Do you wash new clothes before you wear them?

[TheMidnightLibrary]

I’ve just bought a lovely green jumper from TK Max. My friend asked what I was wearing this evening and I replied “my new jumper”. Her question was would it be washed in time? I must confess it hadn’t crossed my mind to wash it!

Yes always

No, I have never washed anything before wearing it. Nothing bad has happened to me - and I don't believe I've ever washed anything second hand either! Or bedding, or towels.

Never

Yes, always, new towels and bedding too. Any time I haven’t bothered i end up covered in an itchy rash.
Also if you talk to anyone who’s worked in clothes retail will tell you how revolting the general public are, no way I’d risk wearing something tried on by some grim soap dodger.

Absolutely not - they are at their best when they are worn for the first time straight off the hanger.

Some things I do, tee shirts and jumpers and jeans no, but underwear, bras and pjs I would. Rationally I can’t tell you why. Ds’ tee shirts I would too as his eczema once flared up after putting on a new top and it freaked me out!!

Always! I don't like the smell of new clothes. Having said that, all my knitwear is wool and that gets washed rarely, just aired a lot before the first wear.

No never. I love that crisp, newness as well. Once wash, it looses that.

(Never knew people did wash new stuff until
mn).

Generally yes. I do it less frequently now but after seeing how some clothing was stored years ago I started washing and i prefer the softer feeling and fresher smell. Wouldn't usually bother with outer wear like jumpers if new rather than second hand and not touching skin. The other exception is fancy dresses (evening wear) that needs a dry clean because tbh I dry clean stuff so rarely I feel the risk v cost is not justifiable

No, never- I like them better before they are
washed. I do understand about the chemicals but I don’t react to them and don’t care. I did wash DD’s though when she was tiny.

Yes because when I was nineteen I worked as a nanny for two fashion designers and I once went to a factory in china where clothes were being made. It was not clean by any stretch of the imagination. The clothes were heaped on the floor, there were rodents. It was awful.

No, new clothes smell and feel lovely. Better than after washing

Never. I love the bliss of putting something on brand new. It’s never quite the same after you’ve washed it. It’s no longer pristine.

Pop quiz. Would you have a garment that was dry clean only dry cleaned before you wore it for the first time?

My DDs clothes and new bedding yes! But for me, no!

I do. Another migraneur here with a really strong sense of smell. The smell of the chemical treatment on new fabric is overpowering. Plus it can't be good for you.

YES, unless it says on the labels they are full of pesticides and chemicals. I know this as a dressmaker.

I wash new knickers. With other things I do if they have that “clothes factory” smell. But only a very short wash.

no, not even underwear

Yes usually. Too many dogs in shops these days (I am allergic) plus you don’t know how many ppl have tried it on before you bought it 🙈

No because I’m not an obsessive clean freak who seems to think that because two dogs had a disagreement within a 10 metre radius of a jumper that it will be reeking and covered in something bad.

What is hilarious is the PP who claimed to always wash clothes because she watched her own child clean his dirty hands on a shop outfit.

Why is it hilarious not to want to wear clothes that have been touched or worn by manky people before you?

Yes, most things that touch the skin are washed. There's all kinds of factory dust and chemicals I prefer not to have on me, if possible. I wouldn't wash coats or blazers.

I thin there is a big difference here between things that touch the skin and things that don’t such as coats.

God no! In fact the opposite! New clothes before they are washed is one of the joys of life- they are so so nice before washing. I try to get as many wears out of a new item of clothing as possible. It’s always disappointing when it needs to go in the wash as it’s never the same again.

Always! New bedding and towels too. Factory chemicals and you don't know who tried the clothes on before you did! **