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AIBU?

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Original poster

To ask what is NOT okay to buy second hand

288 replies

minddeter · 21/04/2021 14:09

I try to buy second hand stuff as much as possible. I need some new towels-are second hand towels unacceptable?

I think second hand knickers would be a line drawn and towels have probably been just as close if not closer to someone's Front Bottom.

Where do you personally draw the line?

OP posts:
CathyorClaire · 21/04/2021 21:02

commando|

bugaboo218 · 21/04/2021 21:09

Electrical items

Underwear or socks

Kids or Adult pj's unless from family.

Towels or flannels

Materess

Pillows

Duvets

Car Seat

Children's shoes unless from family

Toys that cannot be washed or disenfected for babies or very young children.

Eyevorbig0ne · 21/04/2021 21:13

Mattresses
Car seats
Sex toys

Time40 · 21/04/2021 21:34

Nothing. I'm not repulsed by other people, and washing machines are good these days!

Time40 · 21/04/2021 21:36

Mattresses

So ... how do you square that with staying in hotels?

mathanxiety · 21/04/2021 21:45

Sometimes you have to suspend disbelief.

Maybe bring your own sleeping bag and pillow, and avoid contact with the hotel bedding.

Or avoid hotels, B&Bs, AirB&Bs, etc as much as possible.

Dee1975 · 21/04/2021 22:27

Toothbrush. Never buy a second hand toothbrush ...!!
But to be serious, I’d probably prefer to buy new towels. Underwear is also a no no. And shoes. I wouldn’t buy second hand shoes.

firsttimeoptimist · 21/04/2021 23:00

Opened cosmetics and skincare especially suncream (unless passed from a friend and bought recently but disliked).
Once open they start to degrade quickly and can then be very bad for your skin.

RhubarbCustardy · 21/04/2021 23:05

Underwear, towels(sorry!) or shoes.

BeenAsFarAsMercyAndGrand · 21/04/2021 23:10

@Floralnomad

The only things I would buy second hand are cars , houses and animals , everything else I prefer new , although I’m happy to take stuff from my sister as I know where it’s been .
Not a fan of antiques then?

I draw the line at things that aren't easily cleanable. Underwear - fine. Mattresses - nope.

BeenAsFarAsMercyAndGrand · 21/04/2021 23:11

In a hotel you're just borrowing the mattress briefly. That's different to buying one which you plan to sleep on for years.

thunderandsunshine01 · 21/04/2021 23:19

Baby bottles, dummies or teethers - I also replace them between my own children, the plastic/rubber tends to have a bit of a shelf life. Car seats. Mattresses, duvets or pillows (bedcovers fine).
I would probably steer clear of rugs as well for fear of fleas etc, which is a bit illogical really as I’ve hand second hand sofas.
Sanitary products and underwear I think are quite obvious ones.

WeBuiltThisBuffetOnSausageRoll · 21/04/2021 23:57

KateKeeper

I completely agree with you. A number of people on here are (not unreasonably) saying they wouldn't dream of buying/using a second-hand sex toy - that could have been washed, disinfected and sanitised countless times; but if something with an essentially similar purpose comes attached to a person they don't know, not a squeal of dissent.

WeBuiltThisBuffetOnSausageRoll · 22/04/2021 00:01

*but if something with an essentially similar purpose comes attached to a person they don't know, not a squeal of dissent.

Sorry, that was badly worded and in no way directly referring to the people on here who've said they wouldn't want a second-hand sex toy - just that it's something that many people would not see an issue with, when they may well do with a used toy.

LeopardSheet · 22/04/2021 00:03

A relative once bought a second hand septic tank

WeBuiltThisBuffetOnSausageRoll · 22/04/2021 00:40

A relative once bought a second hand septic tank

Isn't that just a huge container that's designed to hold a whole load of poo? As long as it's clean on the outside, what would make you think that your own poo inside it is going to be any more pleasant than that of the previous owners?!

RosesAndHellebores · 22/04/2021 00:51

I think you do have to be careful with 2nd hand furniture/rugs etc. It only takes one: cloth moth, carpet beetle, woodworm, bedbug, etc, for an infestation to take hold.

Happy with hand me downs from family/friends or swapping of special items. My very nice maternity coat went round half a dozen friends and I loved having a friend's maternity trousers from Formes.

DS as a toddler was once given a friend's child's cast offs. They were lovely. However as soon as the trousers/trackies warmed up with wear, they whiffed of wee. No amount of washing dispelled it.

I don't get a thrill from vintage.

eaglejulesk · 22/04/2021 03:14

Nothing much bothers me, especially in the clothing, furniture, jewellery line. I only buy second hand jewellery - you can get expensive quality pieces for a fraction of the price of lesser quality, and the same with furniture. Who wants veneer if they could have wood?

I don't like the idea of knickers - but if I couldn't afford to buy new I daresay I would buy them. Clothing can be washed!

eaglejulesk · 22/04/2021 03:16

Forgot to say, I've been sleeping on a second hand mattress for years! Nothing wrong with it.

eaglejulesk · 22/04/2021 03:26

Are people thinking you could pick up something from footwear?

Welcome to MN, home of the hygiene obsessed! Most of my footwear is second hand, and I've never picked up anything at all, nor has anyone else I know - other than great quality shoes for a song.

Goldenmythicalcreature · 22/04/2021 06:47

Hi I wouldn't buy second car seats pushchairs or mattresses or baby bottles.
Most of my kids clothes are preloved makes sense when they basically ruin new stuff on the first wear 🙄 but shoes and undies are always new and all coats too.

I also wouldn't buy second hand sofas or beds

OhKnackers · 22/04/2021 08:14

Wouldn't get for myself secondhand pants, wouldn't for the children either, wouldn't get second hand car seat, cot mattress or helmets, would get and frequently do get second hand lots of other stuff. Wash before I wear, helping the environment and it's cheaper too.

Rinoachicken · 22/04/2021 08:36

Underwear
Swimwear
Kids shoes
Car seats

Also for me bed linen and towels would be a no - though I’m perfectly happy to stay in a hotel and so I do realise there no logic there!

Rinoachicken · 22/04/2021 08:56

Oh and mattresses!

BigWoollyJumpers · 22/04/2021 10:41

[quote FelicityBeedle]@BigWoollyJumpers
Donate it! I for one am always looking cor nice linen in charity shops, sometimes for beds or tablecloths, or to further embroidery myself, or sometimes for sewing. It depends on if you can stand the idea of someone maybe chopping it up[/quote]
Thanks for the advice ladies.

I will go empty her linen boxes and have a sort out :-)

Anyone got any advice on Italian Silver Plate cutlery and Wedgewood Tea Sets.

I used to sell via eBay for a time. Selling children's clothes became a chore because they sold for peanuts and the packing and shipping became untenable. Then I sold some laptops and computers. One seller refused to take delivery, although I was still paid, after raising a resolution, and one got lost (stolen) in the post, and I only got a fraction back on the value. Just unlucky I guess, but it took the shine off selling there.