Washing New Clothes

Hi Olorunleke! If you ask me, I prefer to wash new clothes before wearing them. I don't know about others but I don't feel comfortable wearing stiff clothes. I find new clothes stiff when they are new.

Good that you opened this topic. You know, though I sometimes wash the clothes before wearing it. But there are times that I wear them directly specially the underwear because these are sealed. I only wash those which are hanged and displayed in the store.

Olorunleke, you have started a good discussion, now it is time to come back and comment on the responses so you will earn well and make new friends. As far as the clothing goes, some things we buy here say specifically that because of the color they should be washed before wearing. I agree with the people who talk about the manufacturing chemicals, things like dyes, sizing, and things to set the color called mordants. Then there is of course the idea of others handling and trying on the clothes. I had a friend once that got head lice and could not get rid of them. She finally figured out it was from her new coat that had a hood that came up on her head.

I always wash new clothes before wearing them. I don't know why but perhaps it's so that the new clothes don't smell like the store. And like you've pointed out, we don't know where the clothes had been to before we bought them so it's best to be safe than sorry and to wash the clothes even if they're newly bought.

With the exception to underwear, I do not wash new clothes unless they are badly wrinkled from being in the bag. My mother tended to be a nut freak that had to have every thing she bought washed before she could wear it. She would complain that otherwise the fabric would bother her skin. Even then after the clothes were washed, there were times that she still would say that she could not stand to wear the item because the fabric bothered her skin. She was also one of those that would only buy cotton clothes. I tend to like most fabrics. I just have trouble with acrylic and wool fabrics. They both seem to bother me. As Arizona is a warm climate, it could be that it is just to warm to comfortable wear these types of fabric.

You are right on the dot. New clothes are new because you did not use them before. What customers don't know are the fact that those clothes were not washed and been from one cargo to cargo. Other than that, who knows how long were the clothes on the store's racks or shelves before you purchased it. Years ago, I saw a film were a woman wore a brassiere without using them. Days later, she was wondering why her bosoms itch all the time. It was discovered that the brassieres had fly eggs and since she wore them immediately, it attached to her skin and it hatched then larvae or worms were now eating her flesh. Pardon me for the yuckiness but it is true. May this serves as a warning to wash newly brought clothes including undergarments not only for hygiene but also for health reasons.

I am guilty of that wearing new clothes before washing them . Only underwear I wash before wearing because I cant tell if someone try them . I have never think about chemical at the factory , I just wear them , feels like too much work washing them before wearing them lol . My mother always washing clothes before wearing them but I dont like mine being washed . I think you are practicing good habit but its so hard for me to start doing that .

Last time I did not wash my clothes when new. But after a clothes manufacturer friend told me that all cloths are subjected to chemicals treatment. As such he advised me to wash any new clothes with soap and water before wearing them. Chemicals may cause allergy reactions on your body or skin. My advice is to wash your new dresses or shirts and pants. When you soak your new colored clothes in detergent, you can notice that the clear water turns to the color of your new clothes.

i like them because since its new and fresh,i get a emotional bond to make sure they dont get faded away and wash them with high care

I agree with you. I've been taught by my mom to always wash my clothe after I've bought them. It is best to wear it clean to avoid any skin problem from what they use in the factory when they pack them. I don't find it a burden to wash it before wearing it.

I thought people washed new clothes because who whows how many peole tried them on before you bought them?

instead of washing new clothes that i just bought, i iron them first. i have this belief, which may or may not be true, that ironing will help set the colors so it doesn't bleed. if you're saying there's a possibility of germs, then i guess the heat of the iron can also serve to kill them!

I do not wash newly brought clothes before I wear them. I buy all my underwear from Victoria's Secret though and I don't think they let you try them on. Also it never occurred to me that people might be doing that but it wouldn't surprise me. I mean people try on bathing suites typically before purchasing them. That's not much different I guess. You brought up a good point you'll never know where the clothing has been before it came into your hands. The idea of someone trying on outerwear before me doesn't bother me but underwear would. Besides they're all kinds of "fun" diseases going around today that I'd like to do without. This discussion will make me consider washing certain articles of clothing I purchase in the future. You'll never know where those clothes have been. I'd rather just pop them in the washer for a good rinse then have to worry about it.

Hi Olorunleke. I did not wash my newly bought underwear I think once in my lifetime. It's an emergency situation when I had my period and a spot on my pants. But other than that, I normally wash them so that I'm confident and comfortable wearing it. I've witnessed some sales ladies who work in a department store that right after someone tried to fit the clothes on them, they just immediately put it back on the hanger and sell it. That's alarming! The sweat and the many hands that touched the cloth. We never know what happens on every clothing they display on the shelves. Better be safe than sorry. Have a great day!

Hi Olorunleke,When I get new clothes I wash them to get all the loose fibers,dyes and other manufacturing and shipping fibers as well as the odors.Plus perhaps there are also germs and odors from people that might have tried the clothes on while the garment was in the store.

i seldom wash new clothes when i buy them. i am not sure why, but i just never started doing that. i like that new 'fresh off the rack' feel.

Thanks for sharing this information. I think I should now wash newly bought clothes. I usually don't.

hi Olorunleke, I will wash underwear before wearing it and I will sometimes wash my jeans before wearing them but as far as the rest of my clothes, a lot of the time they are not washable they have to be drycleaned...and that not going to happen as expensive as it is to dry clean clothes... So far so good. I have not contracted anything yet, thank GOD....

i wash the clothes before wearing them but know some people that who do not wash it first. aside from possible facts you mentioned in your discussion i do not like the smell of the unwashed nee clothes as well

Not me, I always wash my sons and my new cloths. I feel like new ones are kinda stiff. Plus look at how many people have had their hands on them. You never know....