https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Mon, 18 May 2026 21:24:24 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/stained-amp-dirty-yardsale-items-use-or-toss#post-980564 Thu, 01 Aug 2013 09:51:10 +0000 T.H.O.U. 980564@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It sounds like they need to be tossed. </p> <p>We have found plenty of good stuff used that isn't stained or dirty or have bugs. </p> <p>I would maybe say that there are too many missing parts or parts that couldn't be cleaned that you needed to get something different. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/stained-amp-dirty-yardsale-items-use-or-toss#post-980546 Thu, 01 Aug 2013 09:46:48 +0000 Foodnerd81 980546@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ZombieBullfrogHoller: oh and as to whether a swing is necessary, no idea. I have a hand me down swing and bouncer so have both, but baby girl is three days old and pretty much is in one of her parents arms all day! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/stained-amp-dirty-yardsale-items-use-or-toss#post-980544 Thu, 01 Aug 2013 09:45:28 +0000 Foodnerd81 980544@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I totally get the predicament- I was pretty much asking the same exact questions two weeks ago when I was 38 weeks over analyzing everything! I think I would try doing a basic cleaning and see how you feel about it- if a little more elbow grease will get it clean enough, keep, but if its still grossing you out, get new stuff and tell your in laws you already had it or someone else gifted it or something. Or maybe you can get it clean enough that you'd feel comfortable using it as a second backup at their house but want a new one at home. I don't know that I'd feel comfortable without instructions to make sure I was assembling it correctly but you can probably google and did the whole manual online. I did for all the hand me downs I kept. </p> <p>Then I say pick an choose. I kept the older kind if dirty bouncer and have it a good cleaning, but sent the used play at to my parents house as a backup and will use the new one I was given at my shower (but that could have been returned). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/stained-amp-dirty-yardsale-items-use-or-toss#post-980458 Thu, 01 Aug 2013 09:27:07 +0000 ShootingStar 980458@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>If you can get it clean to your satisfaction, then I'd keep it. If it grosses you, toss it. Although I'm kind of phobic about bugs so that might be more than I could deal with.</p> <p>You could always check baby consignments stores for a used swing in good condition. FYI, we've bought a few things at consignment sales and they ALWAYS need cleaning. I spent a long time scrubbing the jumperoo, play table, and bouncy seat we got and they weren't especially dirty. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/stained-amp-dirty-yardsale-items-use-or-toss#post-980443 Thu, 01 Aug 2013 09:21:02 +0000 ZombieBullfrogHoller 980443@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>So, my FIL &amp; MIL, very graciously (and I want to be clear that I'm very appreciative of their gifting) gave some baby gear at our baby shower last month. Things have been hectic, so I'm only now taking it out to put together/look over, you know, two weeks before my EDD. :S</p> <p>Anyway, the problem is that they bought these items second hand at a yardsale. That, in and of itself, isn't an issue - the majority of baby's things are second hand or DIY, I don't have hangups about buying used items. But these items (namely a bouncer and an infant swing) aren't in the best of condition. They're dirty and stained and I found dead bugs wedged in the swing's seat. Granted, that could be washed, I'm sure, thrown in the laundry. But it gives me pause and I'm not sure how to feel about going forward with using them.</p> <p>Normally something like that wouldn't bother me, but I think I'm in this "Baby's going to touch it, must be clean, clean, clean" mode and I don't know if I'm just overreacting or not. Not to mention the bouncer didn't come with instructions so I have no.idea. how to even put it together. They also gave an infant carrier, but it doesn't fit, so I'm going to give that away.</p> <p>The purger in me wants to just sit these items out for trash tonight, but now I'm concerned that FIL and MIL are going to take notice that these items aren't in the house when they come to visit and will ask questions and be super offended. :| And I don't want to hurt anyone's feelings, I just...don't feel comfortable using them. Do these items expire like car seats do so I can use that as an excuse? :P Or should I suck it up and clean them as best as possible and use them?</p> <p>This, of course, will leave us without an infant swing, but are those very necessary? </p> <p>I think I've hit a 38-week-over-analyze-everything block :D </p>