Will Bedbugs Keep You Away From Consignment Sales and Thrift Stores?

on October 6, 2010 at 5:50 PM

Flickr Several months ago, I went to Goodwill for a column I was writing in a local magazine, and wrote about all my finds.

Thirty minutes of searching netted me a like-new Dana Buchman sweater, a gorgeous Ann Taylor sundress, an Isaac Mizrahi sheath dress, a striped boatneck top, and a trendy striped cardigan, all for under $30!

I was thinking recently of returning for more deals, but one tiny thing is holding me back.

One tiny, six-legged, biting thing ...

BEDBUGS.

With all the news stories about bedbugs recently, I'm paranoid that the creatures will somehow make their way into our house. And since I've heard of more than one family that has literally left their home and never returned because of bedbugs, WE CAN'T LET THAT HAPPEN.

The thought of bedbugs or their eggs in thrift store, vintage store, or, HORRORS, consignment sale clothes hadn't even occurred to me until I read an article about it in my local newspaper, The Tennessean.

When our resident "Ms. Cheap" is worried about bedbugs in used clothing, it's time for all of us to worry, y'all!

The article recommends checking out the Environmental Protection Agency's website for the best bedbug information out there. Ms. Cheap also advises examining any used clothing you want to buy carefully for signs of infestation, and of washing used clothing you bring home in hot water and running it in a hot dryer.

Personally, though, the thought of bringing home bedbugs is enough to put me off my used clothing searches this year -- which is really too bad, because I generally rely on consignment sales for much of my kids' wardrobes.

What about you? Is fear of bedbugs making you think twice about buying used clothing?

Image via Liz Novack/Flickr

Filed Under: clothes, horrors

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Comments (14)

knfisch

on Oct 6, 2010 at 6:08 PM

Not really because they can show up literally anywhere. If you are boycotting csecondhand storees out of fear than you should just avoid being in public since the suckers are everywhere. Stupid bugs.

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sodapple

on Oct 6, 2010 at 6:36 PM

yes, i really want to go to the consignment store but i'm terrified of those little bugs that i haven't gone.

poshkat

on Oct 6, 2010 at 6:55 PM

yes i have put a ban in our house on any new or used furniture and i don't buy consignment anyways. we live right outside of NYC the most infested city in America. they closed the empire state building in august and the Nike store (3 floor store) was shut down last week for bed bugs. i am TERRIFIED of those things. We just got a letter today from my sons school about bed bugs and what the school's policy is on it and how they will handle it.

amyl11

on Oct 6, 2010 at 7:42 PM

Wow and ick. I had heard about how bad they are but totally didn't think about the fact that they could come from a consignment store. Just went last week and bought stuff so I guess if we were gonna have them, we would. Does make me think twice about going back.

Facebook comment from Elizabeth Pattison

on Oct 6, 2010 at 8:13 PM

I only buy clothes there once in a while. I always wash them twice when I get home.

sgr123

on Oct 6, 2010 at 9:11 PM

Poshkat is right. While I do not live in NY, I have heard about Nike, the Empire State bldg and I believe Abercrombie and Old navy (I might be wrong on the last two) having to shut down due to infestation. New or used doesn't matter.

I did find some good info on how to control them. I wish I could remember where, but it said you can throw clothing and linens in the dryer for 20 minutes and that will kill them off. Anything I buy from a second hand store goes straight in the dryer now. I will not be buying new furniture for a long time due to this and we're in need of new beds for the kids. I don't know what to do.

MarshaCWP

on Oct 7, 2010 at 6:45 AM

New stores can be infected too, like some said above. And consider that people return things to stores that go right back into the stock, and that factories or warehouses can be infested too. So you really don't know where anything has been, whether new or used. I always wash all clothing that comes into my house, regardless of the source. So I'll keep shopping at thrift stores for clothing.

From what I've heard, most of the problems have been in bedding or upholstered furniture. I bought my older son a new mattress/box springs last month, and I very carefully examed it, even though it came from a new store.

on Oct 7, 2010 at 10:23 AM

thanks sgr, its really scary, and yes you are right abacombie was the first one to shut down due to bed bugs, they were the first in a long line of stores and buildings to close and im sure they will not be the last. NYC is one of the most visited cities in the world and bedbugs are everywhere, hotels, motels, stores, i've even heard the subways but i dont know if that one is all true or not. its really scary. my husband wanted to buy a couch while i was our of the country in august and i told him no way, no new furniture unless its given to us by family and friends who's house we've been in and know is not infested or no new furniture at all. he balked but i stood my ground. bed bugs are worse than fleas or any other infestation you can have, they can live for 2 years from one human bite.

Bethsunshine

on Oct 7, 2010 at 10:41 AM

No, we always shop at thrift stores and this isn't scaring me away from it. We wash the clothes in hot water we buy from thrift stores anyway. Plus, you can get bedbugs from NEW clothes as well because people try them on and sometimes buy them and return them.