Product Safety at Garage Sales

May is garage sale season! While these sales offer great deals and unique merchandise, shoppers should be sure to remember the importance of product safety and check for recalls on any items they intend to purchase.

While garage sale shopping, ask: Does the item…

· Have an electrical cord? If so, is there damage to the cord or plug?

· Show chipping paint, which can be a sign of lead?

· Contain chemicals that could be toxic, like BPA, PFAS, mercury, lead, and others?

· Pose a choking hazard?

· Have any sharp edges?

· Include any flammable material or other fire hazards?

· Come with batteries, especially button cells? If so, are they secure and inaccessible to children?

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission recalls products if they have the potential to cause injury or death. It is especially important to check for recalls of children’s toys and nursery care products like cribs, gates, play yards/play pens, baby bouncers/swings, and baby walkers.

Consumers can easily check for recent recalls or access a searchable recall database on their mobile device by visiting SaferProducts.gov. They can have this resource open while garage sale shopping to quickly verify the products they want do not present any hidden hazards.