Vendors Guarantee Imported Second-hand Bras and Underwear Are Disease-free, Provide Proof

Vendors at Senen Market, Central Jakarta, say second-hand clothing is sold as free from viruses because they have been trading for a long time. One account is from Yadi, who has been selling second-hand underwear such as bras and panties since 2000, claiming health is guaranteed. Moreover, they claim the first person to handle the garments daily remains healthy.

“Guaranteed clean and free of germs; if not, we would surely have contracted diseases, and this isn’t the case, especially since our sales have been ongoing for a long time and we haven’t had any problems,” Yadi told CNBC Indonesia on Thursday (5 March 2026).

Nevertheless, sellers advise buyers to rewash the used underwear with hot water or disinfectant before use to ensure cleanliness.

“But we also advise buyers, after purchase, do not wear it immediately; it needs to be washed again with hot water,” Yadi said.

Similarly, Mamang, another seller, claimed the underwear he sells does not have any virus.

“Hopefully there is no virus, after all we are the ones selling it, we handle the item first, and we are still healthy,” Mamang said.

However, to ensure the cleanliness of the underwear he sells, buyers must still wash thoroughly with hot water as a precaution.

“Before wearing, if in doubt, wash first with hot water,” he explained.