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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU not to wash it first?

64 replies

pepsicolagirl · 09/09/2020 16:23

Bought some new bedding today. I cannot put into words how excited I get about the prospect of new bedding but, well, it's a lot. Some people love shoes, my weakness is a decent cotton count.

My question is, am I being unreasonable to rush upstairs and put it straight on my bed without it going through a wash first?

OP posts:
HowLongToXmas · 09/09/2020 17:19

Absolutely wash it first!

BaronessBomburst · 09/09/2020 17:22

Wash it! I'll be weirdly stiff, smell revolting, and have bits of fluff and loose threads all over it.

FingersCrossedForAllOfUs · 09/09/2020 17:24

YABU

I always wash new bedding and clothes first.
As others have said they are coated in chemicals, have been all over a factory, handled by many people, etc. Ick! Wash them!

SerenDippitty · 09/09/2020 17:24

I've never washed new bedding or clothes.

claireb707 · 09/09/2020 17:25

@Stopthehop

It's coated with formeldehyde so you need to wash it.
The level of formaldehyde is so miniscule it will not hurt you.

I have never washed bedding or clothes before using and I am still here and still alive.

MissPinkCakeyBun · 09/09/2020 17:29

I'm a slut and just chuck it on the bed and sleep in it 🥰

Ludo19 · 09/09/2020 17:33

Wash it!

Brighterthansunflowers · 09/09/2020 17:37

I never used to but a couple of years ago it was something my anxiety decided to fixate on so I started washing all new clothes and bedding before use.

I also love a nice new duvet set OP (though mine are mostly Asda patterned ones, I love them)

CarolVordermansArse · 09/09/2020 17:38

Depends on whether it bothers you where it has been and what has been/is on it.

It also depends on who manufactured the actual fabric, some seem to be less smelly and contaminated with stiffeners and insecticides than others.

I returned some lovely bedding a little while back because in spite of several washes, the chemical smell was still strong. It was nasty.

StrawBeretMoose · 09/09/2020 17:51

Have never washed new bedding or clothes before using.
If it irritated my skin then I would but actually with new bedding I like the stiff feel of it.

AdventureCode · 09/09/2020 17:52

I'm a slut and just chuck it on the bed and sleep in it 🥰

😄me too!

Lucindainthesky · 09/09/2020 17:54

New bedding is all stiff and it stinks!

Healththrowaway199 · 09/09/2020 17:54

You should wash it but if you don’t, it’s unlikely that anything negative would happen

bumble79 · 09/09/2020 17:55

Nope I've never washed new bedding. Cba with that!! I love brand new crisp bedding!!

GetThatHelmetOn · 09/09/2020 17:59

Wash it first, sometimes this instruction comes when the fabric dyes have not been rinsed properly in the factory and are still releasing a small amount of fumes (I suppose that the longer they leave it On the longer it lasts).

I got new children’s bedding and put it straight away. It took us 2 nights of flared asthma to realise the trigger was the unwashed new bedding. As soon as we took it off, DS was much better.

GetThatHelmetOn · 09/09/2020 18:01

Ps. I do not wash every new bedding I get before use, just the ones that come with that instruction. After the asthma flares I got to understand the instruction is there for a reason.

Suzi888 · 09/09/2020 18:02

Anyone could’ve touched it ... I’d wash it too Smile

StarlightLady · 09/09/2020 18:03

I would wash it. I sleep naked and it goes agsinst the skin.

bellajay · 09/09/2020 18:04

I used to do PR for a bedding company and the experts said high thread count cotton is going to feel its best after 2-3 washes. So if you wash it now you’re halfway to the best bit ☺️

The chemicals don’t bother me in the slightest.

HeyAllYouCoolCatsAndKittenz · 09/09/2020 18:06

i never wash new bedding or clothes

BashfulClam · 09/09/2020 18:07

I’ve never noticed a ‘revolting’ smell from new bedding and I have a great sense of smell. I bought several sets when we moved house 4 years ago and used them all just out the packet.

AdoptAdaptImprove · 09/09/2020 18:11

It’ll be horribly stiff and scratchy if you don’t! Not to mention smelling weird. Try delayed gratification - it really does make the experience better.

DappledThings · 09/09/2020 18:20

It’ll be horribly stiff and scratchy if you don’t

I like it stiff. It feels cleaner. Same with towels. I'm not a huge fan of summer in general but I do like that you can get towels dried on the line so they go good and stiff. Just not the same when they come out of the dryer all soft.

AdoptAdaptImprove · 09/09/2020 20:34

@DappledThings

It’ll be horribly stiff and scratchy if you don’t

I like it stiff. It feels cleaner. Same with towels. I'm not a huge fan of summer in general but I do like that you can get towels dried on the line so they go good and stiff. Just not the same when they come out of the dryer all soft.

I love my towels this way too, but that’s because they’re clean! New sheets are stiff and starchy because they’re filled with crap to make them that way. I’d rather not have that on my face and skin, quite apart from the scratchiness.
DappledThings · 09/09/2020 20:40

New sheets are stiff and starchy because they’re filled with crap to make them that way. I’d rather not have that on my face and skin, quite apart from the scratchiness
So they say. But they don't feel any different to me to freshly washed and ironed ones. Definitely don't feel scratchy, just nice and stiff.

I've never noticed any particular smell coming from new clothes or new bedding.

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