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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To not wash new clothes before I wear them?

90 replies

Happyyellowcar · 09/06/2015 18:59

DH got lots of socks for Christmas which have sat in the packet in his drawer until yesterday. Today they all appeared in the washing basket - he will not wear any items of clothing until they have been washed at home. It added to my already overloaded washing pile and it took ages to pair them afterwards. I wear new stuff without washing them first without a second thought. I dress the DC in new clothes without washing them first too (the clothes not the kids). Is this really a thing? I get irritated by it - AIBU or him?

OP posts:

undoubtedly · 09/06/2015 19:01

He is BU in that if he wants his new socks washed he should do it himself.

I always wear new clothes unwashed. It's the only time they look half decent (same on the kids) as I don't iron

ArgyMargy · 09/06/2015 19:01

OK so if you pair them up and put them in his drawer how is he doing to know you didn't wash them..?

HellBoundNothingFound · 09/06/2015 19:01

I've never washed new clothes, I can just about stretch to washing new bedding

ArgyMargy · 09/06/2015 19:02

I wear new stuff as many times as I can before washing - the washing always spoils them!!

Etak15 · 09/06/2015 19:02

Can't you just bundle them into pairs like you would with socks that you've washed- see if he notices!! I never wash new clothes - I've got enough dirty washing without washing clean things!!

BabyMurloc · 09/06/2015 19:03

If you have sensitive skin whatever they use on them before they package them can make your skin crazy. Also anything unpackaged especially you've no idea who has been touching them with goodness knows what on their hands.

I am wondering more why he's decided 6 months is the optimum time to remove them from the packet...

steff13 · 09/06/2015 19:05

I always wash new clothes. But, if he wants them washed, he can do it himself.

ouryve · 09/06/2015 19:05

The lazy bugger's had nearly half a year to wash them himself if he's that particular about having the newness washed out of them.

ArgyMargy · 09/06/2015 19:05

Yeah, BabyMurloc, you can really catch some nasty diseases by touching new socks!!!

ouryve · 09/06/2015 19:06

Also anything unpackaged especially you've no idea who has been touching them with goodness knows what on their hands.

And that goodness knows what is going to do exactly what to his stinky feet?

steff13 · 09/06/2015 19:09

Also anything unpackaged especially you've no idea who has been touching them with goodness knows what on their hands.

The reason I started washing new clothes was because of JonBenet Ramsey. Her underwear had touch DNA on it, and they think it was from someone in the factory that packaged it, probably wiping his nose with his hand, then touching the underwear. I don't want a strange man's DNA on my clothes. That may be silly, but it makes me feel icky.

ltk · 09/06/2015 19:09

I always wash clothes first because I once had a very nasty allergic reaction to a new shirt. It was likely some chemical used in the manufacturing process, according to the doctor at a&e( it was a baaaaad reaction!). So now I wash before wearing. But dh doesn't and he's never had an issue.

Mamadothehump · 09/06/2015 19:11

The only clothes I have ever washed before use are newborn clothes. Socks?? Never!!!

ifgrandmahadawilly · 09/06/2015 19:11

I would say YANBU, as I don't know anyone who would wash new clothes before wearing. I does seem a bit precious.

I do however remember a case I studied in law of Torts whereby a man wore long johns without first washing them, came out in a rash and nearly died. I turned out that the chemicals used in the treatment process of the garments weren't properly removed before sale and this is what had caused the man's illness. In this case, the manufacture was not held liable for the man's injuries because, in the judge's opinion, it is reasonable to expect people to wash clothes before wearing!

ItsTricky · 09/06/2015 19:11

I wash new clothes but not socks and not outdoor clothing, coats etc.

All the girls in my family have very sensitive skin so I do a wash in non bio first.

Icimoi · 09/06/2015 19:13

Also anything unpackaged especially you've no idea who has been touching them with goodness knows what on their hands.

I don't want a strange man's DNA on my clothes. That may be silly, but it makes me feel icky.

BabyMurloc, Steff13, I do hope you never go on public transport or anywhere where you might conceivably brush up against anyone else, or indeed where you might brush up against objects that someone else has brushed up against. Because you will collect DNA and things that other people might have been touching with their hands every time.

nemno · 09/06/2015 19:15

Nobody in my family has sensitive skin and I have never washed new clothes. I heard of it first only when I joined MN.

chipsandpeas · 09/06/2015 19:20

i never wash new clothes maybe cos once the tags are off and they are washed you cant return them if you change your mind

OnlyLovers · 09/06/2015 19:22

I never wash new clothes but do wash any I buy from charity shops, as I like them to smell like 'mine' rather than someone else's washing powder.

If your DH wants his new socks washed so badly he can do it himself.

emwithme · 09/06/2015 19:39

DH washes everything first (and sometimes takes the labels out as a precautionary measure).

I do not. I like the crispy-fresh-from-the-packet feeling (and only take labels out if they have a number on I don't like).

He washes his new things himself.

Rivercam · 09/06/2015 19:43

I didn't realise until relatively recently that people did wash new clothes. Clothes are never quite as nice after you have washed them.

Cadenza1818 · 09/06/2015 19:50

Of.course you wash new clothes! Have you never worked in a clothes shop? I worked in next and all the clothes were on hangers in bog warehouse at back which was grubby and dusty. not to mention pre packed stuff from abroad. Have you not heard of the mites n stuff that can be in material. Really surprised more ppl don't wash new clothes.

PowderMum · 09/06/2015 20:04

I don't wash new clothes as a rule, but I did have a nasty reaction to some socks once. I think I'm just to lazy and a lot of my clothes are dry clean or delicate wash only. Bedding always gets washed before use. DH likes his stuff washed especially shirts, he does it himself. DDs just buy new clothes because they are too lazy busy to do their washing despite both having been on exam leave for a month. I will not go into their bedrooms pits to find washing.

nemno · 09/06/2015 20:15

Do people who wash new clothes also put them through a dry clean if they are dry clean only?

dexter73 · 09/06/2015 20:20

I wash new clothes as I find they can make my skin itch if I don't (jeans are the worst for this in my case). The only dry clean only clothes I own are coats and they don't touch my skin so it is ok.

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