Most of us don’t think twice about passing along old stuff. It could be during yard sales or to thrift stores, whatever. But there are actually some laws & safety codes that ban you from legally reselling a few things. We’ve looked through them, and here are thirteen household items that you’re not allowed to sell. Which one would’ve slipped past you?
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Drop-side cribs
The government pulled the plug on drop-side cribs in 2011. Even though sliding rails made it easier to lift a baby out, it turns out that they weren’t so safe. This means that you can’t sell them at all. It doesn’t matter if you’re just trying to give it away or if it’s in good condition. They’re all off the market.
Crib bumpers
Crib bumpers are padded bumpers that line crib rails. They look rather nice, but they’ve been outlawed. The Safe Sleep for Babies Act banned them nationwide as a suffocation risk. As a result, no new sales & no secondhand swaps are allowed, no matter how fluffy or thin they are.
Infant inclined sleepers
Another baby item that’s banned for resale is infant inclined sleepers. They allow babies to nap at an angle. But safety concerns led to a federal ban that meant they were pulled from the shelves. A baby’s head can fall forward because of the incline and lead to suffocation. It also became illegal to pass one along, whether that’s in a local consignment shop or an online listing. You can’t resell any that you might have.
Novelty lighters that look like toys
Some states went after “fun” lighters that look like tiny cars & animals. Lawmakers decided they were too tempting for kids. As a result, they banned selling them anywhere in Maine & Oregon, among other states. These lighters might look nice or seem like they’re worth a lot. It doesn’t matter. You have to scrap it or keep it.
Used pillows and featherbeds
Used bedding is a different beast. In some states, you’re allowed to resell pillows & featherbeds, but only if they’re professionally cleaned and tagged. They need the proper sterilization process & the tag to prove it. Without this, selling one is against the law. It essentially means that you could be fined for being dirty.
Children’s sleepwear that fails flammability tests
Kids’ pajamas & nightgowns have to pass strict flammability tests to be resold. Failing these means they can’t be resold at all, and that’s why resellers are told to double-check labels before putting them out. Each garment needs to meet those safety standards. If not, they’re not legally allowed to make a second appearance in the marketplace.
Window blinds with old-style cords
Old blinds with long cords also can’t be resold. And for a good reason. Those dangling loops have caused some tragic accidents, so lawmakers took them off the table in thrift stores & secondhand sites. Cordless & updated versions are fine. But you’re breaking federal rules if you try to sell the older ones with pull strings.
Secondhand space heaters
Massachusetts has one of the strictest resale laws out there. If you have a used space heater that uses kerosene, you’re not allowed to put it on Craigslist or drop it off at Goodwill. You can’t even sneak it into a yard sale. The state fire code quite literally says that you’re not allowed to sell any used stove “which uses kerosene, range oil or number 1 fuel oil for fuel.”
Secondhand mattresses without proper licensing & labels
The government is pretty strict with used mattresses in Washington, D.C. Dealers need to be licensed, and every mattress has to carry the right label. This is especially true for used or renovated ones. Without these tags, they’re considered illegal stock & inspectors can pull noncompliant beds right out of a shop.
Used stuffed animals without cleaning tags
Some states include stuffed animals in the same category as bedding. As a result, you’re not allowed to resell them unless they’ve been through a sanitation process. They’ll also need a tag as evidence. Secondhand shops can’t take these items without the tag & even flea market sellers have to pass.
Secondhand contact lenses
Contact lenses fall under FDA medical device rules, which means reselling them isn’t allowed. The ban covers every kind of contact lens. They could be opened, unopened, perhaps even brand-new looking, but it doesn’t matter. They were prescribed to one person & only that person. You’re not allowed to resell them once they’ve been bought.
Used toilet seats
Toilet seats are treated as “non-resalable” once they’ve been used in some states. This is mostly due to strict sanitation laws. Shops can’t put them out & even donated ones are often turned away. The condition of the seat doesn’t matter. It’s strictly hygiene-based, so any that are secondhand will likely have to go in the trash.
Refilled propane cylinders
Portable propane tanks are handled under DOT (the Department of Transportation) rules. In some states, once a cylinder’s been sold, only licensed refillers can touch it. You can’t legally resell your old tank at a garage sale or list it online. Regardless of whether it looks fine, secondhand resale is against the law.
Source: U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and its Reseller’s Guide to Selling Safer Products.
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