Do you buy clothing at secondhand stores?

Question

I am always tempted to do this because I always see cute clothes, but I am squeamish about trying them on because I am not sure if they have been cleaned. I am thinking of just buying some, washing them, and then trying them on because they are so inexpensive. If you buy secondhand clothes, what do you do? I heard that you can get crabs and infections from some secondhand clothes, that's why I am so concerned about this.

Answer 1

Most of the places I go to for second hand clothes don't even have dressing rooms. I love buyind second hand clothes. They're comfortable, they're unusual, they're cheap, and I feel better that these perfectly good items aren't getting thrown into some trash dump.

I always take everything home and wash it.

I've even purchased shoes. I found my most favorite pairs of boots at Goodwill for 99 cents. They're italian, very soft leather, and I ALWAYS get compliments on them.

My most favorite pair of Levis cost me 65 cents.

Answer 2

I occassionally purchase from a second-hand shop. However, I check the clothing carefully while I'm in the store, and I wash it as soon as I get home.

Most places have a policy in place that they wash the items before putting them out on the sales floor. That's not to say things don't get overlooked, but they generally make an attempt to promote cleanliness.

As for getting crabs...you don't have to be at a second-hand shop for that. You can become infected at any place where there is an infected person that touches something that you touch. Even the most classy stores can have someone trying on clothes with pediculosis (crabs) and you can 'catch' it.

Also, some of the clothes that you buy there are never-worn. I used to work for Target, and the outdated clothes that we had to pull of the sales floor were donated to second-hand shops. Sometimes, if you look, they still have the original store's tags on them.

Answer 3

I buy most of my clothes from Goodwill. I always try them on first, but I've never gotten an infection (or crabs) from secondhand clothes. I wouldn't buy underwear secondhand, and I wouldn't try on swimsuits without underwear or shoes without socks, but those are just common-sense precautions anywhere you shop.
You're not squeamish about trying on jeans at Old Navy or American Eagle, or wherever you buy your clothes new, even though they've probably been worn by other people. I guess the difference in attitude is because Goodwill is considered a place for poorer (and therefore, perhaps, dirtier) people to shop. However, all secondhand stores have to wash the clothes before they put them on the rack--I believe that's the law in most places--and most people, poor or not, have the courtesy to shower before trying on clothes and not pass on dread diseases.

Answer 4

Second hand shopping is a wonderful thing. You can get super great stuff that people have only worn once or twice for really amazing prices. It is normal to be concerned about trying these clothes on... I shop in second hand stores a lot, so a few suggestions that might make you feel better about it.
1-i don't buy or try on something too personal - no underwear, bathing suits, super spandex items, or things that can't be washed.
2- i plan for when i go to try stuff on, i wear full coverage underwear(and not my favs), and a tank top, especially if i am trying on lots of stuff. So that if you feel a little gross when you get home these things can go straight into the laundry.
3- MOST of these clothes are washed before hand - think about it, when you would donate clothes, would you wipe them all over your dirty body, or give stuff to others that were covered in scabies? no... i think that most people are pretty cautious about those things. But do wash the clothes when you get home.
4 - You can't get an infection from clothes, not unless you are licking them or rubbing them in open wounds...
Go ahead and go shopping. I think you will be glad you did.

Answer 5

I LOVE SECOND HAND STORES!!! Most of the stores have the clothes cleaned and examine them before selling. ALWAYS try them on before buying them because they may say your size but hey are usually shrunk so get the next size larger (ex. M~L). It is so cheap and worth it. You dont even feel bad when in the summer you cut up the jeans into shorts cause they were so chap. In most of the stores there are also clothes that retail stores donate what didnt sell in the store. Last summer i got a $80 swimsuit for $10!!! It is so worth it and they usually have the clothes clean. Ask friends in your area who go to thoses stores fo the ones with better quality.

HAPPY SHOPPING!!!

Answer 6

Yes, I try clothes on and buy them at 2nd hand stores. As long as you are wearing protective under garments, you won't be able to catch anything. Most second hand stores require that you have the clothing laundered or professionally cleaned before they will accept them. Goodwill and the Salvation army clean the clothes before they put them out on the floor. My mother was a heart patient and Goodwill only would hire people with handicaps, my mother was a book keeper for them and told me that they launder the clothes. Even at that, when I purchase something from a second hand store, I launder it, I add 1/2 cup of white vinegar to the wash. That strips out all the old laundry soaps, scents, and fabric softeners.

Answer 7

Yeah you can buy, most second hand stuff i ever seen is normally in good condition. But that also have to depend on some other factors,e.g the appearance and cleanliness of the place selling the second hand stuff.

If the place is dirty, with cockroaches playing around, maybe u can forget about it.

And also it would be better if u were to wash the stuff bought, bcos u would never know what had happened to the stuff before u purchased it.

Overall, i think its alright for u to buy secondhand stuff.

Answer 8

I love secondhand stores, you find the most unique & comfortable clothes there. But you're right, I usually just hold it up, assume it fits, then take it home and wash it before putting it on.

I once saw underwear being sold at a Salvation Army. Underwear!

Answer 9

I buy from second hand stores all the time. I very rarely try anything on first. Usually I am getting a good price so if it doesn't fit or I don't like it, I can donate it or give it to a friend. You can't get crabs or infections, unless maybe from underwear or bathing suits.
Go shopping and have fun!!

Answer 10

I absolutely do. Clothes from the mall might've also been tried on....someone might've blown their nose on them, or worse.

Secondhand places are the best places to buy clothes. I love to "hunt" for a bargain.

Styles come and go....and come back again, so things that go out of style, and right to the secondhand store, so you'll always be in style, or ahead of the game if you create your own!