https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/do-you-wash-things-before-you-wear-them Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Sat, 11 Apr 2026 16:50:52 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/do-you-wash-things-before-you-wear-them/page/2#post-941012 Fri, 24 May 2013 20:21:20 +0000 Louise 941012@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Yes I always wash everything before I wear it. One so its fresh, you never know who's handled it or tried it on and I'm not keen on the smell of new clothes and two if it shrinks or washes badly I can return it straight away x </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/do-you-wash-things-before-you-wear-them/page/2#post-940971 Fri, 24 May 2013 19:37:19 +0000 Diana 940971@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Liz, the thing I always notice is the "TJ Maxx" smell.&nbsp; You know what I mean?&nbsp; All of those discount stores - TJ Maxx, Ross, Marshall's, etc - all have this particular smell.&nbsp;So yeah, I wash or air things that come from those stores.</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/do-you-wash-things-before-you-wear-them/page/2#post-940970 Fri, 24 May 2013 19:36:25 +0000 Kristin L 940970@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I almost always do.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/do-you-wash-things-before-you-wear-them/page/2#post-940841 Fri, 24 May 2013 15:46:44 +0000 Liz A. 940841@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I had no clue about the chemicals people are referencing here. I think I'm just uneasy about the unknown and hypersensitive to smells. I notice a slight odor quite often with online items. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/do-you-wash-things-before-you-wear-them#post-940767 Fri, 24 May 2013 14:06:58 +0000 stef1968 940767@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Yes, I definitely wash them! I have hyper sensitive skin so having a little bit less exposure to the dyes (and whatever else the fabric has accumulated) next to my skin is good. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/do-you-wash-things-before-you-wear-them#post-940762 Fri, 24 May 2013 14:02:26 +0000 Lisa 940762@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I wash jeans and underwear before wearing but nothing else. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/do-you-wash-things-before-you-wear-them#post-940738 Fri, 24 May 2013 13:26:12 +0000 Transcona Shannon 940738@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>If I've bought something from a thrift or consignment store, absolutely. If it's brand new retail, I wash any type of lingerie/underwear and pants (because they always need to be hemmed). </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/do-you-wash-things-before-you-wear-them#post-940728 Fri, 24 May 2013 13:15:29 +0000 Gabrielle 940728@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I always wash items before I wear them. &nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/do-you-wash-things-before-you-wear-them#post-940712 Fri, 24 May 2013 12:53:18 +0000 lucyt90 940712@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Depending on how desperate I am to wear my new aquisition, I do usually wash things first. The amount of chemicals that are on clothing from manufacture, transport and nevermind other people that have tried the item on before you... doesn't bear thinking about! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/do-you-wash-things-before-you-wear-them#post-940710 Fri, 24 May 2013 12:51:10 +0000 pastrygirl 940710@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Yes, 99.9999% of the time. How many people have tried on that item before it got to you? What was involved in the manufacturing process? There was a tell-all or video or something a while ago about the cloth diaper manufacturing process, and it was really gross.</p> <p>The only exception is coats. I usually don't bother with those.</p> <p>Even if an item is&nbsp;dry-clean only, if it fits in my Dryer with Dryel, I run it through. If it's machine/hand-wash, it goes through the washer. I always wash on cold to avoid shrinkage. I follow drying instructions. If it's machine-dryable, I dry on delicate. Otherwise, I hang to dry. I've never had anything shrink, except for a dry-clean rayon dress that I accidentally machine-washed once. That was 15 years ago.</p> <p>ETA: I view it as no different than washing something you bought secondhand, as from Goodwill. I wouldn't dream of not washing something from there, so why is a retail store any different?</p> <p>ETA2: I almost always wash items as soon as I get home from shopping or receive the item in the mail. No waiting needed!&nbsp;:) Though I do know someone who wears new clothes out of the store -- just cuts the tags off! Blech, I could never do it.</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/do-you-wash-things-before-you-wear-them#post-940703 Fri, 24 May 2013 12:36:36 +0000 Glory 940703@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>It depends. I wash camis, undies and things like that. I tend not to wash expensive items like blazers etc. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/do-you-wash-things-before-you-wear-them#post-940693 Fri, 24 May 2013 12:21:39 +0000 Anonymous 940693@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Oh, I never even thought about germs, I guess that isn't on my radar. I do wash thrift store clothing before wearing the first time.</p> <p>It's just all the sizing chemicals and formaldehyde I want out of new clothes before I wear them! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/do-you-wash-things-before-you-wear-them#post-940691 Fri, 24 May 2013 12:18:09 +0000 Niefern 940691@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Never. I guess we all are constantly touching things other&nbsp;people has touched before, so wearing something another person has tried on before does not worry me at all.</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/do-you-wash-things-before-you-wear-them#post-940469 Fri, 24 May 2013 03:04:19 +0000 celia 940469@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I don't wash things before wearing them because I like the crisp look they have when I buy them .