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Original poster

To worry about not washing new clothes before wearing them?

257 replies

strawberryjeans · 30/05/2024 23:01

I usually wash everything that we buy new. I haven’t washed the dress I’m wearing today, got it from Sainsbury’s a few months ago.

Is it that bad? 😅

OP posts:
IClaudine · 31/05/2024 07:38

Pepperama · 31/05/2024 07:22

Another one who washes new clothes to get rid of the chemicals that are added to protect the clothes during storage and transport. But wouldn’t worry about a single instance of not doing it. It is a very sensible thing to do though - known strong carcinogens, and often in concentrations that are well above legal limits.

Do you have proof of this @Pepperama ? How would manufacturers get away with using strong carcinogens above legal limits?

greengreyblue · 31/05/2024 07:37

As for chemicals on clothing, there are strict rules on this in U.K. Don’t buy from Temu though if you don’t want lead and arsenic poisoning. Anyone see that documentary last night?

greengreyblue · 31/05/2024 07:36

Ah now I would wash bedlinen first because it has a weird smell from the packet plus weird creases.

thecatsthecats · 31/05/2024 07:33

GandalfStormcrow · 30/05/2024 23:28

Yes, you should. You don’t know where the dress has been stored, or where it’s been, or the chemicals used in manufacturing, or who’s tried it on before you . . .

And yet in spite of all these dire tidings, I have yet to perish from not washing before wearing.

I only wash to remove gacky fabric conditioner scents from Vinted.

ValueAddedTaxonomy · 31/05/2024 07:33

Washing bed linen seems even crazier. It's not as if anyone in the shop tries it on. It is fully packed. If you can't use that straight off the bat, how can you bring yourself to (eg) eat a packaged sandwich?

Is the concern "chemicals" in some vague sense? There are laws that make products safe for users. If you can't trust manufacturers to comply with these, how do you buy anything at all??

backatschool · 31/05/2024 07:31

This is an eye opener, I never knew it was a thing!
Questions to those who wash new clothes:

  • do you try clothes on in shops?
  • how do you deal with dry clean only items? Do you dry clean these before wearing for the first time?
BigDahliaFan · 31/05/2024 07:29

I wash clothes from charity shops. New clothes no. If it had been dropped on the floor and had ‘floor dirt’ on it I think I’d notice and not buy it!

DappledThings · 31/05/2024 07:27

QueenBitch666 · 31/05/2024 01:20

That's grim 🤢

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It really isn't.

DappledThings · 31/05/2024 07:26

Hellodarknessmyfriend · 31/05/2024 00:00

Always wash bedlinen before first use. Doesn't everybody?

Nope. Never knew people did this until I heard it on MN. I've twice deliberately saved brand new bedding for the spare room when I had guests so they had the lovely fresh out of the packet stuff. Which to me is a nice thing but apparently is a terrible faux pas.

greengreyblue · 31/05/2024 07:26

Have never had clothes shrink in wash.

ValueAddedTaxonomy · 31/05/2024 07:26

When my MIL gave me clothes as presents, I always used to think that they were second hand, because they just didn't look new at all. It was only after years of this that I realised it was because she routinely washed new clothes.

I thought she was crazy! It seemed on a par with her practice of never drinking any water - in her own home or our home or anywhere else - without boiling it first.

Washing gradually wrecks clothes, right from the first wash. I would never deprive myself of the small pleasure of wearing shop-new clothing, just because of some sparse sweaty molecules they might have acquired in-store.

RampantIvy · 31/05/2024 07:25

I wash new clothes, especially jeans and trousers, to check that they won't shrink. I can then return them within the return window if they do.

I once had some pyjamas from Next where the trousers shrank 4 inches in leg length.

greengreyblue · 31/05/2024 07:25

No I don’t. DH might iron a new shirt that’s been folded in a packet.

Gogogo12345 · 31/05/2024 07:24

strawberryjeans · 30/05/2024 23:06

The dyes used on the clothes. Maybe I’m talking myself into worrying about a non issue though

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Yeah maybe I am a new clothes washer but simply as I feel it makes them a bit more comfortable. However if I didn't wash something for whatever reason I wouldn't be worried about it

K0OLA1D · 31/05/2024 07:23

WakeMeUpBeforeYouPogo · 30/05/2024 23:28

Totally pointless and wasteful doing this, even for babies.

I did this for PFB... not for DC2!

Pepperama · 31/05/2024 07:22

Another one who washes new clothes to get rid of the chemicals that are added to protect the clothes during storage and transport. But wouldn’t worry about a single instance of not doing it. It is a very sensible thing to do though - known strong carcinogens, and often in concentrations that are well above legal limits.

JacketPotatoFoodOfTheGods · 31/05/2024 07:22

Elieza · 31/05/2024 00:03

I don't want chemicals and rat piss next to my skin so I wash. Just a quick wash with that dettol additive stuff

Rat piss 😂😂😂😂

JacketPotatoFoodOfTheGods · 31/05/2024 07:21

Some people wash them twice....

fieldsofbutterflies · 31/05/2024 07:17

I've just come to this thread from another one about how mothers coped in the past with having loads of children.

I suspect one of the reasons is that they didn't waste their time washing perfectly clean clothes 😂

OvernightOatsAgain · 31/05/2024 07:16

I'm another vote for never washing new things. Unless you know you have an allergy or skin condition which might flare up (I don't) or the item is obviously dirty (in which case, why buy it the first place?) why bother. I have never had any kind of adverse reaction to wearing newly bought clothing.

I do, however, wash charity shop clothing which is clearly second hand.

Sablecat · 31/05/2024 07:11

I wash everything that is washable before I wear it (except for tights). I broke my rule once with a nightdress and came out in a very nasty rash. There are a lot of chemicals in clothing to keep stuff looking pristine in the shops. I'd rather not be putting those chemicals on my skin. If you are prone to allergies you should wash clothes before wearing them.

Loulouloops · 31/05/2024 07:09

WellThatsNice · 30/05/2024 23:34

I just got a new dress and the chemical smell on it is overwhelming- no way I’d wear that without washing first.

Chemical smell?? Where did you buy it?

ZPS · 31/05/2024 07:07

I never thought about this until one of my children had a reaction to a new item of clothing. He’d never had any reactions to anything before. Our GP said reactions to dyes or chemicals on clothing are reasonably common although they’re not usually as bad as the one my child which had which was complicated by it getting infected and we ended up seeing a dermatologist. She said she always washed new clothing and advised us to.

I mostly wash new clothing now but I don’t think most people do. We didn’t before this happened.

B1anche · 31/05/2024 07:01

OP, you are so reckless. People wearing unwashed new clothes is the biggest killer in the northern hemisphere.

BobnLen · 31/05/2024 07:00

I wash pants, bras and bed linen and towels on a quick wash when new. Clothes, I don't bother to wash