To worry about not washing new clothes before wearing them?

It's not about "feeling clever". It's about highlighting the level of scientific illiteracy and hysteria.

We are surrounded by chemicals all the time - something being a chemical doesn't make it bad.

I have never in my life washed new clothes before wearing them, and nothing bad has ever happened as a result. Some people on here clearly don't have enough to do to fill their lives.

I never wear anything until it has been washed.

They’ll have been dropped on the floor, bundled into sacks, shoved in shipping containers, taken to another warehouse, dropped on more floors, then put on display where God knows who has tried them on. I haven’t been to any factories abroad, but I have been to factories in the UK and I wouldn’t sweep my clothes across the floor in them, so I’m working on the basis that I wouldn’t sweep them across the floor in any factories abroad either. They’re often a bit chemically smelling and they can feel a bit stiff sometimes as well. They don’t feel particularly clean or very nice to me.

I like wearing brand new clothes straight from the shop. Maybe I have a penchant for rat piss 🤷🏼‍♀️

Erm what is the issue?!

Same. Not changing after over fifty years!

This isn't as true as you think. Clothes do have alot of chemicals on them so much so that primark put stickers on their garments to highlight their clothes are checked and at acceptable levels . If you want to limit your contact then wash new clothes. Not washing the odd garment is unlikely to be an issue or a non event 🤣

Formaldehyde is in many things, including shampoo and hand sanitisers (of which we all used at lot of at the height of Covid). A google search shows most people have had some exposure to formaldehyde. It's just all frothy panic.

I think I must live on another planet. I have never encountered new clothes smelling of chemicals. Or the risk of rat piss on clothes??

Yes, reading this thread I was like, rat piss? Rat shit? Fuck me dead, where do you people live? Do they hand-make the clothes in the gutter where some of you getting them from? I'm just waiting for some hysteric to add in dog shit too. Maybe the factory's cat pisses on them regularly. Don't stop there, what about bat shit/piss? Lizzard droppings? Maybe the clothes are rolled in asbestos, or have had bees or birds shit on them. Chris all fucking mighty people on this thread are batshit crazy! And please no mention of bat piss or shit.

I’ve got summer dresses that I’ve had years, I try and wash them as little as possible. Maybe once or twice in the last 4 years. Just airing them is fine providing they’re not stained or smelly. Clothes that are washed a lot (like the children’s uniforms) go bobbly quickly. Ironing also takes its toll on a lot of fabrics.

That's not the same thing though, not washing clothes all of the time is different from washing or not washing new clothes.

I think I must live on another planet. I have never encountered new clothes smelling of chemicals. Or the risk of rat piss on clothes?? The whole point of new clothes is that they are new! It’s nice putting on new knickers or a new sweater. Clothes lose their appeal to me after they have been washed and come out of the machine in a damp heap. Then they are dry and creased, then you have to iron it. They never look as good. I’ve got summer dresses that I’ve had years, I try and wash them as little as possible. Maybe once or twice in the last 4 years. Just airing them is fine providing they’re not stained or smelly. Clothes that are washed a lot (like the children’s uniforms) go bobbly quickly. Ironing also takes it’s toll on a lot of fabrics.

Same - unless it's smelly!

I really like the smell of new clothes 😂

I never ever wash new clothes. I ADORE the scent (and the new linen feel before it's washed) of brand new store bought clothes, and enjoy wearing them that first time. It's part of the 'experience' of getting new clothes, to me. Nothing like the feel of and smell of brand new clothes. It's a pity it only lasts for one day.

Same!

If something arrived 'reeking of chemicals' I'd be sending it straight back anyway. Recently returned something that had clearly been worn and washed becuase it stank of fabric conditioner 🤢

I wash sheets, towels, knickers and pyjamas before wearing, nothing else.

I am the world's worst ironer so some things I buy are never quite the same again once they've been washed. I recall a lovely, quite spendy dress I bought for a wedding (raspberry red so safe in terms of being mistaken for the bride 😉) which had some complicated pleats at the front like origami. Looked like a bag o'shite after my ministrations with the iron. Better to enjoy these things while you can and risk the deadly chemicals/germs.

I'd be very surprised if anybody here doesn't know what dihydrogen oxide refers to, @sweetnessandlighter . But you go ahead and feel like a big clever sausage .

I usually wash clothes first - I think it’s supposed to be better with the dyes and my mum always said it helped if you split something and had a stain to get out.

But it’s not going to cause you a problem. Even done it at least once when my kids were babies and had more accidents than I had spare clothes for. He was fine even with delicate baby skin.

It’s really not necessary to wash new clothes before you wear them.

I have never done that, for either me or my kids (and I had a prem NICU baby).

Germs are good for the immune system. It is not healthy to be too “clean”.

Im with you and always wash new things before wearing! I watched a hospital drama once where someone was really unwell after jeans they wore were stored with dangerous chemicals and I’ve been paranoid ever since 😂

but also in general people are just a bit gross and I don’t know how many people have touched that dress in the shop after scratching their butt

Never wash new clothes or bedding. So far, I haven't succumbed to impetigo/eczema/skin cancer.

Those of you panicking about "chemicals" are going to lose your minds when you hear about dihydrogen oxide - it's used all the time in clothing manufacture... 😱

I always wash new bedding before I use it but I'd never bother washing new clothes. Clothes tend to look more worn once you start washing them, depending on the garment, I try to wash them as infrequently as possible to keep them looking new.

It’s not just here but I think it’s one of those things that you don’t really know about unless you d had a problem. If you google, you’ll see lots of dermatologists recommending washing before wearing. I never thought about it until my child had a reaction. When I googled it, there was a lot of information and when my child had to see a dermatologist due to it, they advised washing clothes before use.

If people don’t want to wash clothes before wearing once they know that some people do and why, that is their choice. It’s strange that some people seem to think they’re so superior and care free for not doing it.

Wash them, don’t wash them, it shouldn’t really matter to other people. Some people have reacted to new clothing, some people are concerned about chemicals etc. No need for judgement on either ‘side’.

I didn’t know washing clothes before wearing was even a thing, until I saw it here!