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!

But you might have them in your house for months, years even, being touched all the time, whereas the clothes are washed after the first few hours of wear?

I have too many other important things to worry about. It's a waste of water and electricity. Would only consider if anything smelt a bit odd or was very scratchy (in which case I probably wouldn't have bought the items in the first place!)

I wash new clothes before I wear them as my skin has reacted to new clothes. I don't think I use any extra water doing this as I don't buy that many new clothes, and they just go in a wash I am already doing anyway.
I don't buy dry clean only clothes so don't have to worry about that.
I find jeans are the worst for making my skin itchy.

People who are that paranoid about chemicals and dirt and germs could produce devote the time and energy they put into washing, drying and ironing new clothes into something that actually matters like campaigning for clean air.

It’s a known fact the air we breathe is actually killing people. Wearing new clothes without washing them isn’t.

Or.... you could just leave people alone? I'm not telling anyone they're wrong for not washing their clothes first, so why judge those that prefer to, especially given that numerous people have explained what chemicals they contain and that some people have reactions to them.

If you have sensitive skin etc then fair enough. There’s always just a contingent of people on threads like this whose reasoning seems to be “urgh but other people might have touched it” which is completely irrational.

This

Would never buy any clothes marked 'dry clean only'!

Only very rarely buy any brand new clothes; most of what I wear is second-hand and I always wash it (lice/ scabies? no thanks!)

I've never washed a towel before using it in my life, and have never ended up "hairy"! I have managed to get to almost 64 without suffering ill effects from not washing clothes, bedding, towels etc. before use. If I buy something new I want it to feel new, even if only for one or two wears. What on earth do people think will happen if they don't wash clothes before wearing them? The fact that many posters obviously don't do this, and the large number who have voted that the OP is BU, speaks volumes.

These sorts of threads always get a bit "princess and the pea". It's quite literally "the great unwashed", even though the princesses are shopping at the same places.

Has anyone ever lost their mind because a cashier touched a dress to scan it at the till?

Nope. Never - and to be honest I often think they never look quite the same again after that first wash 😂

Yes, the whole "I'm so dainty and delicate not like you, you savage" thing🤣

I don't know anyone who would do this. What a complete waste of resources.

people are all have their quirks. new clothes don't seem wearable to me until I cut off all the labels and those annoying hanger strings )) I don't wash all new things, but some of them seem somehow crusty and cardboard-like and I hate it. I also get skin irritation from labels.

I must also say I hardly ever wash second hand clothes, they seem fine to me

Always wash new clothes. As someone who worked in retail , please wash before use. It even tells you usually on labels to wash before first use. Its not a waste of time , its called being hygienic and also so colours don't stain any furniture you sit on etc. I'm with you , wash them!

Everyone i know does this apart from you.

No! Clothes are so nice when they are brand new and straight from the packaging! (most of my clothes are bought online)

You have no idea what happens to them in the factory and then travelling to their designated shops. Always wash first. And people wonder why diseases and skin irritations are rife.

I have never washed any clothes or bedding before use and never had any skin irritation or any illness slightly related.

And I remain unmoved by the scare stories of these allegedly terrifying chemicals.

Always always wash new clothes. You don't know who has tried them on before you (what type of bodily fluid they wipe on the clothes), what kind of hygiene of the person packing the clothes keeps (if bought online) and then all the chemicals on the clothes too. Everything is washed before I wear it. I've worked in retail....always wash the clothes!

I wash new bedding if it feels starchy - not clothes

I went to the beach when it was hot last week and I was still too hot. I looked in a couple of shops & nothing I wanted, then spotted a lighter dress, exactly what I wanted, in a charity shop, it was freshly washed, smelt of laundry, it was fine.

One of the things I like about new clothes is the lovely new feel and look of them.

Also- unnecessary washing is shit for the environment.

I’m more likely to get a skin reaction due to washing powder, not wearing new clothes without washing.

Do they? I must admit I’ve never really come across people ‘wondering why diseases and skin irritations are rife’ 🤔

Yes, always have done.