Points to note when buying used articles

From time to time, you are sure to feel the need to replace your furniture, furnishings, or electronic gadgets. These items do not come cheap, so you might decide to get used ones. Indeed, there is a wide range of fairly good used items from the many second-hand stores in most towns across the country.

These stores sell an assortment of household and office furniture as well as electronic appliances, and even bedding, carpets, curtains, and rugs.

But while these goods are affordable, they have some inherent risks. For instance, you do not know how or in what sort of hygienic conditions they were used. Consequently, there is a real possibility of buying an item infested with household pests and taking it home, where the pests could wreak havoc.

Unfortunately, when buying such goods, there is no way of ensuring that things such as pests are not part of the deal.

It is easier to overcome this problem when buying items like solid wooden items like tables, cabinets, and chairs because you can scrutinise them closely, although even then, it is important to remember that some pests hide in the tiniest of cracks, where you are unlikely to see them.

INFESTED ITEMS

Although you might be aware that the items are used, the last thing you want to do is buy, say, a cupboard that is infested with household pests. This is because getting rid of pests is difficult and expensive.

So, if you decide to buy a second-hand piece of furniture, make sure you clean it thoroughly and spray it with an insecticide before taking it into the house. It is also important to remember that some sprays kill only when applied directly on the bug and that some bugs can avoid the more powerful sprays that have residual effects simply by avoiding the sprayed areas. In such a case, the best option is to have the furniture professionally fumigated.

Another problem you are likely to encounter with second-hand items is odour. The odour might be from the home where the item was sourced or as a result of being in a room with items from different sources. In some cases, home furniture or carpets might also have pet fur.

If you are allergic to animals, any signs of pets having been around an item should be reason enough for you not to buy it. If, say, cushions on a sofa or a carpet is stained with animal urine or has a musty or smoky odour, the smell might not be easy to get rid of.

While some odours might disappear if you air an item frequently, others, like children’s or pets’ urine and cigarette smoke, might not. So, no matter how much you like an item, if it has something you consider even slightly amiss, remember that it will be a part of your home for years.

If, for instance, a piece of furniture is not infested, it is advisable to thoroughly clean, disinfect, and condition it to rid it of any odour and pet dander. If it shows signs of children’s or pets’ urine and dirt stains, look for an alternative.

And remember, while second-hand goods are cheaper, they might last for a shorter period than new items.

FAULTY

Sometimes used furniture or electronic appliances are faulty, so it is important to consider the cost of repair or the possible risks. A defective chair, for instance, might cause a fall while electrical goods can cause malfunctions in the circuit, or worse still, fires.

As far as possible, try out any second-hand item before you buy it. Open and close cabinet drawersto see whether they function properly and try out electronic appliances such as blenders and microwaves. Ensure that the cords of the electronic devices have no frayed parts that can cause problems.

While it is fine to buy second-hand furniture such as beds, it is not advisable to buy used mattresses. Indeed, it is not even advisable to accept hand-me-down mattresses from relatives.

Second-hand mattresses could easily harbour germs, bacteria, and bugs that are invisible to the naked eye, which makes it very difficult to get rid of them. It is especially risky if the mattress came from a public facility such as a hotel, where it was used by many people with differing standards of hygiene.

Finally, when buying a used item, there is always the possibility that it was stolen, especially if it is an electronic gadget, so it is important to buy only from established stores.