There are alot of things I buy from secondhand thrift stores, but there are a few items I refuse to buy used. And before you call me bougie, uppity, or snobby, I just don’t like the idea of buying everything used, no matter how well I clean them.
Now this post isn’t to convince you not to buy these items used, it’s just a personal preference. While I will donate one thing, I won’t donate the others. Because if I don’t buy it from secondhand stores, why would I donate them? The things I don’t donate gets upcycled and used for other projects.
So while you are curious to know, here are the 4 things I refuse to buy from thrift stores.
Shoes
While I’ve seen a lot of adorable shoes in thrift stores, and I’ve even bought a few pairs of shoes in the past. But now that I’m in the process of rebuilding my wardrobe, I chose not to buy secondhand shoes.
And there are many reasons. For one, I don’t want to walk a mile in someone else’s shoes. While I can get the ick out of clothing items, I’m not that good at cleaning the insides of a shoe.
And if you wanna get the scientific reason, I’m very afraid of passed down fungal infections. As a former Master Cosmetologist, I learned about the many bacterial infections that can live inside someone else’s shoes.
I’ve also experienced doing pedicures on those with infections such as athlete’s foot, bumps, redness, itchy, patchy-looking skin, and it’s NOT FUN.
While I won’t mind taking shoes that are barely worn from trusted relatives, I just won’t buy shoes from the thrift store.
Socks
And the same goes for socks. Along with the possibility of fungal bacterial infections, buying shoes from the thrift store gives me the super ick, because all I can think about is wet, soggy, dirty socks that never seem to get cleaned in the washing machine.
While I can probably get them cleaned thoroughly, I just refused to buy them. And if I’m being honest, most of the socks I see in the secondhand stores look very worn, overly worn with lint balls, snags, holes, and brown stains on the bottom.
I don’t donate my used socks either. I either used them for future DIY projects or pass them down to my nieces or daughter to wear.
Bras
So the thing about used bras that gives me the ick is similar to my feelings with socks and shoes. Most of the bras I see in secondhand stores look very worn, stretched out, with questionable stains on them.
And since a bra is the closest clothing item that’s snug against your skin, I think about the excessive amount of sweat buildup in the bra cup area. Not that I can’t get it cleaned, I just don’t like the idea of wearing a used bra.
And if I’m being really honest, most of the bras I see won’t fit my small cups. LOL. So yeah… there’s that!
Panties
The item I won’t buy, even if it’s the last and only item to buy in thrift stores are USED PANTIES. This gives me the biggest ick ever when it comes to thrifting. Like, it should be a banned item to donate. Why on this earth would you donate used panties?
Reasons I won’t buy used panties from the thrift store is the fear of passed down bacterial infections like BV. And due to the many discharges that comes from the vagina, it just doesn’t sit right in my spirit.
I’ve seen stains in the crotch area and butt area, which was enough for me to never pick up another pair of panties again.
Also, you can get public lice and scabies if the previous person was infected. I’ll never forget when a friend in the past told me about her “crabs” story from buying panties from the thrift store.
That alone did it for me!!!
What are some items you won’t buy from thrift stores?
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