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!

I wash most- exception would be something I’d wear on top of a layer like a sweater or hoodie. My mother washed (and ironed) all clothing, bedsheets, towels as soon as bought so I was raised this way.

I only wash DS2's new clothes as he is prone to eczema. But I don't wash anyone else's. Or new bedclothes. Like pp's, I'm also interested to know what people do with 'dry clean only' clothes. Do they dry clean them before first wear? That would be another bunch of chemicals though. And who knows if the person dry cleaning them had clean hands? Or perhaps a random dog ran in, pissed all over the dry cleaned clothes, then ran away again😂

Dry clean only clothes tend not to be in skin contact ie jackets that you wear something under. I have worn washable clothes without washing twice. Both times I got nasty rashes. I now wash everything washable before wearing.

I have never bought anything that needs dry cleaning apart from coats, I wouldn't want to buy something I had to pay loads for to clean, I always check, for those saying what about dry cleaned clothes

I never buy dry clean only clothes.

God no. Clothes never look as good after being washed.

Many new clothes smell too strong of dye if they aren't washed. Plus they don't feel properly clean without that first 'welcome home' wash. I don't expect anything bad would happen if I didn't, but it's not that difficult, and I prefer it.

*strongly

I've never washed unworn new clothes - including for my babies.

I'll add this to hovering over toilet seats and boil washing towels after one use to my list of insane things that terrify some people on MN. Pubic lice got mentioned on the toilet seat one as well. I can't imagine how these people navigate, well, anything.

Weirdly, I remember being called a hysterical germphobe myself once because I always wash my hands after using the toilet, even if it's a wee at home.

I suppose I should admit that I do occasionally catch colds, usually from the kids.

Yes, always. I used to work for a department store and we'd regularly get outbreaks of fleas etc from where goods had been transported in ships from the other side of the world. I also tend to find clothes feel too 'starchy' if they're not washed first.

Of course, aside from the manufacturing process with chemicals and various hands over them, it's likely numerous strangers have tried it on in the changing rooms and sweat over them. Ewww

I do!
new clothes stink and I seem to react sometimes with an itch/rash.

plus shop floors and storage areas are absolutely filthy.

plus garments are are treated with chemicals to make them easier to sew.

plus treated with pesticides and funghicides before shipping or the clothes would arrive here full of holes and mould.

Nope. I kinda get the logic, but life is too short. No allergic reactions or lice as of yet.

Ex retail worker here and I ALWAYS wash new stuff before I wear it / sleep in it / dry with it etc

Clothes get handled by everyone from the delivery driver having a fag to the shop staff working with flu and the chocolate covered toddler playing hide and seek among the rails. Drug addicts steal stock which gets recovered and put back on the shelves. Cheap Cheeky F**ckers buy clothes to wear once and then return- to be put back on the shelves...

Clothes get dropped on the floor, packets get opened and resealed, price labels get reattached. It's gross.

Wash stuff- it is absolutely worth it.

My late mum worked in the garment industry for years and was the most fastidious person and even she didn't was new clothes. After all, the only time they are actually new is before they are washed for the first time.

isn't that what washing machines were invented for? Takes 2 minutes to put in machine, 5 minutes to hang to dry.

Who would want to sleep on unwashed bedsheets? yuk.

Never done this and never
I do wash second hand things bought from Vinted before wearing but that's all

No, never do.

I refresh them with my steamer. 2 minute job 😌

This.

The only time I’ve ever done was when I had an acute case of PFB. Never again in the subsequent 48 years.

Nope. Never.

Also never washed baby clothes first.

No sensitive skin, no lice, no rashes

Where are you buying these stinking, filthy, chemical-sodden clothes? And why are you still shopping there?

New things in packs come out with creased at the wrong places, sort them out to do a clean wash and let them dry.

Unpacked clothes which have been tried on before? Even worst.

It never occurred to me people would not wash their clothes before wearing them.