Tips and tricks to second hand shopping

So you have decided to give second hand shopping a try. If you are like us, you probably had a lingering thought in your mind about how much we were destroying our planet by producing and consuming tons of new clothes and products. 87% of people choose second hand clothing for environmental reasons.

It is also such a great plus that you save a lot of money while also doing the right thing for the planet. Now you ask yourself why wouldn’t everyone buy second hand? 

I get it, it’s not always easy or fun to go through a ton of stuff to find what you need. Also you might think second hand products mean bad quality – but that is far from the truth. I have put together a couple of Do’s and Dont’s that will make your second hand shopping experience a lot better:

Do’s:

• Do buy good quality material

This is one of the best recommendations I got from my mother in law around 8 years ago. When I was younger, polyester blend clothes were cheaper, most fast fashion brands carried them and it was easy to find. You’ve seen similar labels for sure – 68% Polyster, 25% Polyamide, 7% Wool. OMG. Once I started paying attention to the label inside, I realized 90% of my clothes were some form of blend or the other! It was time to start educating myself and start buying better clothing.

Here’s what you need to know. There are 3 types of fabrics – Natural, Synthetic and Blends. The biggest takeaway is to avoid blends as they cannot be recycled. As for Natural vs Synthetic fabrics, the difference is not as black and white, and the best you can do is to go with brands you know are eco conscious, clothes with Certifications like GOTS, Oeko-Tex, Global Recycling Standard, and use organic materials

If you are interested in learning more about this, stay tuned for our next blog post.

• Do have a plan for what you need

It can be overwhelming to see so many options all at once, either when you enter a second hand store, or shop online. Have a plan for what type of clothes you need to buy and it’s much easier to stay on target and stay efficient. On online shops, you can filter by category and size and see what’s available. 

You might think it’s better for your little bub to have all kinds of different clothes and options, when in truth, you end up just rotating a bunch of 7-8 sets every week. Buy only what you need.

• Wash before use

Whether you are buying new clothes or used, it’s important to give it a proper wash before putting it on your baby’s skin. A lot of clothes have specific washing instructions, so also check those so you can get the most life out of them.

• Check for brand

Some brands are slowly and thankfully becoming more eco conscious. You do pay a small premium for them but it’s definitely worth it. These brands also last longer, so when you buy them second hand, they definitely still look and feel good. We are putting together a list of brands we love working with, stay tuned.

Dont’s:

• Don’t buy shoes second hand

Second hand shoes aren’t great for hygienic reasons, but also shoes take the shape and form of your baby’s feet. When you buy it second hand, they don’t have their original shape, might lose tread wear, and don’t provide the right support to your child’s feet. It’s important to get good quality shoes for your kid, with the right support as it impacts their gait and development of their legs. Don’t go cheap on these.

• Don’t buy safety equipment second hand

Equipment like car seats are not recommended to buy second hand. You cannot be sure if the seat has already been in an accident, which makes it unreliable to actually provide the safety it needs. Additionally, even if you buy it from a friend that you know has not been in an accident, car seats come with an expiry date and it is important to check that it is well within that range.

• Don’t buy underwear and swim clothes second hand

I personally don’t buy things like underwear, swim clothes and socks for hygiene reasons.

I hope this list gave you a good overview! Please leave us a comment and share your thoughts on tips to buying second hand products.