Do You Help Yourself To Furniture Set Out As Trash Or Not Due To........
By pyewacket
@pyewacket (43903)
United States
April 26, 2010 9:35pm CST
.....the possibility of uninvited guests that come with them?
Years and years ago I thought nothing about helping myself to something I would see chucked out in the garbage in my neighborhood. In the past, I found a great four shelf bookcase, a TV cart stand and a bedstand all in prime condition in fact, they were in such great condition, that they looked brand new.
Today, every once in awhile I'll still see some piece of furniture that looks great but wouldn't in a million years take home. Why? One word: bedbugs.
I don't know what it's like in your neck of the woods, but over the past few years there's been a serious rise of bedbug infestation--so far, knock on wood, my building hasn't been hit by an infestation, but in many of the apt. buildings around me the infestation is terrible, in fact, often when I see furniture out in the garbage, sometimes the word "chinches" sprayed painted on it..Chinches being the Spanish word for bedbug.
So if you find some great looking furniture tossed out as trash, are you likely to take it or think uh, maybe not due to little critters crawling on it...or have you actually taken some furniture home from trash and was indeed hit by critters? Is there an infestation of bedbugs in your area?
10 people like this
33 responses
@1hopefulman (45111)
• Canada
27 Apr 10
I have taken a few things from the garbage and never have had a problem. But now I will think twice the next time. Certainly wouldn't want to pick up some uninvited guests and bring them home. Thanks for the warning!
5 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
27 Apr 10
Nowadays if I see great looking furniture in the trash, it does make me wonder why the people threw it out...guess I know why now
4 people like this
@nangisha (3495)
• Indonesia
27 Apr 10
Well we always buy new furniture, its really hard to find furniture in garbage. Because most of the furniture if they not used usually given to someone else and used as fire wood. I think the if it had bedbug it will be end up in fire. I will buy used furniture if they made from very good wood like very old Jati, that can last very long and have bug resistance.
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
27 Apr 10
It's hard to find really good old used furniture nowadays and most newer pieces of furniture aren't even solid wood anymore but that particle board stuff
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (169449)
• United States
27 Apr 10
We actually have a "reuse area" at the transfer station (dump). I have taken things, even a twin size mattress and springs. Back in the ancient days before all of the insecticides, my grandmother's solution was to put everything out in the sun and turn it for a couple of days every spring/summer. They did not get bed bugs. I have not heard that we are having infestations, but if I did I would look for herbal remedies first.
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (169449)
• United States
27 Apr 10
I am totally naive at times.
I have never heard of that particular problem around here, and I worked in Head Start for seven years. What I did experience was head lice, twice. You can actually kill those by dying your hair.
I did a little reading about bedbugs after your post and I would probably go buy some diatomaceous earth at the garden center and use eucalyptus oil and mint oil to deal with a light infestation. My queen sized mattress is used but I knew by whom. The article I read actually said brand new mattresses can have bed bugs from storage. Yuck
I have never heard of that particular problem around here, and I worked in Head Start for seven years. What I did experience was head lice, twice. You can actually kill those by dying your hair. I did a little reading about bedbugs after your post and I would probably go buy some diatomaceous earth at the garden center and use eucalyptus oil and mint oil to deal with a light infestation. My queen sized mattress is used but I knew by whom. The article I read actually said brand new mattresses can have bed bugs from storage. Yuck2 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
27 Apr 10
Before I got my new mattress set two years ago I was really desperate for a new mattress since my old one was so old, and I would often see perfectly new mattresses in the garbage...but knowing about the bedbug infestation most apts have here in my area there was no way I'd bring it home
2 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
27 Apr 10
Yes I've heard perfectly new mattresses (and other furniture) can have bedbugs--even getting them from the trucks they are delivered in
2 people like this
@Hatley (163772)
• Garden Grove, California
27 Apr 10
hi pyewacket I have never gotten bedbugs but we did get something
else that was equally bad, termites. We brought up some stuffed
pink chairs that had been tossed out and brought them to our
upstairs apt.at that time. In a week we began to see little piles of
sawdust under those chairs. oh my we both grabbed chairs and took
off down the stairs to throw them back in the dumpsters.we warned anyone that was there looking for cast aways. these are infested with termites
so they quickly left them there. I did once find the most beautiful set of expensive dinner ware stuck in a box beside the dumpster. the people were moving clear across the US to New Jersey from California and were not taking much with them because of the weight.Now sadly its in storage until my son get a job and accumulates some money so we can move into an apartment again.I would so love to move out of this retirement center.
