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, I realised that after I'd posted! I've saved brand new bedding for guests before to treat them. Apparently they may have been secretly horrified rather than seeing it as the special thing it was. I reckon they appreciated though.

I remember my darling daughter wiping her nose on something in Dorothy Perkins as we went past with the pushchair
Some poor bugger bought that and then wore at the same day no doubt 🤮

Quite often I do but I’m not losing sleep if I don’t. I started as I have young children and they have sensitive skin. I think I read a similar thread to this and realised the recommendation is often to do it due to the chemical sprays on new clothes.

Yes. I hate the smell of new and unwashed clothes but the thought of someone’s body being in something I’d like to buy give me the heave. Too many people also buying clothes, wearing them and returning these days. Just no.

No. What a waste of time. Only second hand stuff as it usually stinks of those scent boosters or is a bit musty

Second hand clothes I would. But if new clothes turned up in on line order looking worn I’d send it back. I don’t think I’ve ever caught anything from new clothes or sheets…..

I don't even wash second hand clothes when I buy them unless obviously needed!

😂😂😂

No, it’s the only day it’ll look best!

I wash bedding and any clothes that go next to the skin (tights, underwear, T-shirts, pyjamas etc.) I have skin allergies and sometimes come out in a rash from fabric treatments and some washing powders.

Clothes that are made and shipped in from overseas (especially if they are travelling in container ships), plus some clothes stored in warehouses before sale, can be treated with insecticides like permethrin and/or chemicals to keep pests at bay. Warehouses and container ships have rodents, moths and other insect pests that need to be kept from damaging the items, and you don’t know what they’ve used a lot of the time!

I agree with this - I thought it was normal to wash clothing right away, I am a bit confused that people don't do this lol.. It's not just about it hanging in a shop, being tried on by someone else - there's a full manufacturing line from material to shop, god knows what happens during that process, what chemicals are used to 'treat' the materials..
I take the labels off and add it directly into the wash basket, it's literally no more than an extra load.

I need to add - I am not a germaphobe in the slightest, I just assumed it was normal to wash new clothes before they go in the wardrobe lol

I very well aware of what happens to clothes during manufacturing, transportation, storage and in the shop. Still prefer wearing it unwashed.

Yes on a quick wash to get rid of chemicals, other people’s sweat and general grubbiness. The clothes, bedding, towels etc. just feel and smell clean and fresh after a quick wash when brand new. You just don’t know who has done what to anything you buy before it’s yours.

No

So if you left your jumper on the floor in a bar and a rat pissed on it you would prefer not to wash it because you prefer your clothes that way. I think that’s fine. Different people do like different things.

To be fair I live rurally and most things I own have come in contact with rodents. I see rats most days.
If I took delivery of anything that was visibly dirty I’d return it. If any of my existing clothes are visibly dirty I wash them.
But if I can’t see it or smell it I don’t care. I like how new stuff feels so won’t wash it out willingly.

I did long stints in fashion retail as a teenager/student so I do know what it was like-including the fact we would wear stock and bring it back……

Yes, because many of them have chemicals on them and also may have been used/returned by other people. You just never know where they've been. Many items now come with instructions to wash before first use, I've started to see that too

Bloody hell, I thought I was a slither but even I draw the line at rats pissing on my stuff
It would appear toddlers wiping their noses on jumpers is the least of our worries
Never mind, washing stuff before I wear it appears we need to burn it

I can see why you are a fancy cat slave now. If you weren’t you would be dooooomed. You need more cats!

I thought of this thread yesterday. I tried a dress on in a shop and it absolutely stank of BO. 😡

desperately searching for the puking emoji.....

I bet the cats are absolutely horrified

Definitely not! Washing isn't good for clothes so no unnecessary washing. I want it to be 'new' as long as possible. Something like a jumper I will avoid washing at all if I can.

The cats much prefer baby bunny to rats but they catch a few most days, they are big hunters. If you go in the garden after dark there’s always 1 or 2 near the chicken run.

The rats at the stables are massive though compared to the ones in the garden and give no shits at all about people. One just casually walked over my foot earlier, didn’t even run.

And then there’s the various things living in the thatch, when I can’t sleep at 3am you can play guess what it is based on the sound it makes when it moves- squirrel, mouse, bat, bird.

If I was bothered by rats I wouldn’t last 5 mins!

I read an article in Take A Break (that well known scientific publication) about a woman who wore brand new black knickers straight out of the packet and ended up with chemical burns all over her bum! She'd just given birth and had to hang out on the ward with her arse exposed to the air.

Scarred me for life, so I always wash undies now. The baby's clothes get prewashed too. But other stuff, I dont really bother with.