To think this is why people buy all brand new clothes for holidays?

[Kittythepink]

We are going on a family holiday to the seaside tomorrow. I am so stressed under mountains of clothes to wash, iron and pack for five people.

AIBU to think this is why so many people go holiday shopping for brand new clothes? Put them straight into the suitcase what a brilliant idea!

Seriously though, does anyone buy all brand new clothes for going away? I used to know someone who bought all brand new underwear and socks for each holiday, so maybe it's a thing?

I live in the NW and travel to hot places for work so I usually have more summery clothes than I need. I have never heard of anyone doing this though. What if it doesn't fit?

Even if you buy all new things, surely you wash them first? They’ve been handled by so many people from production to being sold to you, people have tried them on, maybe they’ve even been returned, dropped on the shop floor. Considering people need to be told to wash their hands after coughing or sneezing I dread to think what ends up all over clothes in shops.

Jeez people actually do this, I find it sickening tbh.

I just wear my summer clothes and pack a swimming costume?!

I don't get how it's easier to buy clothes and pack them compared to getting clothes out of the draw and packing them.

We have on occasions got rid of a few older items before coming back - so there's less to carry on way back.

How odd. I might buy one or two new things but an entire case full? How wasteful.

Having said that, I guess it is a bit more understandable with kids as they have this tendency to grow... But there’s usually some things that can last for 2 years or more.

And no, I rarely iron and certainly wouldn’t before packing.

@floppybit our half term is usually a week earlier than the rest of England (our summer hols are earlier - Leics) but yes the weather has always been great! Still roasting hot and able to wear swimwear and swim in pool all day etc

Yes, I buy new clothes for a holiday.

In fact I buy something new for every trip I go on, no matter how short.🤷‍♀️

I don't know anyone who does this but a friend after her holiday sends her clothes away to be washed and ironed and then she puts them in her suitcase, along with her passport, ready for the next holiday.

Yes, every single holiday I went on as a child, teenager and young adult I always had about 80% new clothes in my suitcase. I went on foreign holidays from the age of 2 until early 20s.

I like to buy a few new things but not a whole Suitcase.

When my (5) DC’s were young, we camped for our ‘holiday’........
I used to buy new underwear/socks etc, ready for our return. We took their existing stuff away with us, and the four boys delighted in being allowed to wear their pants and socks for 2 days, 😳 then I binned them.
We all probably would have something new to wear on holiday, but to be honest, the boys were happier in old stuff that could be discarded if they ruined it.

I did see a minor celebrity on her reality show do this for her children. Didn't even open the bags they came in. I was a bit

Yep, brand new underwear, socks and clothes for all the family. And brand new trainers for the kids

I have used the hotel laundry service on several occasions: my “travelling out” clothes got washed and ironed and they pressed quite a bit of stuff as well. One last wash saved a whole load of washing when I got home too. And not very expensive either (I think it was in Cyprus)

@AuldAlliance

But clothes need to be washed before they are worn for the first time.

I never do this.

When I was little a friend of mine used to have ALL new clothes for their summer holidays, I was green with envy!
Looking back I guess lots of dc need new trainers and clothes every year as they grow, so it was just her Mams idea of having nice new stuff to go away with, that wasn't shabby or shrunk.
They weren't especially well off, so it's definitely a thing.

I think it depends how often you go on holiday and if the climate is very different to home. If you're often in hot places, whether on holiday or at home, then you'll have built up a hot weather wardrobe. I've been out of the country once in the last ten years so I did have to buy lots of new clothes, and will probably have to do the same when I next go on holiday as those clothes don't fit me anymore and I only really have a couple of items that are appropriate to wear outside in the heat.

It depends what clothes you buy, obviously, but many new clothes have not been steam cleaned and contain residues that can cause skin irritation. You also have no idea who has handled them, tried them on, etc.

www.independent.co.uk/life-style/clothes-new-wash-dermatologist-today-show-lice-scabies-formaldehyde-eczema-a8219976.html

www.rd.com/article/should-you-wash-new-clothes/

time.com/5631818/wash-new-clothes/

www.treehugger.com/should-you-wash-new-clothes-wearing-them-4857631

I'm not a laundry obsessive, especially by some MN standards, and I wash clothes as infrequently as hygiene permits, for environmental reasons, but I am not alone in suggesting that wearing new clothes without washing them first is really not advisable.

Family always take old pants and bin them after use. Saves washing and less to bring home.

I mean I don't iron ever so I can't sympathise with that

But YES! We're going away tomorrow for 7 or 8 nights, only locally. Two small DC under 5. I've packed a whole large suitcase just for the DC's tiny clothes because they need so many (outfit change every day) and all the different options for the 1 year old: long sleeve vest, short sleeve vest, different pjs as I don't know how the temperature at night will be. I've done so many loads of laundry today, thank goodness it's been so hot it's all dried really quickly.

DH's mum bought EVERYTHING new for holidays when they were younger, and the clothes would just be waiting, he wasn't allowed to wear the new things because he had to "save it for holiday". Cracks me up, but I do know of people doing this. I've never done it!

I like to take new clothes on holiday, not all new but definitely I'll get a couple of new things. I like to have a pack of new knickers too! Also it depends where you're going, on beach holidays I wear totally different things to normal so I'd get a couple of new bits.

I always get a fresh pack of knickers as its easier to pack that than knickers strewn in the case.
Usually get new toiletries too as I know then they won't leak on the way out.

I am not alone in suggesting that wearing new clothes without washing them first is really not advisable.

Why exactly? Most people I know don't do this and haven't come to any harm. If the chemicals irritate people's skin then fair enough, but I've yet to meet anyone who has found this, so why wash the clothes?

I will usually buy myself 2 new outfits for a holiday. But I have to wash them before I wear them (after trying them on). I just hate the smell of new clothes, I find the chemically smell awful. Also only iron things that are visibly creased but not everything.