Garage sales are good places to find vases, dishes, books, and many other items–cheap. They can also give you bedbugs, unsafe items, and disappointment. Some things should never be purchased at garage sales or yard sales.
Used Clothing
Taking garage sale clothing–of any type–home is a poor choice. It may bring insects like moths with it. Clothing like swimwear, bras, and underwear worn next to someone else’s skin is a repulsive idea. Yes, they can be washed in hot water to clean and sterilize them–but do you really want to?
Used Mattresses
Bedbugs, dust mites, bacteria, mold, and other stuff may inhabit mattresses. They can’t be washed or cleaned easily. Best to leave them in someone else’s garage.
Car Seats
Child car seats are meant to be discarded if they have been in an accident. Up to one in ten have been involved in an accident–making them unsafe for the next occupant. Car seat technology improves every year. Many are recalled due to safety issues. The seller may not even know that the seat was recalled after she/he quit using it.
Shoes
Shoes that have been used for a while tend to fit the feet that wear them. They may never be comfortable. Running shoes absorb sweat and may cause health problems.
Helmets, Caps, Hats, Toques
Bicycle helmets, motorcycle helmets, football, and hockey helmets are designed to provide protection. They need to fit well. Used helmets may have cracks or other hidden damage that may put someone in danger.
All used headwear can contain remnants of sweat, hair products, makeup, and even skin infections. Many types of head coverings are difficult or next to impossible to clean thoroughly.
Safety Equipment
Like helmets, sports equipment such as football and hockey pads must fit properly to protect effectively. Equipment is almost impossible to effectively clean and disinfect. The bags used to carry hockey gear smell like that for a reason.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) used for work–boots, gloves, vests, and hard hats–are also best left where they are. Finding a perfect fit is difficult and the equipment may be compromised.
Cosmetics
Used or even open cosmetics can spread diseases–especially into the eyes. Hair spray, foundations, eye makeup, and lipstick should just be left where they are.
Baby Items
Baby items are popular at garage sales because kids outgrow things. Baby clothing can usually be washed in hot water and used. Some of the other things should be left.
- Plush Toys. Stuffed toys are next to impossible to clean and disinfect. Any type of plush item can carry dust mites, fleas, and bedbugs.
- Cribs. All drop-sided cribs are now illegal to sell. So many types of cribs have been recalled, it is difficult to know if the garage sale crib is safe. Safety standards also change regularly.
- Baby Bottles. May be cracked. Older bottles may contain BPA–a chemical no longer considered safe by the FDA.
Computers and Electronics
There is a good chance that if the electronic item still worked well, it would not be for sale. Why pay for a TV, laptop, or phone that requires repairs or upgrading that may cost as much as a new one? Or can’t be fixed.
Cookware and Dishes
Cracked, chipped, or rusted cookware can leach chemicals and heavy metal into food. Many older dishes and pottery contain lead. Used as decorations these items are perfectly safe. Not so much if they are used for preparing food and eating off of.
Other Items
Be prepared for disappointment if you buy any of the following at a garage sale. They have probably all been used and could be less than pristine.
- Puzzles – Missing pieces.
- Games – Missing pieces or instructions.
- Toys – May be missing pieces. May not work if battery-operated.
- Music and Movies – Scratched, demagnetized, cracked, or torn CDs, DVDs, records, audio tapes.
- Video Games – May be coded for only one user.
