3 Home Goods That You Should Never Buy Used At A Garage Sale
Spending the weekend bouncing around your local garage sales can be an entertaining way to get great deals on items that would otherwise cost you some serious coin. If you are on the lookout for antique furniture, dishware, power tools, or even lawn equipment, then scoping out garage and yard sales near you could help you find unique items at a fraction of the retail costs. However, there can be a fair bit of strategy involved if you want to score big on your next garage sale adventure.
First, timing can mean everything when it comes to getting the best items and best prices. If you arrive right at the beginning of the sale then you can be sure that you have the first choice of the available goods. However, if you show up near the end of the sale, then there is a chance you can get even more of a deal on the goods that remain, explains Consumer Reports. Also, when planning your trips you may want to consider the neighborhood that you're visiting. For antique items, it could be worth it to go to garage sales in areas that have older residents. To enhance your experience it also helps to be prepared. Make sure there is plenty of space in your vehicle, bring extra boxes, and have a trailer to transport larger items. But, before you make the trip here are a few goods to avoid while visiting a garage sale.
Baby cribs
For families that are welcoming a new baby into the household, it can be a strain on the finances. Extra expenses such as a car seat, diapers, clothes, and prepping a nursery room for your newborn can certainly rack up over time. One sure way to cut the cost associated with your new bundle of joy is to look for baby items at your local garage sale. These sales can be ideal for picking up gently used clothing, toys, and books but there are definitely some items that you should avoid buying.
When it comes to looking for a crib for your baby, it would be best-purchased brand new. Because cribs go through various safety testing to make sure that they're not dangerous, then you want to take every precaution necessary to buy the right one. With cribs that are available at a garage sale, you cannot be 100% sure that every part is safe. For this reason, even purchasing crib parts from a garage sale for your existing crib is discouraged, according to Verywell Family. If a piece is missing or cracked it could pose threat to the safety of your child. Also, there's nothing to guarantee that the crib you're looking at hasn't been recalled in previous years. Although selling recalled items — even at a garage sale — is illegal, there is still a chance that local sellers won't perform their due diligence.
Mattresses
Buying a new mattress can be a big decision. Depending on the size, model, and quality, you could be looking at spending anywhere from $250 to $3000 dollars on a new mattress, according to Sleep Foundation. If this type of expenditure does not fit your finances then you might be looking at other options of obtaining a new-to-you bed. However, one of the places to avoid purchasing a mattress is at a garage sale.
Although you can get yourself a great deal on a used mattress at the local yard sale, there are many reasons why it wouldn't be a good idea. Normally, you should get a new mattress every six to eight years depending on the condition it is in, notes Sleep Foundation. But, if you are purchasing it from a garage sale, you cannot be certain of how long ago the product was first bought. You might be buying it at the tail end of its lifespan without the safety net of an original receipt or warranty. There is also the huge question of how sanitary the product is. Unless the mattress has been meticulously cleaned, you run the risk of it having deeply soiled stains, a stranger's skin flakes, or even bed bugs, according to Sleep Junkie. That's enough for anyone to lose sleep over.
Non-stick pans
Non-stick cookware can make meal time a breeze without having to add oils or butter to your cooking. Commonly, non-stick pans are coated with an agent called polytetrafluoroethylene or Teflon which helps to give it its slippery surface, according to Live Science. This material is non-toxic and if your pan is properly taken care of, then it should last you for years. However, if the non-stick item is not used in the manner it is meant to, then this could lead to deterioration of the coating which might flake off in your meals. Using the pans at a higher-than-recommended temperature, cleaning with harsh steel wool, or using metal utensils that may scratch the protective surface could all aid in the ultimate destruction of your non-stick pans.
Non-stick cookware can range in price from $20 to over $70 dollars depending on size and brand, according to Wirecutter. So if you're looking to cut costs around the kitchen, you might be tempted to keep an eye out for used items at a garage sale near you. However, even though you might be saving a few dollars, it generally won't be worth it in the long run. Because you don't know how the previous owners treated their cookware, it could be full of deep scratches or have the Teflon material already worn down. The last thing you want is to use it for the first time and have it flake into the food you are cooking.