4 ms·

That's cool but watch out for hoarding. While I agree with picking up discarded fixable or like new appliances, there are so many of them out there that one may

That's cool but watch out for hoarding. While I agree with picking up discarded fixable or like new appliances, there are so many of them out there that one may end up hoarding.

syntheticnature 8y ago
My wife learned that youth shelters/foster parenting agencies need suitcases to help the children move their clothing and stuff around. The usual alternative children get: garbage bags. We collected up suitcases off the curb that in theory need minor mending (no smells, certain problems left behind), and over time the backlog has built up. Time is also an ingredient, here; in the best case it takes fifteen minutes to prep a curb suitcase, in the worst (cleaning stains, etc.) the suitcase might need to sit around in a ventilated area for days over the course of treatment.
- kuhhk 8y ago
  That's fantastic, I hadn't thought of this. I'm going to keep an eye out for curb suitcases now. Thanks for sharing
- Wowfunhappy 8y ago
  Do you never wonder about stuff like bed bugs when you pick up stuff like suitcases off the street? I feel like I'm overly paranoid about that.
  - SECProto 8y ago
    Have a friend who had a habit of picking up furniture etc from the side of the road, and (perhaps related) got bedbugs. I am very very hesitant to do the same.
    - syntheticnature 8y ago
      Even I would hesitate to pick up upholstered furniture from the side of the road.
      - wholinator2 8y ago
        Right? That's like inviting someone else's home into your home. Not even that but their trash. Way to risky for me and I love finding free stuff.
      - SECProto 8y ago
        Definitely, but I would use a similar amount of caution with used luggage. Luggage is used for visiting many places, left in hotel rooms and overhead bins (high traffic areas), hold clothes, lots of seams and nooks and crannies ... pretty ideal bedbug territory.
  - syntheticnature 8y ago
    There are a few strategies you can use, dependent on the time of year -- they don't like it cold (assuming you don't give them a chance to adapt), nor overly hot, and the suitcases can also be quarantined. I wouldn't drag them into core living areas of your space, right off.
  - syntheticnature 8y ago
    One addition I'll make: locally there is a bulk pickup day twice a year that people hold things for; if it was a suitcase wrapped in plastic or out on a non-bulk pickup day, I likely would steer clear.
  - grogenaut 8y ago
    Put the clothes in a garbage bag, tie it. Use suitcase for structure.
specialp 8y ago
Yes this is true. I don't pick up lawnmowers anymore because mine is fine. But I have given some of my old ones to people that just moved into a home and stuff. And yes I am selective about appliances unless I know a friend needs one. Currently everything I own is plugged in and being used, no yard full of junk :). As for the Hall field sensor yeah I know I probably could have found an equivalent on Digikey and saved $15 or so when you factor in the shipping, but the convenience factor and knowing that I just fixed an otherwise fine $1700 commercial shredder for $25 is fine.

That's cool but watch out for hoarding. While I agree with picking up discarded fixable or like new appliances, there are so many of them out there that one may end up hoarding.

syntheticnature 8y ago

My wife learned that youth shelters/foster parenting agencies need suitcases to help the children move their clothing and stuff around. The usual alternative children get: garbage bags. We collected up suitcases off the curb that in theory need minor mending (no smells, certain problems left behind), and over time the backlog has built up. Time is also an ingredient, here; in the best case it takes fifteen minutes to prep a curb suitcase, in the worst (cleaning stains, etc.) the suitcase might need to sit around in a ventilated area for days over the course of treatment.

kuhhk 8y ago
That's fantastic, I hadn't thought of this. I'm going to keep an eye out for curb suitcases now. Thanks for sharing
Wowfunhappy 8y ago
Do you never wonder about stuff like bed bugs when you pick up stuff like suitcases off the street? I feel like I'm overly paranoid about that.
- SECProto 8y ago
  Have a friend who had a habit of picking up furniture etc from the side of the road, and (perhaps related) got bedbugs. I am very very hesitant to do the same.
  - syntheticnature 8y ago
    Even I would hesitate to pick up upholstered furniture from the side of the road.
    - wholinator2 8y ago
      Right? That's like inviting someone else's home into your home. Not even that but their trash. Way to risky for me and I love finding free stuff.
    - SECProto 8y ago
      Definitely, but I would use a similar amount of caution with used luggage. Luggage is used for visiting many places, left in hotel rooms and overhead bins (high traffic areas), hold clothes, lots of seams and nooks and crannies ... pretty ideal bedbug territory.
- syntheticnature 8y ago
  There are a few strategies you can use, dependent on the time of year -- they don't like it cold (assuming you don't give them a chance to adapt), nor overly hot, and the suitcases can also be quarantined. I wouldn't drag them into core living areas of your space, right off.
- syntheticnature 8y ago
  One addition I'll make: locally there is a bulk pickup day twice a year that people hold things for; if it was a suitcase wrapped in plastic or out on a non-bulk pickup day, I likely would steer clear.
- grogenaut 8y ago
  Put the clothes in a garbage bag, tie it. Use suitcase for structure.

specialp 8y ago

Yes this is true. I don't pick up lawnmowers anymore because mine is fine. But I have given some of my old ones to people that just moved into a home and stuff. And yes I am selective about appliances unless I know a friend needs one. Currently everything I own is plugged in and being used, no yard full of junk :). As for the Hall field sensor yeah I know I probably could have found an equivalent on Digikey and saved $15 or so when you factor in the shipping, but the convenience factor and knowing that I just fixed an otherwise fine $1700 commercial shredder for $25 is fine.