On Reddit, a lot of employees have been sharing horror stories about the bad working conditions they’ve faced. While some accounts from stores like Hobby Lobby and Chick-fil-A are shocking, one story about working at Goodwill has really caught attention. Originally posted in August 2020, it’s now received over 81,000 upvotes as people share their reactions.
A former Goodwill worker said, “We don’t clean anything that we sell. And we get some really gross stuff that ends up touching everything. So, if you buy something from Goodwill, wash it well before you use it.”
Another former employee confirmed this, saying, “I used to work at Goodwill, and you are 200% correct.”
This revelation made one shopper share their own experience: “Even before COVID, I’d always feel so gross after leaving there. I’d wash my hands immediately.”
But surprisingly, some people weren’t too shocked by what they heard. One person wrote, “Sorry to ruin everyone’s day, but the last time I was at a thrift store, I found these awesome yoga pants… but the crotch was crusty.”
Another user wrote, “Oh god! You reminded me! I thought everything was washed before being sold. I once tried on a pair of pants, and only after I realized 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.”
One person shared their solution: “Goodwill? I wash everything I buy before wearing it. People and warehouses are nasty. Goodwill is just like that.”
Another person had advice for taking it a step further: “Washing twice makes it nice. You’ll need to anyway because the water from the first load… you’ll see when you try it.”
One commenter agreed, saying, “You should wash any clothes you buy before wearing them. Doesn’t matter if it’s from Goodwill or the most expensive store on the planet; assume it’s touched something nasty and wash it.”
Despite these accounts, a volunteer who worked at Goodwill defended the store: “I have a friend who volunteered at Goodwill for a year. She said she had never seen so much cleaning being done. Thanks to the elderly ladies who volunteered there, everything was squeaky clean.”
What do you think about this story? Do you think Goodwill has a problem with hygiene, or is this just part of buying secondhand? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!
