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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To wash all new clothes?

279 replies

Lis1992 · 13/06/2023 21:58

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!

OP posts:
Sahara123 · 14/06/2023 13:43

Good grief no ! I also love the newness of new things. Can’t be bothered with all that and as many have said have lives to tell the tale. Plus I literally have no idea what this apparent awful chemical smell is on new clothes .
I also love crispy new sheets , I can never replicate that .
See also hovering over toilet seats , anti bac everywhere etc etc .
I am rarely ill !

Busbygirl · 14/06/2023 13:44

Always wash them, some clothes are bought and worn and then returned by cheeky customers! Ewwww!
Also loads of chemicals on new clothes.

Haveallthesongsbeenwritten · 14/06/2023 13:46

Lis1992 · 13/06/2023 21:58

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 do wash any new clothes I buy and thats because i hate the smell of new clothes and i have a sensitive skin laundry liquid.

Villagetoraiseachild · 14/06/2023 13:50

Well i wouldn't normally, but just chucked two new 100% cotton printed dresses in the kitchen sink for a quick hand wash and a fair bit of dye came out....
Having said that did a quick hand wash of a strong coloured mns cotton top and no dye came out after having worn unwashed....

AdviceNeeded22222 · 14/06/2023 13:50

ALWAYS have and ALWAYS will wash new clothes.

FrostyFifi · 14/06/2023 13:52

I wash all new clothes as I have an oversensitive sense of smell and they almost smell at least somewhat of chemicals. I won't buy from shops where they arrive with a really strong smell (looking at you, M&S).
I don't buy dry-clean only clothing.

FrostyFifi · 14/06/2023 13:53

Plus I literally have no idea what this apparent awful chemical smell is on new clothes

Formaldehyde.

Starsandrain · 14/06/2023 13:54

Usually do, unless someone is desperate to wear what they have just bought and then I don’t stress. Saying that I have a denim skirt on today that is new and I haven’t washed and I can really smell something, the chemicals I guess. It’s annoying me so won’t wear it again until it’s washed whereas usually a denim skirt would get quite a few wears until it needed washing

CurlewKate · 14/06/2023 13:55

@DappledThings "This is another of the things I only learnt from MN that anyone does. It has never crossed my mind to wash new clothes or bedding."
Yep, me too!

CurlewKate · 14/06/2023 13:56

And I don't get the hygiene thing- you're going to put them on then go out and sit on a park bench or something anyway.

Dotjones · 14/06/2023 13:57

Of course I wash new clothes, it never occurred to me that someone wouldn't. I was new plates, glasses and cooking utensils before using them too. Basic hygiene and common sense, surely, because you don't know where they've been or who has handled them.

I thought one of the "positives" (loosely) about Covid was that it made people realise that newly-bought items are not necessarily clean.

SoftCoeur · 14/06/2023 13:59

If it's going next to my skin, usually, yes. So not coats or jumpers. New sheets always wash. I don't like them fresh out of the packet.

I'll sometimes make an exception if I've bought from an eco type brand - I'm wearing a t-shirt from Rapanui right now that I didn't wash before use - but I accept that's probably not logical.

I'm not a hygiene freak at all - I have never "hovered" over a toilet, happy to plonk my bum down if no visible dirt - but this is a thing I've always done.

kethuphouse · 14/06/2023 14:11

AnIntrovert · 13/06/2023 22:14

I will wash cheaper brands such as Zara. Definitely not wash anything bought in a boutique. Except jeans.

Boutique fabric is treated with the same chemicals as cheap fabric.

Twelvetimes · 14/06/2023 14:13

I wash new clothes if it's something which will go next to my skin. I have eczema and I knew that products used in the finishing process can irritate skin. I am not bothered from a 'sanitary' perspective, I don't think I'm going to catch anything, so if it's something like a jumper I don't bother to wash it first.

I put new clothing in with my next wash, so there is no 'wasted' water/detergent involved in washing them.

DappledThings · 14/06/2023 14:37

FrostyFifi · 14/06/2023 13:53

Plus I literally have no idea what this apparent awful chemical smell is on new clothes

Formaldehyde.

Yum.

Still never smelt it nor any more minded to start worrying about it

theGooHasGone · 14/06/2023 14:40

I always wash new clothes too.

FrostyFifi · 14/06/2023 14:46

Still never smelt it nor any more minded to start worrying about it

Honestly if it doesn't bother you and you've never had an ill effect I don't think there's any point you worrying about it either. I have to be a bit careful for various reasons and it's a pain in the tits tbh.

DaisyStarburst · 14/06/2023 16:46

Never have until recently had a bad allergic reaction to a new top. Now I do it every time.

xogossipgirlxo · 14/06/2023 16:50

YANBU, they put all sorts of chemicals on clothes to prevent mould. I always wash them before wear. Washing underwear, towels and bedding is a must. I could probably let go of washing jeans or t-shirt if I really had to.

CurlewKate · 14/06/2023 16:50

@AnIntrovert "I will wash cheaper brands such as Zara. Definitely not wash anything bought in a boutique. Except jeans"

Not sure where to start with this one!

Samlewis96 · 14/06/2023 17:41

I do New clothes always feel a bit odd before washing

MrsB74 · 14/06/2023 17:46

What a waste of time and energy. I have never got ill, caught lice etc. from new clothes or bedding! I’m rarely ill though. What a ridiculous thing to worry about and it takes away the excitement of wearing new things straight away. I would only wash if they had a mark on, smelt funny or were full of static.

misskatamari · 14/06/2023 17:48

So surprised by the voting in this! I always wash new things and thought it’s something everyone did

Flamingmentalcats · 14/06/2023 18:05

I wash everything new after a friend worked in a well known clothes shop and told me about some of the returns that came back and then put back out on the shop floor. You just never know if someone has worn underwear to try trousers on, how many grubby hands have touched the clothes, if they have been dropped on the floor off their hangers and gathered dust etc etc.
It all gets washed in our house

Roselilly36 · 14/06/2023 18:11

New bras I always wash, previous bad experience! New tops or trousers I don’t. But DS2 won’t wear anything new unless it’s washed first.