By Reader’s Digest Editors
Helmets
Helmets are designed to protect you from one accident, and one accident only. Sometimes damage isn’t visible, so buy a new helmet to make sure you’re getting full protection.
Child car seats
Like helmets, car seats are really only meant to protect in one accident. But damaged car seats are common; a survey found that one in ten have been in an accident. Plus, car seat technology improves each year.
Tires
If they’ve been in an accident, tires are likely to be unstable and unreliable. Make sure you can get an accurate history
Wet suits and swimsuits
Personal products that hug your body are technically safe if you wash them in hot water… and still we’re cautious. But constant changes in water pressure also wear out swimwear faster than regular clothing, so it’s likely a used wetsuit or swimsuit will tear.
Mattresses
With bed bugs infesting homes in record numbers, chances are the critters could lurk in any used mattress. You might also end up sleeping with other people’s mold, mites, bacteria, and bodily fluids (yuck!).
Cribs
Scores of crib recalls, as well as changing safety standards, make it hard to verify the safety of a used crib.
Laptops or other devices
Laptops, e-readers, tablets, or mp3 players are more likely to be dropped, knocked around, and spilled on, simply because they’re out in the world. A desktop computer sits (mostly) safe at home, but even that would likely cost more to upgrade than buy new.
TVs
It’s hard to determine how well TVs, DVD players, and other electronic devices have been cared for by their previous owners. Plus, technology changes so quickly that you can often get a better quality device. If you’re buying refurbished devices directly from a manufacturer, you’ll be covered by a warranty—but a random TV at a garage sale could be hit or miss.
Shoes
Used shoes have been molded to their previous owner’s feet—and poorly fitting shoes will make you miserable, or you’ll just never want to wear them.
Sheets and Pillowcases
Sure, you can wash them in hot water, but that might not protect against bed bugs.
Baby bottles
While sanitation and cracks can be an issue, the real culprit is the chemical BPA that’s present in most older bottles—and as of June 2012, the FDA no longer accepts that as safe. Go with new bottles to make sure you’re getting the safest, most up-to-date bottles.
Worn plates, pots, and other cookware
Rust, flaky non-stick coatings, and chemicals that leach out are just a few of the safety problems you can run into with older cookware.
DVDs, CDs, and VHS tapes
If you’re still using this technology and looking to scoop up a bargain, know that scratches have ruined many a DVD or CD—and VHS tapes lessen in quality the more times they’re played, not to mention disintegrate over the years.
Fragrance or makeup (new or old!)
The quality of both can lessen over the years (and yes, they do expire!). Even if an item is brand new in the box, skip it unless you can tell that it was recently manufactured.
Stuffed animals
Stuffed animals can be hard to send through the extra-hot cycle on a washing machine, and like mattresses and upholstered furniture, they can be full of creepy crawlies and other unsavory finds
Running shoes
Used running shoes are often devoid of the cushioning that runners need; stick with new shoes for the cushioning and
Reader’s digest
Read more: http://www.rd.com/slideshows/never-buy-garage-sales/#ixzz30zcIyvr9
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