Do you think it is safe to buy pieces of furniture at garage sales?
- Thread starter PamfromTx
- Start date
hellomimi
Namaste 🙏
- Location
- City of Angels
If you're willing to take the risk of bringing bedbugs to your home, go ahead. Those pests are hard to get rid of!
hellomimi
Namaste 🙏
- Location
- City of Angels
You also take a bunch of the free condiments at fast food restaurants?So what? They're not charging extra for them.
Aunt Bea
SF VIP
- Location
- Near Mount Pilot
While you are busy checking for bedbugs don't overlook the possibility of roaches hiding in the electronics and small appliances.
When I was young and literally had nothing to lose I used to drag home furniture and household items that I found on the curb.
Last year in my area we had issues with bedbugs hitching rides home from a local high school in the student's backpacks and gym bags.
The possibility always exists that some sort of bug or bacteria will find its way into our home on a new item, in a sack of groceries, on our clothing, etc...
I think that all we can do is be aware of the risk and manage it to the best of our ability.
When I was young and literally had nothing to lose I used to drag home furniture and household items that I found on the curb.
Last year in my area we had issues with bedbugs hitching rides home from a local high school in the student's backpacks and gym bags.
The possibility always exists that some sort of bug or bacteria will find its way into our home on a new item, in a sack of groceries, on our clothing, etc...
I think that all we can do is be aware of the risk and manage it to the best of our ability.
Last edited:
Pappy
Living the Dream
In a word....no.
Exactly. It would depend on the item.
If I saw a glass coffee table I absolutely loved, I’d get it and disinfect it before even putting it in the vehicle.
We are wiping down most things these days so it would be no biggie
asp3
Senior Member
- Location
- Silicon Valley, CA
I would always consider getting furniture at a garage sale. My parents bought their dining room table and credenza used down in southern California and have had it for over 60 years. We don't need any furniture ourselves, but I would consider it.
When my wife opened the art glass center years ago a lot of what we bought for it came from Craigslist, garage sales and clearance sales at various stores that were going out of business. It really cut down on the cost of putting the place together and I can't think of any pieces of furniture we had problems with as a result.
When my wife opened the art glass center years ago a lot of what we bought for it came from Craigslist, garage sales and clearance sales at various stores that were going out of business. It really cut down on the cost of putting the place together and I can't think of any pieces of furniture we had problems with as a result.
squatting dog
We don't have as far to go, as we've already been
- Location
- Arkansas, and also Florida
Man, that's no lie. Years ago, the wife had a small computer store when she was building and selling computers. A customer brought her computer in for some simple repair. (modem or something like that). Well, opening that case allowed what seemed like a thousand roaches to run for it.
They infested the store and no matter what I tried, we couldn't get rid of them. Even an exterminator came and sprayed and still... roaches.Finally remembered something that we used in NYC to rid the place of roaches. Maxforce FC Magnum roach killer. Best stuff around. Showed my brother down in Florida this stuff and he finally got rid of his roach problem.
While I have had no problem here, I still keep a box handy, just in case.
Butterfly
SF VIP
- Location
- Albuquerque, New Mexico USA
Fumigators told us that there are only a couple of things that will actually kill bedbugs or their eggs, which can live for several months. Disinfectant won't get them, and neither will normal bug sprays.
Aneeda72
Well-known Member
Bedbugs and roaches can come from new furniture as well. There is always a risk. High heat kills bedbugs. Since you can get them from hotels, motels, it’s wise to leave you things in the car for a few hours, when you travel, the temperature gets very high in summer and will kill them. As I understand it.
fuzzybuddy
SF VIP
- Location
- The Sticks, Northeast PA.
My first apartment in NYC was furnished with stuff I dragged home off the street. That is not an uncommon thing to do in NYC. On trash day, whole blocks of the city become open air bazaars of free modern and antique furniture. I'm not talking about a broken, three legged sofa with the stuffing falling out, it's nice things you wonder why they were on the street. Of course, you aren't going to carry home a mattress, etc.
Camper6
Well-known Member
- Location
- Northwestern Ontario Canada
Wood furniture, no problem.
Upholstered furniture, no way Jose.
Upholstered furniture, no way Jose.
It's not as likely they will be in new furniture. I have heard horror stories from people who worked in rent to own places that got stuff back that was full of bed bugs. I refuse to shop at those places.
Duster
Member
- Location
- Deep South, US
As a former antiques dealer, I have to agree with the wood/metal/glass furniture is okay, not the upholstered.
When buying for resale, I never even considered upholstered furniture or mattresses. Why? Bedbugs, fleas, human lice, mold, and scorpions.
