Employees at various stores have been speaking out on Reddit about the horrible working conditions they’ve faced, and one particular story from a Goodwill worker has everyone talking. Originally posted in August 2020, the story has since received over 81,000 upvotes as more and more people read about it.
“I used to work at Goodwill, and we don’t clean anything that we sell,” the worker explained. “We get some really disgusting items, and they end up touching everything else. So, if you’re buying something from Goodwill, you better wash it well.”
Another former Goodwill worker confirmed this claim, saying, “I used to work at Goodwill, and you are 200% correct.”
This caused quite a reaction. One shopper commented, “Even before COVID, I always felt so gross after leaving there. I’d wash my hands immediately.”
Surprisingly, many people weren’t shocked by this revelation. One user shared a past experience: “Sorry to ruin everyone’s day, but the last time I was at a thrift store, I found these sweet yoga pants… but the crotch was crusty.”
Another user chimed in with their own horror story: “Oh god! You reminded me! I thought everything was cleaned before it was sold. One time, I tried on a pair of pants. Only after did I realize that the previous owner DID NOT WEAR UNDERWEAR! It was so gross. Either they wore those pants for a week straight, or they really need to see a doctor.”
One person shared their solution: “Goodwill? I wash everything I buy before wearing it. People and warehouses are gross. It’s normal at Goodwill.”
Another went further with their advice: “Washing twice makes it nice. You’ll see why when you do the first load.”
And yet another person added, “You should wash all clothes before wearing them. It doesn’t matter if it’s from Goodwill or the fanciest store in the world. Assume it’s touched something gross and wash it.”
But not everyone agreed with the worker’s account. One Goodwill volunteer, who worked at the store for a year, defended the cleanliness. “I have a friend who volunteered at Goodwill. She said she’d never seen so much cleaning. Thanks to the elderly ladies who volunteered, everything was always squeaky clean.”
So what do you think? Are Goodwill’s hygiene practices acceptable, or should we all be more cautious when shopping secondhand? Share your thoughts in the comments!
