Employees share the best and worst things to buy at thrift stores

Some thrift-store finds are totally worth buying.iStock / Getty Images Plus

• Insider asked former and current thrift-store employees about the best and worst things to buy.
• Wooden furniture, used books, and baby clothes can be smart thrift-store purchases.
• They said to be wary of electronics, appliances, and toys that may not work.
• Mattresses and upholstered furniture can sometimes have allergens or bed bugs, said one employee.

Thrift shops can be wonderlands of bargain-priced fashion and quirky home goods. But it can take some digging and shopping savvy to separate the true treasures from items that aren't worth the money.

Insider spoke with current and former thrift-store employees to get their take on what to always buy at a thrift shop and which items to avoid bringing home.