Do you wash everything before wearing? - YouLookFab Forum

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Do you wash everything before wearing?

K.M.

Veteran

I searched the archives for this and couldn't find anything (apologies if I missed it)....

Do you wash your new clothing items before you wear them?

I'm thinking of items you purchase new (as I've seen some of you discuss washing thrifted items).

Angie's laundry post made me think about this. I never used to wash anything before wearing for almost my whole life. When I got pregnant seven years ago I was told to wash all baby clothes because of how they are stored and handled, and so I began washing not only her new clothes but also mine. Now I do it for almost everything except things like outerwear and a few delicate sweaters. I'm curious about what others do!

General

40 replies

Latest reply was from K.M.

Anonymous

No.
My skin isn't sensitive and I'm too excited to wear the item to wash it first. I also need to see how much jeans stretch out, so I wear them around the house a bit.

Diana

Veteran

I always wash underwear before wearing but not usually other things unless they came from an overly scented store or something.

ETA: I do wash anything I'm planning on hemming to make sure it won't shrink.

Aquamarine

Veteran

I wash some things if I feel they've been tried on by many people. I'll wash denim because I usually need to hem it and I need to see if there's shrinkage first.

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

Yes. I have been told by those in the know that the chemicals on many new clothes are much worse than whatever you might imagine is on second hand clothes. I would never wear a second hand item without washing it (or treating it somehow), and that goes for new clothes too, particularly if they touch my skin.

K.M.

Veteran

shevia, Yes, I was told the same--that they put stuff to preserve the fabrics or keep insects away or something like that...

I do the pre-hemming wash like Aquamarine and Diana because of shrinkage--this was a tip from a tailor many years ago, before I started washing everything.

smittie, I also get excited and waiting to wash and dry clothes before wearing sometimes is a pain! Also, the item never feels as "new" and crisp anymore. I still wash it all!

lozz_oz

Veteran

I too have read (in well researched articles) on the treatment of textiles + the hazards they pose to us. Likewise, the number of human hands involved in the production chain of our clothing is large - supposedly 80 pairs of hands just to manufacture a pair of jeans. And all of this before we even consider the number of people displaying, touching + trying on in stores before we get an item home.
I'm not germ phobic, but in the case of new + thrifted clothing, I wash before wear.

Ginger

Veteran

I don't. Like smittie, I'm too excited to wear it! None of the rest of it really bothers me, and so far so good.

karen13

Veteran

I try to, but don't always. If it is a heavily dyed item like denim, I am more likely to.

Another good reason to wash is to see if it performs to the washing instruction specs within the return window. If I love something and love how it fits, I will do the cold wash, hang dry, regardless of instructions, but a utilitarian item needs to be wash and wear, and I getting more demanding about things meeting that spec.

deb

Veteran

Yes. I have no idea who may have tried the item on and because of the sizing on the fabric. I always washed or dry cleaned my fabrics when I sewed clothing for myself or my clients..

anne

Veteran

No. I like the new feel! With Ginger on this one.

Gigi

Veteran

I used to wash everything before wearing because I had some health problems that made my skin supersensitive (I would itch if the item was not washed first). But my skin is not so sensitive anymore, so I often don't wash before wearing. As others have said, I am excited to wear the item, and it is often some time away from laundry day. Also, I like to see how it wears on my body for an extended period before washing, because that helps me know whether it needs tweaking after washing (that is, whether it needs ironing or starching).

Grace

Generally I do not. Last night I bought a dress and did wash it after getting home, and then wore it to the office today. Maybe this will start a new trend for me. For some reason I just felt compelled to wash it. Growing up, my mother always would wash new clothes before they were worn.

Mainelady

Veteran

I wash all clothing first, except for outerwear. I do the same with new bed linens and towels. Anything that touches our skin gets a wash before use.

Style Fan

Veteran

It depends. I wash T shirts, undies, bras and shirts in cold waster on the quick gentle cycle. I always hang my clothes to dry. When my clothes are new I use a very small amount of detergent.
I don't always wash premium denim. I will wash them if I am going to get the jeans hemmed.

Anonymous

I feel I "should," but I cannot say I do. It is probably about 50 percent washed first/50 percent worn first.

Minnie

I wash everything before wearing, except jackets and coats etc

jill58

Veteran

Yes, I wash everything except outerwear, for the reasons already cited.

RobinF

Veteran

Nope, only socks and underwear get washed before wearing (and I will agree with the above, it I am going to hem it I will wash it first). I've never had an issue, never really thought about it.

Sara L.

Veteran

Yes, I read something about the chemicals in textiles and now I wash everything before wearing (except coats and jackets). I occasionally get really excited about an item and wear it before washing but that's the exception, not the norm.

Anonymous

With the exception of dry clean only items, I most certainly do wash things before I wear them.

K.M.

Veteran

Interesting! I always wondered if I were a minority on this issue. The responses so far are: 9 people wash all or most items; 5 don't (except underwear); and 5 are split (or used to but don't anymore).

(Perhaps those of us on this thread are a self-selected sample, but I'm not sure what I can do about it...)

I realize that for most people there won't be a health difference in washing or not the items (with some exceptions like this: http://articles.chicagotribune.....-john-wash), so I suppose it's mostly the ick factor? I'm a clean-freak, so I guess that matters to me.

However, in my 20s I naively thought everything I bought at a store was clean and ready to use. Clothes, underwear, sheets, towels, tupperware, dishes!!! !!!! I used quite a bit of stuff until I realized I was supposed to be washing everything before first use. I guess I survived!

anchie

Veteran

I do wash as much as possible, especially my kids clothes and everything that comes in direct contact with skin.

The Cat

Veteran

Usually not, unless they have an unpleasant smell.

jill58

Veteran

I forgot, I don't wash socks.

citygirldc

(website)

Veteran

No.

Jenni NZ

Veteran

I never do for new stuff. Too lazy. I seem fairly healthy despite it!

Anonymous

Yes, always.

yying0303

Member

Yes! Of course I will wash the new items I bought before I wear them. In my opinion, there are so many potential factors will effect our skin even body fitness.Maybe new clothes don't be disinfected, or maybe the item you bought has been wore before.Don't you think it is necessary to wash it before wearing?

Laura G

Veteran

Well, I used to wear new clothes (except undies) without washing, but after reading K.M.'s link, I think I never will again!

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