Do you wash your clothes before you wear them?

[RosieLemonade]

Someone’s just called me disgusting for not washing my clothes before I wear them for the the firs time. They were talking in general not just during covid.
Have I been doing it wrong? Happy to be told that yes I should be washing everything before I wear them.

I would never wash my clothes before their first wear?? 🤷‍♀️ they're new and clean??

I've never washed any clothing before I've worn it, and frankly anyone who thinks it is "disgusting" has issues. Some people are so OTT I wonder how on earth they get through life!

Never fir coats, onlu if I felt they needed it

I actually love it when I get second hand things and they smell like someone else's washing powder

Me too!

I used to work at TOPSHOP. The clothes in store have been tried on several times, not necessarily in an hygienic manner. Think women who try on bikinis/body suits without wearing their own underwear underneath! (And then post selfies on social media🤮)

The items could have been dropped on the floor by customers, whether that’s on the shop floor or as they are trying it on - some people just have a disregard for other’s property. Pretty much everything in a light colour had makeup/tan stains.

Some items are returns that have been in other’s homes - we were supposed to accept items back that reeked of smoke etc. Others used to wear items and then return them, effectively renting the clothes.

Personally I bought from TOPSHOP online (without my discount) when I worked there as there was a higher chance of receiving a pristine item!

Yes I do. I worked in a clothing factory, the clothes are filthy and been through dirty factories and handled by many people.

I think it is more accurate to say they are new but dirty! Many items have travelled across the world before you buy them, they picked up some general grime.

It doesn't mean the grime will harm you, but it certainly exists on the clothes.

@Sparklyring

Always! Anyone who has worked in retail would never not wash before wearing!

This! If you non-washers had seen the state of department store stockrooms, you'd be scrubbing everything you wore 1000 times! The only exception to my personal washing before wear rule are coats.

I worked in a clothing factory, the clothes are filthy and been through dirty factories and handled by many people.

I have never bought any article of clothing which could be described as being "filthy". I think I would have noticed! I couldn't care less how many people have handled them tbh, and I've yet to hear of anyone being made ill because they didn't wash new clothing before it was worn.

Nope. Had no idea anyone did this.

Only second hand clothes.
I don't wash brand new items.

There are many reported allergic reactions to chemicals and even those not reacting are being affected.

Yes, I often get an allergic reaction from new clothes.

I worked in retail for several years and the clothes were unloaded carefully from the vans and all organised neatly in the stock room. It has never occurred to me to wash new clothes or that they might be particularly dirty.

We even used to wash the hangers.

I don't wash clothes after I've worn them for six hours either. I don't wash them because I find it dirty that they've been worn. I wash them if they have something visible spilled on them or smell like sweat/must from being left wet etc. If they have neither stain nor smell they aren't dirty to me. Even if someone has touched it or they have been in a grubby warehouse.

OK pants/socks I do wash after one use but that's because they feel wrong if you put them on again after they've been worn! New ones feel just like washed ones in this instance so I don't wash them before wearing.

No , not generally and not even now with covid

Yes, except for coats and expensive knitwear. Pure wool and cashmere and suchlike.

Read an article about the treatments and so on applied to clothing for transport and storage.

Always wash new bedding too.

I'm not a clean freak at all, quite the opposite, but this is one thing I do do!

So I buy a lovely, pristine new dress and shove it in the washing machine? If someone did that I would wonder if they were suffering from some stress disorder.

No, my family have always been of the opinion that 'it's never the same after it gets washed'. So for me it would be akin to 'ruining' it before it's event been worn (I don't mean as extreme as ruining but couldn't think of a lesser word )

Nope, never even considered this. Is it an actual thing or a mn thing?

Never. And I'm still alive.

Yes I always do!!