UPFRONT/LIVE
What Not to Buy at a Yard Sale
As we head into spring cleaning and yard sale season, here are some secondhand items you should avoid.
❌ Stuffed Animals
Plush toys can harbor bugs and allergens. “If you’re with your granddaughter at a yard sale, I would go with a game or puzzle instead,” says Mona Scavo, owner of Tag Sales by Mona.
❌ Baby Items
Car seats have an actual expiration date. Older cribs and high chairs can be unsafe. Heather Aiello, founder of The Organized You, a home organization company, says not to buy them used.
❌ Helmets
“Bike helmets are only meant to last so long,” Aiello says. They can lose their effectiveness. Plus, it can be difficult to wash the foam inside to remove potential allergens or bugs.
❌ Cosmetics and perfume
If the seller dipped a finger into the product, bacteria and fungi may have been introduced. Sealed or not, “some may be past their shelf life, already used, diluted or tampered with,” the Food and Drug Administration warns. —Donna Fuscaldo