On Reddit, workers from various companies have been sharing jaw-dropping stories about the horrible conditions they deal with while on the job. While some of these accounts from places like Hobby Lobby and Chick-fil-A are shocking, one story about working at Goodwill has really grabbed attention. First posted in August 2020, the story has blown up, getting more than 81,000 upvotes.
A former Goodwill worker revealed, “At Goodwill, we don’t clean anything that we sell. And we get some really gross stuff that ends up touching everything else. So, if you buy something from Goodwill, wash it really well before using it.”
Another former employee jumped in to back up this claim, saying, “I used to work at Goodwill, and you’re 200% correct.”
This led one concerned shopper to share their own experience: “Even before COVID, I’d always feel so gross after leaving there. I’d wash my hands as soon as I got out.”
Surprisingly, a lot of people weren’t too shocked by the news. One Reddit user commented, “Sorry to ruin everyone’s day, but the last time I was at a thrift store, I found these really nice yoga pants… but the crotch was crusty.”
Another user chimed in with a similar experience: “Oh god! You just reminded me! I thought everything was washed before being sold. Once I tried on some pants, and only after did I realize the previous owner DID NOT WEAR UNDERWEAR! It was disgusting. Either they wore those pants for a week straight, or they really need to see a doctor.”
For many, the solution was simple: wash everything. “Goodwill? I wash every single thing I buy before I wear it. People and warehouses are gross. Goodwill is just normal in this regard,” said one person.
Another user had an even better idea: “Washing twice makes it nice. Most times, you’ll need to because the water from the first load… well, you’ll see it when you try it.”
One commenter summed it up perfectly: “You should wash any clothes before wearing them. It doesn’t matter if it’s from Goodwill or the fanciest store on earth; assume it’s touched something nasty and wash it.”
However, not everyone agreed with the worker’s account. A volunteer who worked at a Goodwill for a year had a very different story: “I have a friend who volunteered at Goodwill. She said she’d never seen so much cleaning being done. Thanks to the elderly ladies who volunteered there, everything was squeaky clean at all times.”
So, what do you think? Are Goodwill’s practices concerning, or is this just the nature of secondhand shopping? Share your thoughts in the comments!
