Unless you work a job, you never really know what it’s like until you’re thrown head-first into the deep end. And that’s also how you learn about the secrets and hidden things of any industry.
It doesn’t matter if it’s retail, food service, or rocket science: there are always secrets that outsiders don’t know about.
Reddit users are spilling tea about the industries they work in.
On Aug. 30, a user posted this question to fellow users: What’s an industry secret in the field you work in?
The post, which received more than 81,000 upvotes, has garnered tens of thousands of replies from people in all types of professions who are more than willing to share insightful, juicy and surprising secrets about their jobs.
They revealed, “At Goodwill, we don’t clean anything that we sell, and we get some really gross stuff that touches everything else, So next time you buy something from Goodwill, wash it well.”
“I used To work At Goodwill, you are 200% correct,” another former employee confirmed this account:
“Even before COVID, I’d always feel so gross after leaving there, I’d wash my hands immediately,” in response, a concerned shopper wrote.
However, readers were not entirely surprised by this revelation.
One person wrote, “Sorry to ruin everyone’s day, but the last time I was at a thrift store, I found some sweet yoga pants… but the crotch was crusty.”
Another person wrote, “Oh god! You reminded me! Why! So I thought everything was washed before. Once tried on pants. It was only after that I realized that the owner DID NOT WEAR UNDERWEAR! It was disgusting. Either they wore the pants for a week straight, or they really need to visit a doctor.”
Another added their strategy for dealing with Goodwill purchases.
“Goodwill? I wash any and all clothes that I buy before I ever wear them. Warehouses and people are nasty. Goodwill is just normal in this regard.”
Another person suggested going one step further.
“Washing twice makes it nice. Most times, you have to anyway because the water from the first load… you’ll see when you try it.”
One person revealed that they never wear clothes without washing them first.
“I mean yeah, you should wash any clothes you buy before you wear it. Doesn’t matter if it’s from Goodwill or the most expensive clothing store on the face of the earth; assume it’s come into contact with something or someone nasty and or disgusting and wash it.”
Despite this insider account, another volunteer at a Goodwill location claimed to have seen a lot of cleaning is done.
“I have a friend who volunteered at a Goodwill for a year. She said that she had never seen so much cleaning being done ever. Thanks to the elderly ladies that also volunteered there. Everything was squeaky clean at all times.”
What do you think about this allegation against Goodwill? Do you think they wash clothes donated to their stores?