Thrifting is popular with many shoppers right now, regardless of age or income. The prices are low, the quality’s usually better than what you’d get at a mall, and the pieces are often one of a kind, meaning you won’t see ten people wearing the same top you just got.
But as one TikTok creator learned, some thrift finds come with a nightmare attached.
TikTok user Mattea (@matteaing) shared a video that started like any other thrifting haul. She filmed herself trying on cozy sweaters in front of a mirror, smiling as she switched between them.
At first glance, it looked like another “come thrifting with me” moment, until you read the on-screen text.
“None of these sweaters were worth the bed bugs,” she wrote. In her caption, she added, “If only I could go back in time and SHAKE HER.”
Can You Really Get Bedbugs From Thrifted Clothes?
Yes, and it does happen to thrifters. Bedbugs can actually travel on anything that gives them a ride: clothes, luggage, furniture, even the seat you sit on.
If the store or donation center has an infestation, all it takes is trying on one sweater or tossing it in your car for them to tag along.
The worst part is that most people don’t notice right away. Bedbugs are small but still visible if you look closely. They’re flat, brownish, and shaped like tiny apple seeds. Sometimes you’ll see faint spots or eggs tucked into seams and tags. It only takes a few seconds to check, but most people don’t think to.
Even new clothes aren’t completely safe. Bugs can travel through warehouses or delivery trucks, so it’s smart to wash everything the moment it comes home. Hot water and high heat will kill them before they have a chance to settle. For delicate fabrics, even a spin through the dryer helps.
If you buy furniture or decor secondhand, that’s when you need to be extra careful. Bedbugs love fabric seams, cracks, and the underside of cushions. Once they’re inside, it’s hard to get them out. It’s worth inspecting every inch before it ever crosses your door.
Commenters Are Confused
In the comments, people weren’t sure how something like this can happen.
One user wrote, “Are y’all not washing absolutely everything you purchase from a thrift store?”
A few thrift veterans admitted they never take the risk. “I never try on at the thrift,” one viewer commented. “I go home and wash everything, then try on at home. If it doesn’t fit, that’s the risk I take.”
@matteaing If only I could go back in time and SHAKE HER 😭😭
Some shared how they went through it themselves. “As someone who also got bed bugs from a thrift find… literal PTSD,” one person wrote. “I was ready to throw my entire house away.”
Others pointed out that this could happen anywhere, not just thrift shops. “You can get bed bugs from any department store, movie theater, Uber ride, etc.,” one person said.
BroBible has reached out to Mattea via email for more information about her experience.