspection, sometimes you can miss a small hole or loose binding. Something to look out for!
Do you have anything to add or thrift purchases you've regretted? I'd love to hear your thoughts!
Comment below and let me know :)
xoxo
Brittany
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