It's documented that you can get bed bugs at luxury hotels and spas, so the possibility of getting bedbugs from Goodwill or the bins is certainly not outside of the realm of possibility. In reality, there are a couple of checks and balances to prevent bedbugs from entering the Goodwill supply chain- Goodwill and other thrift stores have a huge motivation to prevent bedbugs in their inventory. One well-publicized infestation could make national news, require destroying an entire store's worth of inventory, and have a far-reaching impact on corporate profits. Goodwill's restocking team and donation receiving staff have basic training in recognizing bedbugs and will turn away, or isolate and discard after receipt, anything with any evidence of bedbugs. Some company policies- such as totally refusing any and all used mattresses- help protect thrift store inventory from common sources of bedbug infestations. To protect yourself from getting bedbugs from thrift stores, you can adopt the following policies and procedures for thrift store shopping: Five tips to avoid getting bedbugs from thrift shopping: 1. Learn what to look for so you can spot the telltale signs of bedbugs on items in a store, and if you see them tell a manager and leave. 2. Only buy items that can be sanitized or washed. 3. After shopping at the Goodwill outlet or another thrift store, place your purchases in a nonporous bag in your car such as garbage bags or plastic totes 4. If you live in a warm climate, leave your purchases in your car for a few days in the sun to zap any bedbugs with heat- one of the few effective pesticide-free treatments for bedbugs. 5. Take items from the plastic bag directly to a washing machine and wash items with hot water. To be extra careful, use a laundromat and an extra hot wash to be sure. When I up-sized from my tiny home downtown Seattle studio apartment to a spacious suburban apartment, I saved thousands of dollars on outfitting a larger home by plucking luxury rugs, curtains, linens, and towels from the Goodwill outlet. To protect myself from bedbugs and other "yuck," I just arranged my day so I always stopped at a laundry matt and thoroughly washed and hard-dried on high all new items that could potentially be hosting bedbugs. By adding this extra step, I was able to fully trust and be comfortable snuggling up with everything I brought home from the bins.