Disinfecting second hand items?

[Flyingsolo]

There are quite some second hand tack sellers near me and online now, which I think is a great idea and would love to get some bargains.

BUT I’m a massive clean freak and worry about things the horses could catch off them?

Am I bring over dramatic? I know you can disinfect rugs/hot wash them.
But how do you disinfect tack, saddles, boots etc fully? And are they then clean and safe? Does anyone even bother disinfecting or is it just me who has these concerns?

Thoughts please!

Thank you

 

[Kaylum]

Use disinfectant wipes on leather and but bits in the dishwasher.

 

[MiJodsR2BlinkinTite]

There is a local "recycle and re-use" Community Benefit place near me and they do bits & bobs including furniture, crockery, clothes, books etc.

You need to be very careful about what you buy there tho' and to be sure you thoroughly Cleanse it before putting it in the house. I brought a lovely red fireplace mat from there once and put it in the house. Not thinking. Then the dogs started scratching, and then the cats - and then I saw fleas on all of them! And got bitten myself!! Sat down & figured out where this had started and I realised it was since I'd bought this darn red mat into the house: there's a cat at the recycling centre which sits on everything, and so it wasn't too hard to work out where my flea infestation had come from!!

I've also bought stuff in there (even just after Covid when they'd re-opened) with what were obviously "used" tissues in the pockets. Disgusting! They obviously get a lot of stuff in and not many staff. Bought a pair of trousers in there once which when I got them home were absolutely disgusting in the crotch area (shan't go into the details but they'd obviously belonged to a woman of menstruating age who'd had a mishap ..... you get the picture). They were M&S and in my size - and I'd just seen the label and bought them without looking too closely as knew they'd fit. But had to ditch them sadly as just couldn't face wearing them! Yuck! Whatever manner of vile creature would even consider letting something like that go where someone else might handle them for pity's sake?

Think Dettol do a wash sanitiser; or there's good old-fashioned Miltons which would probably work out cheaper.

 

[Barton Bounty]

I disinfect everything and even items I have bought from someone with labels get washed before I wear them.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

I wash with that dettol laundry disinfectant or dry clean if it can't be washed.

 

[Sossigpoker]

I use Virkon on anything used and washable, including bits.

 

[Bonnie Allie]

If the item is leather, use Stubben glycerin soap to cleanse before replenishing with a quality leather cream.