10 things you should avoid buying at thrift stores, from children's items to linens

Unlike clothes, items like cribs, strollers, and car seats don't always have visible faults.

According to the US Consumer Product Safety Commission, it's illegal for stores to sell recalled items, but resellers like thrift stores are not required to check items for safety.

So if you're considering buying any of the above items secondhand, you'll want to thoroughly check them.

That's not to mention that protective bike and motorcycle helmets are only built to withstand one impact, according to WebMD.

Because it can be difficult to know the history of used headgear, you're better off safe than sorry. 

Many stores let customers test items before they buy them to make sure they work — but there's no telling how they'll run over time.

So unless you're buying vintage appliances as decorations, you might want to leave them.

Kids' teddy bears can carry germs from "drool, dead skin, and snot," according to The New York Times. That's not to mention how odors, bedbugs, mold, and other allergens can cling to them.

Of course, you can wash most stuffed toys in the washing machine, but the process can sometimes cause more harm than good by disfiguring the plush. Germs can also still linger after sanitation.

While most thrift stores are pretty strict about which donations actually hit shelves, there's no uniform standard for deciding which items will be sold and which won't.

So you'll want to thoroughly check any garment you pick up at the thrift store for odors, stains, tears, and other issues.

After all, there's no worse feeling than returning home and finding that the perfect piece you thrifted is actually damaged.

You might make an exception for bras and underwear that have clearly never been worn with their original price tags still attached. Otherwise, you'll want to avoid any garments of the sort.

The same standard applies to bathing suits.

Waterproof jackets and rubber boots aren't always built to last. 

Raincoats can become damaged after being washed or after a particularly intense storm, and many jackets simply become less waterproof over time, according to Outdoor magazine. Plus, rain boots usually wear out after a few seasons.

So while it might not be dangerous to buy them, it can be a waste of money.

Like worn clothes and plush toys, used sheets, blankets, towels, and other linens run the risk of being contaminated with bedbugs and other germs. And unfortunately, washing such items in hot water might not be enough to fully decontaminate them. 

Instead, you might want to check sale sections at department stores for inexpensive linens.

Although mattresses aren't always sold in thrift shops, it probably isn't the best idea to buy one if you come across it.

After all, mattresses, bed springs, and other bedroom furniture are some of the most common places to find bedbugs and other mites — and you certainly don't want to bring them into your home.

If you buy shoes secondhand, you could be exposing yourself to any fungus or skin issue the previous owner had.

Natalie Tincher, the founder and principal stylist at BU Style, a personal styling company based in New York City, previously told Insider that some shoes' insoles can be replaced — potentially making them more sanitary — but if the shoes don't fit perfectly, you shouldn't buy them.