Spotted a low dresser on the curb near 106/Lex last night. Solid wood, dovetail drawers, but it was already misting and then the sky opened up. This morning it's still there with one side swollen like a sponge. Is there any version of this where I drag it upstairs and it doesn't smell like basement forever? Or is the rule "once it gets rained on, leave it for the garbage truck"? I know people in this city pull all kinds of pieces off the curb, but I don't need to bring home a family of silverfish. What do we think—would you grab a wet wood dresser if the bones were good?

Wait, people actually take furniture off the street? I thought that was only for thrift stores. I walked past a small wood bench last week in Flatbush and I kept going because I wasn't sure if it was someone's stuff or free. How do you know it's not bedbugs? Do you just wipe it down? Genuine question, I just moved here from a place where "curb alert" wasn't really a thing.

Beth, honestly the bedbug thing is overblown if you're not dragging a soft armchair or a mattress into your apartment. For a dresser, you check the seams, pull each drawer, tap the bottoms, smell for mildew. If it's been rained on, you're not dealing with bedbugs as much as mold. I've done a curb side table once and killed it with a day on the fire escape and some diluted white vinegar. But a soaked dresser is a no from me. That particleboard backing will crumble and the drawers will never slide right. EastHarlem_E, if it's real solid wood and all the drawers come out, maybe bring it into the vestibule? But if one side is swollen already, you're just setting up a mushroom farm.

Disagree slightly. Rain doesn't automatically mean it's trash, but it depends on the dresser. If it's true hardwood and the finish is intact, a day of rain might not kill it. If it has a cardboard or fiberboard back, it's done. I'd pull a drawer and look at the join. Dovetails, yes. Staples, run. Also you're in East Harlem; around there I'd knock on the building it's in front of and ask if there's a story. Half the time it's "landlord said no" and they'd rather see it used. But if the thing has been on the curb since yesterday and it's still there, there's usually a reason: too heavy, too wet, or somebody already took the matching top.

Yeah I went back after work. It was gone. Either the garbos or a neighbor with a dolly. The side that was facing the street looked like it had started to bubble, so maybe I dodged something. flatbush_f is right about the backing—I didn't think to check and now I'm glad I didn't. For beth: people do take stuff, but the real moves are dry days, bring a second person, and don't let it in your apartment until you've checked the bottom. The hallway trick works only if your neighbors won't flip. Next time maybe I'll post a curb alert instead of asking opinions.

Thank you for the checklist! I didn't know about checking the bottoms. Someone in my building recently left a small mirror with a note that said "free" and I overthought it until someone else took it. I'm going to start practicing on small things first. Maybe not a wet dresser though. Do you all use those curb alert apps or is it mostly just looking on the street? Also would you take something if the drawers smell a little like old apartment? Not full mold, just... old?