To worry about not washing new clothes before wearing them?

[strawberryjeans]

I usually wash everything that we buy new. I haven’t washed the dress I’m wearing today, got it from Sainsbury’s a few months ago.

Is it that bad? 😅

Never have, never will. Not even baby clothes, towels or underwear. And I don’t usually bother washing my Vinted or chazzer purchases.

TBH, I’m not exactly an enthusiastic washer of dirty, worn clothes either!

I was just responding to your post that said bacteria don't live long. Bacterial colonies can survive a long time, even hundreds of years in some cases. E coli has the potential to survive on textiles for weeks for example.

Totally get why you'd do this if you had a skin condition.

But is getting e. coli from new garments is an actual serious threat ?

Really?

@kitteninabasket

I think that's 2 + 2 =5.

Did I say it was? It's you who's done 2 + 2 = 5.

Ah forgive me for thinking you were saying something relevant to this thread.

So despite the factoid about e. coli being able to survive on fabrics, you don't really
think e. coli is a threat in new garments?

@kitteninabasket

So a quick Google, and you find that urea-formaldehyde is used as an anti-mildew agent during shipping, and can exceed safe levels. Formaldehyde has been linked to cancer. So anything in direct touch with the skin I would wash and wouldn't take the risk. Usually clothes feel better for a wash anyway. (I see this was mentioned on page 2. Wish Mumsnet would cut dupes and reduce comment threads to about 2 pages!)

So a quick Google, and you find that urea-formaldehyde is used as an anti-mildew agent during shipping, and can exceed safe levels. Formaldehyde has been linked to cancer. So anything in direct touch with the skin I would wash and wouldn't take the risk. Usually clothes feel better for a wash anyway. (I see this was mentioned on page 2. Wish Mumsnet would cut dupes and reduce comment threads to about 2 pages!)

So still a risk assessment about things that might have possibly happened.

The risk averse are probably washing more anyway.

No. Never have.

This is why I prefer to wash new clothes and bedding before use - I'm a scientist, and the thought of all of the chemicals that companies will use for different reasons definitely makes a wash worthwhile for me.

I think I quoted the wrong person, sorry 😄.

Have never washed anything new, for anyone in my house. We are all fine with no diseases or skin issue. I didnt even know this was a thing to do.

You absolutely are - I very rarely wash new clothes; only if they smell funny! I didn’t even know it was a thing.

My line - underwear? No - don't wash! Yes - Was it in a sealed packet? Yes - don't wash! No- Wash! Not saying this is the best way, the right way, or the only way, but it's my way!

I always wash new clothes, as they can have a smell about them and to freshen them up after being on the rails but sure it will be fine OP

It’s quite telling that posters who have children with sensitive skin, or Eczema are reporting that they have ‘flare ups’ if they put new clothes on them that haven’t been washed. There is clearly something in/on the fabric that can irritate skin. That suggests to me that (note to self) it’s a good idea to wash new clothes.

The only brand new thing I have ever washed was a dressing gown from M and S. it was knock you out stinky with chemical stench. Stank out the room.

I work in a warehouse unpacking the boxes of clothes that arrive from overseas factories. I was expressly instructed to wear PPE, i.e. gloves to do so, because the cardboard boxes are impregnated with chemicals that may irritate skin, like anti-mould agents.

The clothes absolutely stink when you first open the boxes, by the way.

And...? What sort of dirt are you escaping from? Do you sit on a train seat? You touch money? How do you open doors? How do you pick which box of teabags to pick up in Tesco? And how is your kissable loved one's dirt different from anyone else's?

I always do, they have a certain smell about them when they are new.
I like the freshly washed smell, and also you don't know whose handled them etc.

Are you still alive @strawberryjeans ?

Nope, fairly normal in my experience and it’s never caused me (or anyone I know any harm). Cleanliness/avoiding germs has become an obsession for some.

Or they are over sensitive because they obsess over cleanliness? Just a thought.

To be fair, nobody would dream of accusing my husband and I often excessive cleanliness, and our son flares up with every last thing.

I wouldn’t dream of not washing second clothes before wearing them, funny smell or not.