Avoid These Things at Yard Sales, Flea Markets & Second Hand Stores

Endless summer days are filled with classic pastimes in these parts: ballpark dogs and Asheville Tourist minor league baseball; farm to table markets; refreshing ourselves in favorite summer swimming holes; picnic spots on Mount Mitchell; and an endless assortment of rambles.

Yard sales, flea markets, upcycled and second-hand rambles can look a bit like a higher calling in western North Carolina. Those spring cleaning purges look a lot like extra green in the summer months, and we hang out signs and list our clutter in the classifieds. Our front porches become a hub of activity. Or maybe we search for furniture to flip, curiosities and rare finds, antiquarian books or good reads. Whatever the case, the art of the good deal brings us all together on lazy Saturday mornings filled with anticipation and adventure.

On my last trip to a neighborhood second hand store looking for old fishing lures, I came across a set of lawn darts. Remember those? Super sharp and extremely hazardous, these were “outlawed” in the 1980s after children died after being hit in the head by these toys. Seeing those right there on the toy aisle made me think about other items that end up getting sold, donated, and traded that not only are unsafe, but perhaps borderline legal.

Back in 1999, the Consumer Product Safety Commission had a similar thought. They found that on a given day, 69% of secondhand or thrift stores, both locally owned and chain stores, had at least one product that was “hazardous” by their definition of the word. Their “top 3” worst were children’s clothing with drawstrings that posed choking hazards, hair dryers without protection against electrocution, and cribs that do not meet safety standards.

So I decided to look more closely. The CPSC study identified a range of common secondhand items that don’t meet current safety standards. I bet you and I could add a few more. Based on changes in standards and safety recalls, as many as 300 each year or more, children’s products are a cause for concern. Car seats, playpens, safety gates, baby swings and carriers really need to be checked out online for health and safety guidelines.

Lead paint is found in old ceramics, something to know if you’re planning to serve food on them. Vintage or antique children’s toys which are painted also should be retired to the curio cabinet. Earlier this year, one company recalled metal bracelets for girls because the lead content was too high.

Old appliances may not have sound wiring, and may not be suitable for modern electrical use without being updated. The last thing anyone needs is to have that lamp from the 1930s short out and cause an electrical fire. If you really love the item, get an electrician to check it out or have it rewired. Certain bunk beds, self-locking cedar chests, bean bag chairs, and battery operated ride-on toys can each be fatal to children due to suffocation or fire hazard.

While unsafe products can be recalled from the shelves, the same cannot be said for garages, closets, and storage sheds. Store owners and managers, consumers and donors may not be aware that they’re conveying hazardous goods. So it’s up to us – and our smart phones – to be certain we’re making good choices for our family’s health and safety.