@GardenGerty (169449)
• United States
27 Apr 10
Boric acid powder is cheap and effective against cockroaches. For exploding cockroaches mix powdered sugar with plaster of paris and set out water.
2 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
27 Apr 10
Yes termites can be another nuisance bug one can get..even cockroaches. Thankfully termites, as far as I know, hasn't been an issue here in my area though--now cockroaches..uh, another issue. One neighbor downstairs moved out and left a lot of furniture...I grabbed a really nice antique type bureau drawer that then allowed me to throw my old one out that looked god-awful tacky. Then discovered it was loaded with cockroaches--took forever to get rid of them
I hope you and your son find a better place to be together real soon
2 people like this
@AnnieOakley1 (5596)
• Canada
27 Apr 10
I used to, but now that I have read this I won't any more unless it has been washed down and has NO FABRIC, just metal and wood that is cleanable.
Thanks, pye!
2 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
28 Apr 10
Actually wooden furniture isn't necessarily safe either as one person here mentioned she picked up two nice chairs found in the garbage, took them home only to discover they had termites..ewwwwwww
@AnnieOakley1 (5596)
• Canada
28 Apr 10
I know we've been lucky for many years in picking up used stuff. The last thing, actually was our entire couch and chair set. It is a lazyboy, and a couch with 2 lazyboy ends. It was the perfect colour to match our decorating theme here, and my husband found it in a very rich, clean neighbourhood, or I never would have let him bring it in our house. I was very leery, but I waited and nothing happened. We've had that set for years now.
But I am no longer going to be taking any furniture, actually I stopped after that couch and lazy boy set, just because I was worried about bugs.
1 person likes this
@Opal26 (17679)
• United States
27 Apr 10
Hey pye! That's kind of funny! I used to not have a problem
either with taking something that I found in my neighborhood
trash! I found a great cabinet that I repainted and use for
my cassettes and CD's! And I have been know to pick up a few
other odds and ends, but am careful what types of furniture I
did pick up for fear of the "dreaded bedbugs"! I wouldn't pick
up a piece of furniture like a chair or anything like that! My
girlfriend's whole apartment building was infested and she had
to throw out furniture, clothes and alot of other things! It
took months to get them out of the building and it was a nightmare!
I no longer would ever take anything from the trash! I am happy
with my cabinet and shelf, but that's it for me! I wouldn't take
any more chances! Don't want my luck to run out!lol
3 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
27 Apr 10
I knew a woman who used to live around the block from me and said one tenant's apt. was crawling with bedbugs...she had to throw out all her furniture not once, not twice but three times and get all new stuff..she finally sued the landlord about it--she won the case, grabbed the money and moved out
3 people like this
@gabs8513 (48686)
• United Kingdom
27 Apr 10
Hi Pye
No I have never taken Furniture from the Trash because I am to afraid of the Germs and what ever else they hold
My Son brought a Bike once that he had found in the Trash, he was about 11 and he done it up just great
But Furniture no I never have
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
28 Apr 10
As I said years and years ago I really did find some great "finds" as far as furniture but now would never think of taking any from the trash
@vivasuzi (4127)
• United States
28 Apr 10
I have never taken anything from the curb, never even been tempted, because I was always worried about "what is wrong with it" or "is it clean?"
But we actually do put a lot of stuff out to the curb and usually someone takes it right away. We currently have a loveseat that we have to put out and I'm guessing someone will take it.
In my opinion, I'd worry mostly about bugs crawling on it while it sits on the grass. Then who knows what the people who used it did to it.
Now that you talk about the bedbugs, that is another reason why I wouldn't do it. YUCK!! I haven't heard of this problem in our area so I hope it doesn't start anytime soon.
1 person likes this
@vivasuzi (4127)
• United States
29 Apr 10
That's another good reason! Sometimes those things are sitting outside for a few days before the garbage men come to get them, so who knows what happened to it in the meantime. If someone wants to reuse my old junk - more power too them. But I'm not reusing things from strangers.
Now if a family member or close friend offered me some furniture, I will and have taken it in the past. But oddly enough it is usually only for a year or two before we decide to get something that better suits what we need.