There is a small danger of woodworm infestation in old wood furniture~
Woodworm is a type of wood-boring insect which lays eggs in small cracks on the timber's surface. After their eggs hatch, the larvae will then enter the wood, eating their way through the timber for anything between 3 and 5 years and then emerging to mate.
There are various tell tale signs that can help you identify woodworm and a potential woodworm infestation. They include:
Tell tale sign 1 - Look out for small round exit holes. The holes will be similar in sizes to the holes in a dart board (approx 2mm)
Sign 2 - Fine, powdery dust
Sign 3 - As the woodworm infestation progresses, gradually you may begin to notice crumbly edges to floor boards and joists. This is simply due to the edges of the timber crumbing as a result of wear and tear around the multiple woodworm boreholes close to the edge of the timber.
Sign 4 - small tunnels that have been bored into the wood.
Sign 5 - If you come across weak or damaged flooring or timber, take this as a signal that something is untoward regarding the timber.
Sign 6 - beetles emerging from timbers and on closer inspection you see more holes within the timber then take this a a clear tell tale sign there is an issue.
Sign 7 - If you suspect a woodworm issue and notice dead beetles close to the proximity of holes in your timber then your suspicions are most likely right.
If you examine the surface and don't see any tiny holes or tunnels, it's probably safe. You can clearly see the damage in plain sight.
When I was a young dealer, I once bought 3 oak shelf units out of a historic hardware store that was closing. We took them apart to move them and found woodworm. We treated it with syringes filled with gasoline. Put the needle in each hole and fill with gas. Let dry thoroughly and refinish the piece of furniture. If an active infestation is left untreated, the bugs can spread to other wood furniture.
When buying for resale, I never even considered upholstered furniture or mattresses. Why? Bedbugs, fleas, human lice, mold, and scorpions.
There is a small danger of woodworm infestation in old wood furniture~
Woodworm is a type of wood-boring insect which lays eggs in small cracks on the timber's surface. After their eggs hatch, the larvae will then enter the wood, eating their way through the timber for anything between 3 and 5 years and then emerging to mate.
There are various tell tale signs that can help you identify woodworm and a potential woodworm infestation. They include:
Tell tale sign 1 - Look out for small round exit holes. The holes will be similar in sizes to the holes in a dart board (approx 2mm)
Sign 2 - Fine, powdery dust
Sign 3 - As the woodworm infestation progresses, gradually you may begin to notice crumbly edges to floor boards and joists. This is simply due to the edges of the timber crumbing as a result of wear and tear around the multiple woodworm boreholes close to the edge of the timber.
Sign 4 - small tunnels that have been bored into the wood.
Sign 5 - If you come across weak or damaged flooring or timber, take this as a signal that something is untoward regarding the timber.
Sign 6 - beetles emerging from timbers and on closer inspection you see more holes within the timber then take this a a clear tell tale sign there is an issue.
Sign 7 - If you suspect a woodworm issue and notice dead beetles close to the proximity of holes in your timber then your suspicions are most likely right.
If you examine the surface and don't see any tiny holes or tunnels, it's probably safe. You can clearly see the damage in plain sight.
When I was a young dealer, I once bought 3 oak shelf units out of a historic hardware store that was closing. We took them apart to move them and found woodworm. We treated it with syringes filled with gasoline. Put the needle in each hole and fill with gas. Let dry thoroughly and refinish the piece of furniture. If an active infestation is left untreated, the bugs can spread to other wood furniture.
FastTrax
Well-known Member
Now me I could care less about any insect. I'm from New York City and have seen them all but I never seen a scorpion until I came here to Florida. I know there is some verse in the Bible, it might be in Revelations about scorpions torturing or plaguing man something else that's not pleasant to man and if such a verse exist that means even the good Lord doesn't think much of them. Lord if you rid Florida of scorpions I promise to go down the righteous path.
A scorpion sting is horrendous; I got stung as a teenager by one. The pain was never ending. I can still remember the lingering pain.
FastTrax
Well-known Member
Sounds like a good deal. Hows the hubby? He get settled in yet?
Hubby is doing great and so am I. It's good to have him home all the time, especially during the pandemic. I am glad he retired when he did. Thank you for asking!
I agree. Since I heard a lot about them in my area years back, I took the warning and haven't bought any clothing or furniture from thrift stores or garage sales...not worth the risk bringing bedbugs into your home. They said even people who stayed in hotels were bringing them back home just in their luggage that they set on the bedspread, rug, etc. Gotta say, haven't been spending time in motels either....luckily when we do travel, we have our own pop-up camper to sleep in.