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!

Of course not. Never have, still alive. Who can be arsed with that? Besides, a garment is only ever brand new once.

The way people touch clothes on shops means we probably should all be washing new clothes we pick from the shop floor. I have seen far too many people coughing and sneezing then touching clothes. I don’t do it as standard though, I do enough bloody washing as it is.

Oddly my 2 adult DC who have both moved out wash everything before wearing, they didn’t get it from me!

Well that was me 🙋‍♂️ And yes - three kids, 2x grungy boys - absolutely, I wash new clothes first. One of them had his hand in his nose when ever I turned away from him, he’d always be grabbing things on the rails. I do not like the thought of countless unknown people who may or may not wash their hands regularly, having tried on or picked up clothes. I’ve seen too many people (adults) picking their nose in public…

And as I also said I don’t like the thought of packing and factory chemicals on my clothes.

I am not a clean freak though - I am anti the rise in all the antibiotic hand washes etc, I am/was a big believer in letting kids get dirty and not being overly fastidious in general. I always wash my hands when I get home after being on the tube though… don’t believe that makes me a clean freak.

Wouldn’t wash a coat, like a waterproof one or something
but everything else yes

Yes, because I have sensitive skin and the majority of new clothes are sprayed with formaldehyde and other chemicals.

Clothes bought in a shop - depends if there are many in my size the I try to choose the one that doesn’t look like it had been tried on.

Online - never used to wash until a few years ago. A top I received had strands of hair on it so it clearly had been tried on. It was the an out of stock item so I couldn’t exchange but I was offered a discount. From then on I wash all clothes bought online.

Always, without fail. The only thing I wouldn't wash first are things like coats that aren't directly next to my skin. If new they'll have still been handled by countless people in factories and on the shop floor.

Plus the amount of clothes I've bought off Vinted that have pet hair on them is frankly ridiculous. Towels, bedding, clothes all get a quick wash before they are used.

Nope. Nor secondhand either. Yet to ever have any infection or allergic reaction 🤷‍♀️
I buy mostly silk and cashmere - over washing such pieces is bad for them.

Nope.

tbh i mostly buy clothes online so definitely dont wash them before wear

charity shop clothes yes i do wash

No. DH does, but I really enjoy wearing something brand new and it never feels as new once it's been washed.

I typically only wash new things if they’ve got a bit of a smell to them, or have stubborn creases from being folded that won’t just drop out naturally. I’m lazy busy and can’t be arsed don't have time to wash everything I buy before I wear it

Absolutely yes. They're not clean just because they're new. They may have been tried on already, they've been in plastic bags, they've been dropped on the shop floor. Always washed

Never

No - at 57 I only found out this was even a thing when someone at work mentioned!!!!! I think it’s weird, but guess it’s probably how you were brought up.

Nope. Can't be bothered.

Never.

Nope

You are supposed to wash them, but I usually don’t as they look better before they are washed. The only things I wash before use are pyjamas and towels. Towels I think you have to wash to make them absorbent.

Absolutely not. Not mine, nor DDs (not now or when she was a baby). Both alive, healthy and kicking, no allergies, skin conditions, whatever.

I really can't be bothered agonizing about the amount of people who potentially sneezed on my clothes, tried them on (so what?), how many dogs were near it, how many kids. Honestly don't care. If it's new and looks crisp and new - it's going to get worn.

As for the evil 'chemicals'. Everything is 'chemicals'. Starting with the laundry detergent and softener. Cosmetics, perfume, skincare, shampoo, etc, hair dye, nail polish, chemicals in food and drinks, household cleaning chemicals, dishwashing chemicals, etc etc etc. So can't be bothered about the mysterious 'chemicals' on clothing.

Not usually no. Unless it smells particularly chemically or packaging-y

y fabics and clothes and linens sit in warehouses for years an everything for pesticide,mold and they cankill you, you, family babies
do you know where that stuff came from
a truck was contaminating a leak and they were denim items went to stores and
as they become wet or sweaty people became sick
a seamstresssince7yrs old everyone that taught me said the same

www.textileindustry.net/fabric-storage-procedure-in-warehouse/

I worked in a clothes shop for a few years - you should see what happens to the clothes. Dragged on the floor, thrown in a service lift, sat in someone’s bedroom before they decide to return it. Not to mention the bodily fluids we’ve seen via the fitting room - stinking BO was the least offensive, I won’t list the others.

I suppose if you’re buying something online it’s better but it’s still come from a sweatshop floor or rat infested factory somewhere.

It only takes a quick wash so why wouldn’t you.

Yeah my mum used to be horrified about this when I was a kid and all these years later I just can't shake her voice in my head going "has that been washed?! You don't know where it's been!!" 😅