1 person likes this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
29 Apr 10
LOL--I think in my area too, there's more of a chance that when furniture is put out on the curb, people who walk dogs might, well you know, pee on it
1 person likes this
@sacmom (14192)
• United States
27 Apr 10
Hiya Pye. No, I do not help myself to the furniture that is set out as trash. It's been set out there for a reason...and the reason is it's somebody's trash. Some people may be willing to take it and use it, but I'm just not comfortable with the idea of using something like that.
I do not believe in the old saying "one man's trash is another man's treasure" because we just don't know where it's been or more importantly, what it might have in it. So I'd rather pass on it than take such a chance because I for one would rather be safe than sorry.
Happy mylotting!
1 person likes this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
28 Apr 10
LOL--You should see how most people are in my neighborhood though..when the garbage is set out on the streets some folks around here sort of make a "living" out of collecting furniture, even mattresses. There are the regulars too, that walk around with supermarket type wagons to get at the recyclable plastic and glass bottles so they can get the deposit money
One person I knew in college said the best place to find "gems" of trash where in the expensive Manhattan neighborhoods...there was actually a story once last year how a woman came up upon a oil painting in the trash..she took it, had it appraised and it turned out to be worth a few $100,000
1 person likes this
@sacmom (14192)
• United States
3 May 10
I had a neighbor like that before. He collected cans on a daily basis. I think it was his way of making the rent every month, which wouldn't have been such a bad thing if he wasn't always hammering the cans next to my bedroom window in the early mornings...
Oh, and I think I heard of that story. Unfortunately I don't have an eye for something like that so even if I was into doing that (which I'm not) I'd probably wind up throwing away a fortune! LOL
@carmelanirel (20942)
• United States
27 Apr 10
Hi pyewacket, glad to see you back.
Yes we do take things we like if someone is throwing it away, but we have a closed in back porch that is more storage than anything and whenever we do this we store the furniture there. We also do this when we get clothes from garage sales or freecycle to debug them. Been doing this for years and never had any bugs, including cockroaches come into our house..
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
28 Apr 10
That's great you have somewhere to store things to debug them just in case. Living n an apt though there is no place except maybe the basement, but ewww..that might be worse--never know what's crawling around down there
1 person likes this
@carmelanirel (20942)
• United States
28 Apr 10
How true, I guess basements especially in warm weather is a haven for creepy crawlys..
1 person likes this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
29 Apr 10
Mmmm...did you know bedbugs can even lurk in perfectly new mattresses? Depends where they've been stored and the delivery trucks used to haul them
1 person likes this
@jerzgirl (9384)
• United States
27 Apr 10
There has been an increase in bedbugs in the Philadelphia area (not far from you, really), but so far, I've been fortunate enough to not experience them. While most of my furniture (well, ALL of my furniture) has been someone else's before me, I can't think of anything that was in the trash first. But, years ago, as a new mom, I did find things in the trash that I made use of - like a crib. Bedbugs weren't an issue then (and still aren't, that I know of, in Utah).
No - you know, we do have a bookshelf in the kitchen that we use as a mini-pantry that was a discarded item from a few years back. So, I guess I do have something. But, I think with wooden furniture, you can more easily prep them before bringing them in. Cover them with a tarp and set off a bug bomb or some other insecticide so kill anything that might be dwelling therein before bringing it into the house. Then, make sure you clean it well before using.
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
27 Apr 10
I don't think using a bug bomb or something like it would work here...since I live in an apt building so no place to put it before bringing inside except maybe the street itself
I've heard bedbugs can even be in new furniture...it depends how clean the truck is delivering whatever furniture it is
2 people like this
@catdla1 (6005)
• United States
27 Apr 10
I've always been a trash picker. Bookshelves, lamps, tables, etc. Everything is thoroughly cleaned and checked before bringing it into the house. I would not, however, take anything with stuffing in it. No upholstered furniture at all. I haven't heard anything about an infestation here where I live, but that doesn't mean that there aren't any. Even without the threat of bedbugs, as a pet owner I think about fleas and ticks, as well as other pet odors that might make our pets want to 're-mark' pieces.
