Years ago, the apartment I shared with my brother at the time became infested with bedbugs. We were able to get rid of them, but in the time since I've developed a deep fear and aversion to going to the thrift store. Which is unfortunate for now – we've been losing weight and none of our clothes really fit us anymore, but we can't exactly afford to purchase brand-new things because of how expensive they are. Thrifting would be a great way to off-set the costs, and the sensible portion of my brain knows this, but it gets overpowered by that fear.
So I guess what I'm hoping for with this post is if anyone has any reassurances when it comes to thrifting, or tips on things I could do when purchasing things from a thrift store.
I'm not looking for any posts about negative experiences, or similar experiences to mine, because I'm trying to get over this, not dig myself deeper into it.
Trying to get over my fear of thrifting
byu/quigglefrog inFrugal
Posted by quigglefrog
12 Comments
I’m not sure that clothes normally have bed bugs? I think it’s furniture and beds to worry about most
I had bb’s a decade ago and it’s made it tough to go thrifting for anything with fabric. I thrift kitchenware and house stuff but no furniture with fabric. I do get clothes sometimes – just bring plastic bags to get the clothes home in (don’t try on in store), toss on dryer for 30 min on high heat when you get home, and toss the bags. Then do a normal wash and dry. I hear ya, i have ptsd from my bb apartment in Boston and it makes it tough!
Perhaps start with things like dishes, that can be easily sanitized.
Never buy cloth furniture, mattresses, or pillows from a thrift store. Buy wooden furniture, then buy cheap seat cushions at IKEA
If you buy thrifted clothes, just stop at a laundromat and dry them on extra hot on the way home
The best way to get over your fear is to expose yourself to what’s causing you anxiety (thrifting, not bedbugs lol), and once you have good experiences with it, that will help rewire your brain to feel less anxious. Depending on how much stress this is causing you, it may take repeated exposures to really get past it.
1. Don’t try anything on at the thrift store
2. Don’t buy fabrics that can’t be washed and dried
3. Keep a plastic bucket, tote, or thick garbage bag in your car for thrift store stuff only
4. Wash everything you buy as soon as you get home. Also wash whatever you wore to the thrift store.
5. Dry everything you buy on high heat for at least 30 minutes
I’ve bought clothes at thrift stores consistently for over 20 years without issues, and I follow all of these steps except #3.
Well, this is an easy one to tackle. Go thrifting, and anything you buy put in a black plastic bag out in the sun for a couple of days. That will kill any eggs that may be in there. Then launder everything. Good to go!
When we come home from trips we leave our suitcase in the sunroom for weeks before we bring it inside to unpack. So I think You can always leave the clothes outside for a few weeks before bringing them indoors. I think that helps kill the bed bugs if you starve them (although I think it has to be at least a month). Not the most reliable way but more for you if you want a piece of mind?
But other than that the clothes have to be washed in super hot cycle to kills bed bugs and it has to be dried in also super hot cycle for an hour or so.
If clothes are what you need that is actually pretty easy since you can wash them. Put them in a hot dryer first for like 30 minutes, then wash/dry as normal. The only risk will be them getting in your car, so just bag them well for the journey or keep a plastic tote in your car.
Do not buy furniture.
If it’s helpful I’ve been buying clothes from thrift stores for 15 years, I’ve never given them special treatment, and I’ve never had a problem.
I’ve thrifted clothes for 10 years or so. I’ve never had a problem. I just wash everything as soon as I get home or if it’s a dry clean only fabric I leave it in plastic in the car until I can drop it off at the cleaners.
It’s worth it if you can get past the worry! I have found so many great items thrifting that I either couldn’t have afforded new or I wouldn’t have bought because they were out of my usual comfort zone
If you really wanted to ensure things for yourselves, you could stop off at a laundromat on the way home and give it the full treatment.
I’ve never carried home a bug from a thrift store in well over 30 years.