40 Things You Should Never Buy at a Thrift Store

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Car Seats

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Slow Cookers

We've all seen This Is Us. Who knows if the motor is burned out or the wiring is faulty? Skip the vintage appliances, and while you're at it, double-check your smoke detector battery.

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Stuffed Animals

Yes, they're adorable, but they're probably dirty—or worse, infested with bed bugs or fleas.

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Laptops

Unless they have a solid state drive, laptops can be easily damaged when dropped, and when buying secondhand you won't know until suddenly you can't access your data.

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Furniture with Dated Fabric

Strong smells may be a sign that the couch you spotted is one of the 85 percent made between 1984 and 2010 that contain harmful fire retardant chemicals in its fabric, according to a study from the Green Science Policy Institute. The only way to be sure is to have the piece tested for toxins. Avoid old couches and chairs all together, or send a sample to Duke University's Superfund Research Center for analyzing, and they'll tell you what's inside.

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Nursery Furniture

When it comes to furnishing a space for your youngster, it's always best to err on the side of caution, which is why you should always buy new items that are designed to be safe enough for kids' bedrooms and nurseries. If you purchase a thrifted piece, you can never be sure that it was created with little ones in mind.

RELATED: Antiques Joanna Gaines Always Hunts for at Flea Markets

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Pet Furniture

You’ll never know what previous pets were up to on secondhand pet beds, houses, crates, blankets, and toys. To prevent stinky smells from overtaking your space, and to ensure your furry friend has a clean place to sit or sleep, buy 'em something brand new.

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Upholstered Headboards

While everyone knows bed bugs love to nestle in mattresses, they can also make a home out of just about anything that's upholstered, and tend to gravitate toward bedroom furniture, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Avoid fabric-covered headboards and be sure to carefully examine any thrifted item before you bring it home.

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Vacuum Cleaners

Gizmos like vacuum cleaners tend not to hold up for very long, according to Consumer Reports. So if possible, it's always best to buy new. And if you are going to pick one up from your local thrift store, you should always test it—and all other electric-powered products—before you purchase.

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Bedding

This includes sheets, duvet covers, blankets, linens, and more. There's no thorough way to sanitize these items, and because you'll be spending so much time wrapped up in them (at least 8 hours a day, right?), it's better to spend some extra cash to purchase fresh ones.

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Antique Crystal

At least not if you plan to eat off of it. Antique crystal glasses, decanters, and other crystal vessels were likely made following outdated standards, which means they could contain 32 percent or more lead oxide, according to The Washington Post. Try to avoid purchasing old crystal, which could contaminate your drinks and food, or use a lead test kit to determine an item's level of safety if you really want to bring it home. And never use crystal to store food or drinks over a long period of time.

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Appliances You Can't Test in Store

A word to the wise: Make sure you know it works before you bring it home.

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Old Dishware

They may look pretty, but vintage plates, bowls, cups, and platters could contain lead or other unsafe substances. Yikes! If you're worried, play it safe by purchasing newer pieces—or just use your vintage pieces for display.

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Cribs

Over the decades, there have been millions of cribs recalled, in addition to improved crib safety standards put in place, according to HealthyChildren.org. Invest in a safe bed for your little one by purchasing one that's new and up to latest standards.

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Construction Materials

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Anything with Old or Chipping Paint

Always, and we mean always, test for lead if you're thinking of buying a piece with old or chipping paint. "Not all vintage items contain lead paint," the Minnesota Department of Health cautions, "however, painted items should be assumed to contain lead paint until they can be tested."

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Vintage Hardware

There's nothing we love more than a distressed knob or pull to embellish a door, dresser, or cabinet, but these items also come with a risk of lead exposure. Always test for lead before you buy.

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Mattresses

Two words: bed bugs!

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Used Cookware

They may look beautifully distressed, but scratched, rusty, or worn-down baking sheets, pots, pans, and other go-to kitchen supplies are likely not safe for actual use, according to Reader's Digest. Chipping non-stick coatings and rust are not safe to consume food off of, and over-used cookware may seep harmful chemicals into your food. When it comes to vintage kitchen cookware, you may want to stick to just using them for decoration and not for food consumption.

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Pillows

Jessica Leigh Mattern is a web editor and writer who covers home, holiday, DIY, crafts, travel, and more lifestyle topics. Prior to working for Country Living, she wrote for several lifestyle and women’s magazines including Woman’s Day, Cosmopolitan, and Redbook

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