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YOU’LL NEED A WEDGE TO HANG THAT DOOR
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  1. Home
  2. Better Life

6 things you should never buy second hand

Sometimes a bargain isn’t worth the trouble. - by Laura Barry
  • 19 Jul 2019
6 things you should never buy second hand

Buying things second-hand is a great way to save money and reduce the amount of waste produced by humans. Buying things such as clothing, shoes, cars, gaming consoles, cameras and other such similar items second-hand is great! However, there are some items you should never buy second-hand, even if it’s a once-in-a-lifetime bargain.

1. Mattresses

Unless you have been gifted a fancy mattress by your parents, it’s best to never use a second hand one. The average mattress is an actual hotbed for spores of fungi, bacteria, animal dander, sweat, sputum and skin cells, and no amount of cleaning will ever truly rid a mattress of all the accumulated organic matter. 

2. Pillows

Similar to a mattress, a feather and synthetic pillows that are just one year old can contain up to 17 different types of fungus. 

old pillows
Getty

3. Underwear

This is a pretty obvious one, but underwear is affordable enough to always buy new and should really only be worn by one person.  In fact, in 2018 Namibian dermatologist Dr Natia Mukete-Nghalipoh told the Observer that sharing underwear can spread viral infections, even when washed. 

4. Makeup & makeup brushes

Makeup an makeup tools should never be shared between people. While makeup can carry viral infections, such as staph, styes, and cold sores, between people makeup brushes spread bacteria. Dermatologist Debbie Palmer told Good Housekeeping that makeup brushes accumulate skin cells, dirt, oil, pollution and bacteria such e. coli and streptococcus. 

makeup palette
Getty

5. Smartphones

Buying a second hand smart phone can be tricky business, unless you personally know the person selling it to you. Lots of phones are stolen from retailers then sold online to unsuspecting bargain hunters, The down-side here is that not only are you rewarding the criminal, but you may receive the phone and discover that is it locked to a network, or is unusable. 

6. Helmets

If you aren’t familiar with riding a push bike or motorbike, you may not know that helmets have an expiry date, and they need to be replaced if you have accident - even if the helmet looks fine or is only minimally damaged. If you drop a helmet, it needs to be replaced. This is because the materials in helmets can break down with age and lose their ability to absorb shock, and the internal cells within the helmet can sustain damage – even if the outer shell hasn’t. 

black motorcycle helmet
Getty

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Laura Barry
Laura Barry
Laura Barry is a writer, bookworm and interior design enthusiast with a love for reporting on all things homes, travel and lifestyle. When not tapping away at her keyboard, Laura can be found making endless cups of tea or perusing the shelves of Sydney’s many bookstores.

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YOU’LL NEED A WEDGE TO HANG THAT DOOR
Watch 6:32

YOU’LL NEED A WEDGE TO HANG THAT DOOR

{headline}

{headline}

3 colours you should always wear when asking for a pay rise

3 colours you should always wear when asking for a pay rise

5 new ways to save money on your power bill

5 new ways to save money on your power bill

7 healthy lunch suggestions that will beat the afternoon slump

7 healthy lunch suggestions that will beat the afternoon slump

How to ask to split a bill politely

How to ask to split a bill politely

{headline}

{headline}

The real cost of calling an ambulance in Australia

The real cost of calling an ambulance in Australia

10 of Victoria's best camping spots

10 of Victoria's best camping spots

How to make air dry clay flowers

How to make air dry clay flowers

{headline}

{headline}

Take a tour around Dr Harry’s farm

Take a tour around Dr Harry’s farm

The one product you should never travel without

The one product you should never travel without

Five important financial decisions to make this January

Five important financial decisions to make this January

7 ways to slash your bills in the New Year

7 ways to slash your bills in the New Year

5 holiday destinations with cheap airfares

5 holiday destinations with cheap airfares

How to pick the perfect Secret Santa gift

How to pick the perfect Secret Santa gift

Study finds SA residents swear more than any other Australian

Study finds SA residents swear more than any other Australian

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