To wash all new clothes?

[Lis1992]

So many divided opinions on this! So it’s all in the title- AIBU to wash all new clothes? For adults, not babies! I have a pile of new holiday clothes and plan on washing all before packing case. Was talking to someone who said no way- total waste of time; she just chucks them in!

Same. I have twice had an allergic reaction to a new bra that I wore without washing first. Itchy rash everywhere the bra touched, and with the matching pants too for one bra. It must be some chemical used on the fabric .
So now I wash most things.

@wildfirewonder
You’re not making a massive amount of sense.

We don’t know the exact (or even approximate) carbon footprint of anyone on this thread. All I am saying is that, quite simply, washing every new item = using more energy than not washing every new item.

Do you disagree?

I get that you’re saying “Oh that isn’t the issue, the issue is etc etc” But that’s what we call deflection!

Okay how about this then? I wash new clothing and I don't care if it uses more resources than not doing so because it's a priority for me.

That’s more like it!

But I have never said washing it does not use more than not washing it.

My point was simply anyone who wants to lecture me about my energy/water use can fuck right off if they buy new items of clothing at all.

There are a lot of high energy users who bleat on about 'waste of resources' but funnily enough the things they do are never branded a waste.

We all use water and energy. The question is how much overall.

@NoFunAnymoreHere haha, I usually get my kicks elsewhere than putting chemically, fibrous clothes straight on from the rail but it’s the best it’ll ever look because I’m terrible at laundry.

I mean it literally says on the labels to wash before wear. Have you ever tried using a towel before washing it? You end up hairy as hell.

I'm in my 50s and have never done this - I seem to have survived unscathed! Just a crazy thing to do, and an awful waste of water and energy.

This is all just weird.
Fibrous clothes?
Hairy as hell from a new towel?

Do all your clothes ‘literally’ say wash before wear?!

I am wondering where people are shopping…

Nobody was lecturing you, you decided to take it as such.

It's a fact to say that washing clothes that don't need to be washed wastes energy. Anything beyond that is clearly your guilty conscious trying to justify itself.

It's a fact to say that washing clothes that don't need to be washed wastes energy.

true

What we disagree on is what clothes DO need to be washed. 😂
I believe my new clothes and bedding do need to be washed before being worn or being put away.

They don't though, unless you possibly have an actual skin condition or whatever. But then, detergents themselves aren't the kindest things to people skin so....

there's already more than 230 posts showing that not everybody agrees with you!

So of course, I think I am right and you are wrong

Great.

The thing is though, I'm actually right.

we have until what, a thousand of post to keep going before the thread stops, haven't we? 😂

We can just fill it up with ping-pong: Yes! No! 😂

no I don't & never have but now i'm thinking about all the people that have tried them on before me

I'm not bothered by this. The concept of other human beings doesn't repulse or horrify me. I'm not a sterile instrument that lives in a sealed bubble. If you live any kind of active life, you go out to places other people go and touch things other people touch. Should they all be repelled at the idea of you?

It would have to be a particularly disgusting human who tries something on and leaves it covered in faeces, vomit, lice or whatever else apparently infests the clothing some people buy. I haven't yet got any new clothes that stank, were filthy, had visible dirt, etc etc. If I had, I wouldn't shop there a second time. I am aware that someone touched the clothing to pack it, import it and deliver it and I'm really, honestly fine with this. It isn't something that I consider hazardous.

That’s why I buy online - always virgin clothes.

I mean it literally says on the labels to wash before wear.
I have never seen this. On a very unscientific study of the three items of clothing with labels I can currently access none say this.

Have you ever tried using a towel before washing it?
Yes. Every towel i have ever owned
You end up hairy as hell.
I have not. And have no idea why you think I would. There is not hair or any fibre detaching itself from new towels in my experience.

Many, many years ago I remember an interview with a sportsman considered fairly eccentric. Amongst those things considered eccentric were his insistence nobody knows his address, consistently reusing teabags and washing all clothing before first use. I still consider all those things equally odd.

Those of you who wash new clothes, do you also drink alcohol? Because alcoholic is carcinogenic. Your worry about chemicals suggests you should probably not drink alcohol too. 🤔 I have always just worn the new clothes and have never caught anything dodgy from them.

@Lovetotravel123 me! I don't drink alcohol.
Basically I had a horrible health event a few years ago and since then I'm obsessed with everything from my food to my environment being as "clean" as I can get it.

I drink alcohol but I don't sleep on the bottles. I would wash them first if I did 😂.

I also shower before bed!

Do you wash packaged food, appliances, furniture, anything else that comes into your home that's been in a shipping container, which you're then going to handle?

No, but I don’t wear those things on my vulva all day, for one thing 😂🤣

Being surrounded by chemicals and carcinogens is actually quite depressing. Even washing out some of them is better than nothing.