I think we're on the cusp of a local-media-fueled public freakout over thrift store bed bugs, and I think that's a shame. I've been a thrift shopper for my entire adult life, and I've learned enough to know that if you follow certain rules—wash the shit you buy before you wear it, people!—you'll be fine. Over at Seattleish, the new-ish site from some of the talented writers behind the late, lamented blog Seattlest, the editors published a list of rules to help you avoid bed bugs while thrift shopping. The rules are commonsense, they're easy to follow, and they should work.