I'm reading this thread and a few things have come to mind:
When you talk about bedbugs in used furniture, I think about The Big Bang Theory episode where Penny found a chair on the curb and there was some kind of creature in it!
I wondered if our Goodwill has those authorized dumpster Dives. And kudos to those that do to keep stuff out of the landfills and to the people that thrive on repurposing.
Men's ties can be used for lots of things. Pinterest has bunches- some are really ugly, but all are creative. My favorite is the flowers made from them and the quilts of course.