As much as I love to believe that thrift stores are the only place to shop, I know that this is not true. There are a few items that must be bought new for the simply fact that it may not be safe or healthy to buy them used. The items are as follows:
Underwear - hopefully it's obvious why...
Baby equipment - this does not apply to all baby-related items, just those that have expiration dates and regulated safety standards, like cribs and car seats
Anything you suspect may contain lead-based paint - Unless you are willing to totally remove all lead paint and revise to make it safe, you should know these items are unsafe. Many vintage pieces of furniture that are covered in their original paint may be hazardous.
Anything that appears moldy, or smells of mold - even if you clean it, it may still be lurking, so be careful
Sanitary items - toilet seats, catboxes, or anything that at one point may have come in close content with fecal matter should obviously be avoided
Electrical items with faulty wiring - unless you plan to take it to a professional to have it checked and rewired, it's not worth the risk, and only buying items the store has had checked or that will let you check them yourself will save you a lot of trouble
Of course, judgement should be used when buying anything from any store, so be prudent in your shopping. Happy thrifting!
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