Do you Wash New Clothes?

Yes I wash all new clothes I used to work in a clothing factory sewing garments and lots of girls got rashes on there hands due to handling the fa bric as lots of fabrics have little mites in hioe that helps.helen.

Can’t believe how germophobic people are!

Absolutely nothing to do with germs for many.

A lot of people are allergic to or have sensitivities to many of the pesticides and other chemicals that clothes and their packaging are treated with - most of our clothes fly around the world before we buy them, from countries that contain insects and parasites that we don't have in this country so the packaging is treated with pesticides. They also have to be chemically treated against things like mildew because they get stored for long periods. Some of those treatments are banned in this country because they are known carcinogens. Formaldehyde is known to cause eczema and is used to prevent clothes from wrinkling during storage.

I don't find it odd that people wash new clothes - I find it odd that they don't.

I buy a lot of clothes via eBay so always (apart from one dress) wash these, even when they are new with or without tags as many of them are as they have probably been hung up for some time. Also, occasionally, the seller is a smoker so the smell is in the clothes and comes out with washing. There was a post on MN recently about someone who was upset about an item that had arrived this way and felt it was not “as described.” The consensus was that it was exactly as described and smokers do not realise how the smell of cigarettes pervades everywhere and everything. I do not wash clothes l have bought from a shop, though (unless it’s a charity shop!).

Granddaughter coming to stay and all the pre-Covid clothes I had for her were far too small. So from a couple of different shops, I bought a hoodie, some pants, T shirts, shorts and a dress, and washed the lot.

I wash jeans as they tend to fit better afterwards. Otherwise no! Can’t believe how germophobic people are!

MerylStreep

It’s a wonder that some people leave the house. ?
Even more amazing that you’ve reached the age you have with all these germs just waiting to pounce on you.
So really, our immune system is surplus to requirement.

It shows how well the immune system does its job usually.

I remember on Channel 4 News in early January 2000 it was suggested to a guest that as nothing had gone wrong all the fuss about the millennium bug had been unnecessary.

The guest said no, all the fuss had meant that a lot of work had been done and had successfully stopped there being a problem on 1 January 2000.

Beanie654321

I'm afraid I'm a washer as you never know who has tried them on. I also use antibacterial wipes of spray to clean out inside of shoes. Yes I know proberbly over the top but it is what makes me feel comfortable.

Over the top is far far better than under done!

Just because you do what you do and nothing happens does not at all mean that nothing would happen if you did not do your very sensible routine.

I had not thought of doing the insides of new shoes ... until now. Thank you for the tip.

Oh dear something else I have never done, but maybe should have ?

No it had never crossed my. I will now though ?

I don't unless there is a reason to do so ...i.e. stiff cotton that could do with softening before wear, or if anything looks grubby at all ...otherwise no ...........

No, I’ve never heard of this before!

Odd because I think your comment was weirder ?

No, what an odd idea.

Only woollens as the dressing can be an irritant.

I'm afraid I'm a washer as you never know who has tried them on. I also use antibacterial wipes of spray to clean out inside of shoes. Yes I know proberbly over the top but it is what makes me feel comfortable.

Annaram1

No. And I think its a weird question to be honest.

Good heavens!
I've got plenty far weirder than that dear! ?

Yes I do, my Mum always did, apart from once, in a hurry she put me in a new dress without washing it. I was in agony within hours, told to stop making things up etc. Got home took off the dress and I was smothered in spots and blisters - I was allergic to the dressing on the cloth. Hence I always wash new clothes even now 47 years later...

Don't usually but only last week ordered some summer pjs for granddaughter and when they arrived they had quite a chemical smell so washed them. Smell gone.

I don’t normally. But my daughter asked me to wash the new clothes her dad bought her this weekend as she says clothes don’t feel right until they’ve been washed!

It’s a wonder that some people leave the house. ?
Even more amazing that you’ve reached the age you have with all these germs just waiting to pounce on you.
So really, our immune system is surplus to requirement.

Sometimes, especially things like jeans for trousers as they can have a bit of an industrial smell.

Excuse me, but we are not particularly anxious. We were brought up to wash clothes before wearing them. It was commonly said that they lasted longer that way.

Also, if you read the thread you will see that most of us who wash clothes before starting to wear them do so because we have allergic reactions otherwise.

Always wash new clothes etc. Once saw a programme about conditions in factories abroad where they were handled by employees who lived in there and were filthy.
Things returned to mail order companies are repackaged and who knows how they have been handled.

I always wash new clothes, sheets, tea towels etc.

I am allergic to perfume and most new articles smell of the air fresheners used in the shops.

There can also be a residue of fabric conditioner in new clothes.

Apart from the above, I have no idea how clean or otherwise the factories where these things were made are.

Coloured clothes usually have a surplus of dye in them too and need more than one wash to get rid of that.

Yes always. I always have.

Someone mentioned ironing. I don't do that.

Almost everything, including pullovers and jumpers, except not jackets and coats.

I have hand washed underwear and the water goes blue!

Packs often advise washing before wearing.

By the way, at least one mail order company has a repackaging department, so that if anything is returned, it goes to the repackaging department to be repackaged, so just because it looks new and in its original packaging does not mean that it actually is!