Thrifting and vintage shopping can be a great way to expand your wardrobe—and get one-of-a-kind items that you can’t find anywhere else. But while it may be an ideal place to get a skirt or jacket, some clothes can be risky to get secondhand. So before your next thrift shopping excursion, take these clothing items off of your shopping list.
Underwear
There’s a reason most stores have a no-return policy for underwear, even when it’s bought new. Obviously, anything that’s so intimately close to the body should not be something you thrift (no matter how thoroughly you clean it!).
Bras
Not only are these worn skin-to-skin, but generally, they tend to lose support and elasticity as they’re used. In fact, the average bra wears out after a year’s worth of use, so likely, a secondhand bra has already exceeded its lifespan.
Children’s Clothing—Especially Sleepwear
Items for kids tend to be held to a higher standard of safety than clothing for adults, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, and are often the subject of recalls due to features that may be unsafe, such as drawstrings. While thrift stores are supposed to check to ensure that a recalled item isn’t sold, it’s hard to know whether all recalled items have been pulled, so it’s best to play it safe.
Bike or Sports Helmets
This one is all about protecting yourself. Sports and bike helmets are generally considered unsafe if they’ve been in a collision or even had a hard drop, and it can be difficult to tell whether a helmet has been damaged in that way just by looking at it—though scrapes or scratches may be a good indication. If you do decide to buy one secondhand, take a look for an expiration date, as biking helmets often have one.
Bathing Suits
Basically, if it’s something that’s worn right against your skin—and something that you can’t necessarily return to the store after it’s been worn—you’ll want to seek it out new. Plus, the elasticity that helps the suit hold its shape has likely seen better days—so a pre-owned bathing suit probably is not going to fit nicely, either.
Clothes That Smell or Are Stained
If there’s an odor or stain on an item you’re thrifting, it’s likely set in—and might not be able to be lifted, no matter what techniques you try. Invest in these only if you’re planning to dye and alter the piece, or if you’re fine with losing the money if the stain or odor remains after you take a stab at fixing the problem.
Clothes That Aren’t Easily Washed
You may want to think twice about clothes that can be difficult to clean thoroughly, such as leather or delicate items. In studies, some thrifted items have been found to harbor scabies and other parasites that can be killed with laundering and heated drying—but may be harder to remove from clothes that require delicate treatment.
Leggings
Similar to bathing suits and underwear, this is something that’s worn close to the body and may already have lost the support and elasticity you’ll want from them. And besides—they tend to be something you can buy new at a discounted price.
Some Shoes
You’ll want to look closely for wear and tear on any shoes you plan to purchase, as uneven wear due to a previous owner’s gait could cause injuries to your feet, legs, hips, and back when you wear them for an extended period. Be especially careful of this with athletic shoes, which often have a shorter lifespan.
Love the shoe? Consider whether a particular shoe issue is fixable before you say no. Some types of wear and tear—such as a worn heel—may be able to be fixed by a shoe repair service.
