Stay Safe this Garage Sale Season

As Wisconsin finishes spring cleaning season, garage sales are sure to follow. While these sales offer great deals and unique merchandise, shoppers should be sure to keep safety in mind and check for recalls on items they intend to purchase.

Questions to ask while garage sale shopping to keep safety in mind:

· Does the item have an electrical cord? If so, is there damage to the cord or plug?

· Does the item (especially a toy) have chipping paint, which can be a sign of lead?

· Does the item contain chemicals that could be toxic, like BPA, PFAS, mercury, lead, and others?

· Could the item pose a choking hazard?

· Does the item use button cell batteries? If so, are they secure and inaccessible to little ones?

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 do not present a hidden hazard