Is it safe to shop at thrift stores? Are they clean enough?

Question

Not to be mean! I was just wondering if a person would have a very good chance of catching a disease or something.

Answer 1

I have collected vintage clothes for over 20 years, to wear and to do programs on. Also, I collect Hats !
I shop at Thrift stores, second hand stores, Good will, salvation army, garage sales, auctions.
I have never caught any diseases.
In my looking for vintages items, I have found the most wonderful up to date clothes, some even brand new.
Once you wash them, you never even know that they have been worn.
Truthfully, when you think about it......people try on clothes in the Dept. stores, so there really isn't a whole a lot of difference.
You don't know how many people tried on that pair of jeans that you just bought. SO GO FOR IT !. AND GET A BARGAIN !

Answer 2

Its not bad at all to shop at thrift stores. But it really depends on the ones you go to, some are really nice,, more than half the clothes were never even worn before, but others can be kind of bad. You can't catch a disease or anything, just wash the clothes after you buy them, thats all. All are usually really clean

Answer 3

I doubt you'd catch a disease from clothing unless there was blood on it (which would be dried blood by the time you bought it of course), b/c no disease is transmitted through sweat, or any other bodily fluid except for vaginal fluid/semen (not to gross you out!). But with buying used clothes, you definitely don't know what the old owner has done in them, so I simply say just wash the clothes a couple of times with some good detergent and oxyclean and you should be just fine. If you're really that worried, just shop sales instead of buying used clothes. Good Luck!

Answer 4

If you think that some thrift stores are not clean, than you should not shop there. I would consider buying clothes on sale at department or discount stores. The best times to go shopping is at the end of the season.

Answer 5

No, not anymore than walking up the street and catching the flue from someone. Most bacteria can't live outside the body for very long if the was the case. Just make sure to lysol and clean the item if you are sketchy about something. Plus it will proble help you cope with you new furniture.lol by the way ,don't buy a matress if that was you were thinking of!

Answer 6

No, you won't catch a disease. I shop at thrift stores, and have volunteered in them, too. I grew up wearing thrift store clothes, because my mother saw absolutely no sense in paying retail for brand new clothes when I was just going to outgrow them in a few months, anyhow.

Answer 7

NO! Thrift stores are great! You can find slightly used, cheap clothes for a fraction of the price of the department stores. My friend even found a Dooney and Burke purse for only 30 bucks. She tells me that's good, I don't really know.
You should probably wash the clothes before you buy them to get that thrift store smell out of them, but they're safe, I swear.

Answer 8

I'm pretty sure you're not gonna catch a disease from shopping at a thrift store.

Answer 9

Your missing out you find the coolest stuff at thrift stores. All the ones here on california central coast don't wash there clothes. I've never seen a second hand store that does. Just don't buy the underwear, socks, bras, and swim suits..i wouldn't recommend shoes either. But as for the clothes and load of cool crap go for it its fun. But wash it before you wear it.

Answer 10

Not if you wash the stuff yourself at home before wearing it. But, in case your usual hygiene routine doesn't include that, the general answer to your question is no. You are not likely to get a disease from thrift shop clothing. Most pathogens can't live outside the human body for any length of time due to changes in temperature and moisture, pH balance and other factors. So, in theory, you could buy used underwear and you would be highly unlikely to "catch" something from it. Gross, but true.