1 person likes this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
28 Apr 10
As one responder here mentioned though, she had brought home two nice wooden chairs and guess what? They had termites in them--- Never even though of those bugs possibly being in furniture
Never even though of those bugs possibly being in furniture1 person likes this
@catdla1 (6005)
• United States
28 Apr 10
Termites go directly from the ground (soil) and into any wood they encounter. So if a piece of wooden furniture has been sitting for a long time outside, it could have gotten termites. Before picking up anything wooden, it's important to look for the tell-tale holes, those tiny little innocent looking ones. If a piece of furniture looks like it's weathered by being outside for a while, it's probably a good idea to leave it behind. There are ant/termite sprays with little straws, which allows you to spray directly into the holes without having to treat the outside of the piece. That's another option if the item is irresistible.
1 person likes this
@cmjune76 (273)
• United States
27 Apr 10
EWWWWW!!!!! I am not aware of any bed bug issues in our area, however it is possible!
My friends and family have often joked with me; that I could start my own tv show about taking junk and turning into treasure.
I do however, stay away from upholstered items.
Everything I bring home is bleached in the shop before I work on it. I have yet to have a bug problem.
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
27 Apr 10
It's kind of a shame. I really do see some great furniture tossed out in the garbage but would never dream of taking anything now due to the infestation problems in my area
@artemis432 (7474)
• Abernathy, Texas
29 Apr 10
I would never have thought of that, recently since a Seinfeld episode, I'm not as likely to do the same with books or even buy a bunch of used ones - never know if someone took it in the bathroom, or what.
I guess wooden furntiture would be easier to clean.
1 person likes this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
29 Apr 10
I never had a problem with books, but in the past most times when I would buy used books it'd be from the library and their special "sale" days they would have
@littleowl (7157)
•
2 May 10
Hi Pye,
Yuk, the word bedbugs turns my stomach..I have just got a new bed after having one for 16yrs, it always worried me that there could of been 'bb's' in there, but had never seen any my new bed is a dream anyway. In answer to your discussion at one time I would jump to something if only someone I knew was going to throw something good out..now I won't because of the reason 'you never know what there could come with it', as far as I know there isn't any bb's infestaion here or any other kind of infestation on my estate...and hopefully it will stay that way! lol...hugs LoLo
1 person likes this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
3 May 10
I think the only time now I would accept/take furniture if it was from a friend, like my friend down the block that no longer wanted this dresser/desk type thing and gave it to me, at least her place is bug-free...
@walijo2008 (4644)
• United States
28 Apr 10
I don't ever see anything good tossed out in the trash. I've never been hit by critters before either. So far I haven't heard of anything like that happening around here, and I hope I never do. I hear those critters are awful and hard to get rid of once you have them.
1 person likes this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
28 Apr 10
Yes the infestation of bedbugs is really bad around my area..so far my apt building hasn't been plagued by them
@celticeagle (189838)
• Boise, Idaho
27 Apr 10
When I lived in a little basement apartment all the stuff I had was either freebies from people I knew or out of the trash. No bed bugs or worse in stuff. I had no money and don't remember what had happened to the furniture I had. It probably went to my daughter as it usually does.
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
28 Apr 10
Freebie furniture from friends can be great. Four years ago a friend was moving and didn't need her sofa bed anymore as she wanted to get a new sofa, so she made arrangements to deliver it to us--brand new condition too. I was so glad to get rid of the old one as it was real tacky looking
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (189838)
• Boise, Idaho
28 Apr 10
That was nice of her. To have it delivered and all too. Friends can be so very special.
1 person likes this
@paula27661 (15811)
• Australia
28 Apr 10
I always look at what people are putting out on their verges for collection because some of the stuff does indeed look quite new! I have never found anything I wanted but my parents found a toy pram which they gave to my daughter. It was brand new and looked like it had hardly ever been played with. My daughter and I loved it and she still has it today. I never considered bugs of any kind! We’ve had the pram for a couple of years so I guess we were lucky...I wonder if the bug problem exists when we buy things second hand from op shops etc...
1 person likes this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
29 Apr 10
There are a number of people who sort of make a "living" out of finding furniture in the garbage in my area and help themselves to it. Years and years ago, when I was still in college, this guy I knew said the best place to find great quality "garbage" was in the more expensive parts of Manhattan--but from what I understand even the posh, expensive apt buildings are infested now with bugs
1 person likes this
@cupkitties (7421)
• United States
28 Apr 10
I've never taken furniture from someones trash before but if I did I wouldn't touch the beds or couches. I might take the couch if its made of something that can't get bugs in it and I really want it that badly.
1 person likes this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
28 Apr 10
Bedbugs and roaches can be in other types of furniture though, even wooden furniture..in that case, one has the chance of having termites.