<br />Also, if something looks dusty or somehow dirty in store I cannot make myself buy it. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/do-you-wash-things-before-you-wear-them#post-940464 Fri, 24 May 2013 03:00:31 +0000 Parsley 940464@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>No, I don't wash new things unless it's jeans that I need to have hemmed. I figure that clothes only have a certain number of washings before looking worn out, and I don't want to rush the process. Plus, I like the crisp new look that things have before they're washed the first time. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/do-you-wash-things-before-you-wear-them#post-940457 Fri, 24 May 2013 02:55:31 +0000 MsMary 940457@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Nope.&nbsp; It never even occurred to me until I read about people here doing it.&nbsp; Now I wash undies but that's it. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/do-you-wash-things-before-you-wear-them#post-940446 Fri, 24 May 2013 02:49:23 +0000 Mo 940446@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Mostly, no, I'm not that squeamish and I figure what doesn't kill you makes you stronger. &nbsp;I mean, I touch people's food remains and glassware on a daily basis, tourists from all around the world with who knows what coming along for the ride. &nbsp;More icky for me is recycled plane air. &nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/do-you-wash-things-before-you-wear-them#post-940434 Fri, 24 May 2013 02:42:36 +0000 Mary Beth (formerly LBD) 940434@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Yes and no.&nbsp; &nbsp; Underwear, anything dusty or that 'feels' funny, I wash.&nbsp; If it came in a package, such as stockings or socks, then no.</p> <p>If it's dry-clean only, I wear it first.&nbsp; &nbsp; And if it looks like it's going to become a thousand wrinkles once it has been laundered, I wear it first.&nbsp; And from now on, when I feel a funny little twinge about that, I'll remind myself of BJ1111's words of wisdom "I have a strong immune system", and I will wear my unwashed, new item with a renewed sense of purpose </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/do-you-wash-things-before-you-wear-them#post-940423 Fri, 24 May 2013 02:36:22 +0000 deb 940423@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I do. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/do-you-wash-things-before-you-wear-them#post-940420 Fri, 24 May 2013 02:32:23 +0000 bj1111 940420@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Nope. I have a strong immune system. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/do-you-wash-things-before-you-wear-them#post-940383 Fri, 24 May 2013 01:24:30 +0000 Peri 940383@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I think you all have convinced me...I'll do better from now on.</p> <p>It is a good point that if something isn't going to wash well it is better to know before you get attached! I hadn't thought of it that way before. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/do-you-wash-things-before-you-wear-them#post-940377 Fri, 24 May 2013 01:19:58 +0000 Sara L. 940377@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I almost always wash first. &nbsp;I saw a show many years ago (I can't even remember what it was) where they talked about what goes into fabrics and making clothes and ever since then I've washed before wearing. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/do-you-wash-things-before-you-wear-them#post-940376 Fri, 24 May 2013 01:19:45 +0000 Liz A. 940376@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>abso-freakin-lutely </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/do-you-wash-things-before-you-wear-them#post-940374 Fri, 24 May 2013 01:19:28 +0000 Diana 940374@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I wash underwear and bras, always.&nbsp; At the risk of TMI, chemicals on my underwear can give me itchies in really unpleasant places.&nbsp; (This is how I figured out I was allergic to oxy-clean, by the way).&nbsp; </p> <p>I also wash anything I buy used, and pants before hemming (in case of shrinkage). </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/do-you-wash-things-before-you-wear-them#post-940362 Fri, 24 May 2013 01:15:32 +0000 ironkurtin 940362@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Since pretty much everything I buy is used, yes.&nbsp; If it's new from the store then I don't wash it - unless, like above, it's underwear. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/do-you-wash-things-before-you-wear-them#post-940360 Fri, 24 May 2013 01:13:48 +0000 lyn* 940360@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Definitely undies. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/do-you-wash-things-before-you-wear-them#post-940359 Fri, 24 May 2013 01:12:39 +0000 Janet 940359@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Just undies. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/do-you-wash-things-before-you-wear-them#post-940352 Fri, 24 May 2013 01:07:38 +0000 Beth 940352@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Nope, but these responses are making me think twice!</p> <p>Currently, the only items I wash are jeans/pants before hemming. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/do-you-wash-things-before-you-wear-them#post-940336 Fri, 24 May 2013 00:58:14 +0000 Caro in Oz 940336@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Always, for the same reasons as Ceit &amp; because they have been sitting around in a shop &amp; have been tried on by others. It's amazing how dirty the water can be from the first wash - much dirtier than subsequent washes </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/do-you-wash-things-before-you-wear-them#post-940310 Fri, 24 May 2013 00:33:03 +0000 Anonymous 940310@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Yes I do. There are so many chemicals they put into it to make it look nice for display, I want that stuff out right away. I also like to see how something behaves before getting too attached! </p>