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Original poster

Do you wash brand new school clothes?

55 replies

SunnyDreaming · 01/09/2018 15:15

Hi I was just wondering if people wash their children’s brand new school clothes before they wear them?

Previously I haven’t done this, until I got into a conversation with my friend last week. She was talking about the factories the clothes are sorted in and how many times they are moved in transit. Then she also mentioned about how she takes tops out of packets to see the actual size then a shop assistant will just re-pack them, clothes which have been tried on etc. Then she just said so she washes them as to her they arent actually clean, then she irons them and sets the uniforms up for the week, something I have never done myself. I put them away from buying them, then wash them on them at the weekend, and put them in the uniform drawer and get the uniform together while getting ready in the morning. My daughter goes back to school on Tuesday and nothings yet been washed or put away.

So I was wondering should the school clothes be washed and ironed before she wears them on Tuesday?

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Pud2 · 01/09/2018 16:17

Your kids get a headache from the smell of their new jumper? Wow.

Mondschein · 01/09/2018 16:50

Unfortunately yes, Pud2.
Three of my kids are super sensitive with smells and get migraine very fast. They also often smell and taste things nobody else can.
Futur perfumers or chefs. Grin

Changemyname18 · 01/09/2018 17:16

Yes I do for my DD. She usually only has mild eczema, but had a particularly bad reaction to her new school clothes in the September 2 years ago. (Mainly bought M&S). I understand why people don't see the point in bothering if they have not experienced this, but i wouldn't wish to go through that again. So I do it with the school clothes. However, we've not had a reaction to any other type of clothes since as i dont wash everything before wearing so maybe we got a particularly odd batch of cardigans and polo shirts.

Leeds2 · 01/09/2018 17:48

I have never done this. Never even occurred to me actually! My DD liked the starchy, slightly stiff "feel" of her new uniform on the first day back.

Pud2 · 01/09/2018 17:49

Fair enough if there’s a medical condition.

Kemer2018 · 01/09/2018 17:55

No.

user789653241 · 01/09/2018 18:12

I always do, especially after watching a episode on House that newly bought unwashed clothing caused unknown illness!

seven201 · 01/09/2018 18:39

I'd wash but not iron (unless looked really wrinkled) then shove in a drawer. They put loads of nasty chemicals on them during manufacturing. I wash any new clothes.

laptopdisaster · 01/09/2018 20:39

No. But I didn't wash new babygros either and was amazed by how many people did!

ridinghighinapril · 01/09/2018 21:11

^^This

AdventuresRUs · 01/09/2018 21:14

Wow I had no idea people did this!?! Ive never found new clothes to be dirty or harmed us in anyway...

Zoflorabore · 01/09/2018 21:29

So I've just washed ds's white shirts and dd's white polo's and they smell lovely, all ready to be ironed tomorrow.

Contemplating washing dd's school cardigans. They're royal blue and tend to leave bits all over the white polo shirts when new and unwashed. They're the school branded ones and quite thick.
Still not bothering with the trousers/skirt and pinafore.

I am actually wondering why I've never ever done this before and ds is going into year 11, dd into year 3.

AdventuresRUs · 01/09/2018 21:39

Youre all barking!! Why make unnecessary work for yourself!?

toomuchfaster · 01/09/2018 21:45

I have washed, reception for PFB, but only because the iron-on name tag instructions said to!!

Pud2 · 01/09/2018 23:06

I’m with you Adventuresrus!

Naty1 · 02/09/2018 00:39

I do (csi episode i think re unwashed jeans)
I think i missed one last year as dd go a rash on her arms after wearing a new cardigan.
Certainly first wash the colours all run slightly

JimWilsonBell · 02/09/2018 01:08

Always and the children insist! I only have 1 at school but even my eldest washed her work uniform before wearing it. It's smell thing AND the chemicals thing too.

LinoleumBlownapart · 02/09/2018 01:15

No
Who has time for that?

greenlynx · 02/09/2018 01:24

Yes, always do.

ilovesushi · 02/09/2018 09:23

Yes. All new clothes except knitwear unless machine washable.

cindersrella · 02/09/2018 09:44

No I don't wash mine or the dd's new clothes but my husband always insists his are washed before he wears...

supadupapupascupa · 02/09/2018 09:48

Yes. New clothes are sprayed with alsorts to prevent wrinkling and well you just don’t know! Plus I like the kids to smell of our fabric conditioner. I use lavender to reduce anxiety (ds suffers)

cindersrella · 02/09/2018 09:57

Ahh I didn't realise that they spray clothes with things...

FlaviaAlbia · 02/09/2018 10:36

But they wear them once and then they're washed so it's not like they're constantly bathing in whatever it is.

I used to work for Next as a student marking up clothes for the sales. By the time the job had finished each time we had rashes on our hands and dirt embedded in our skin no matter how much you washed them. It took a good few weeks to get to that stage and it was due to the constant handling, so a child wearing uniform for half a day then it coming off and being washed wouldn't worry me. Mind you I do wash any sale clothes for the dirt, as they've probably been on a warehouse floor at some point.

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