Do you wash things before you wear them? - YouLookFab Forum

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Do you wash things before you wear them?

Peri

Veteran

I've always been told to wash first...and I do for pants because its not safe to hem them without washing first.

But even though I'm sure it's more hygienic, sometimes I really hate to. I've had the experience of something shrinking just a little and then I go crazy trying to remember the original fit. Like, did I gain 3 pounds in a few days....or did I buy it that way...did it shrink or not???

Or the experience of having something wash badly and then I don't even get one wear before I return it. I'll return something that is labeled machine wash and then barely survives the first one, but I'll end up wishing I'd gotten to wear it at least once first!

What do you do?

General

33 replies

Latest reply was from Louise

Anonymous

Nope, I know I should but nope. I end up getting my stuff online most times, even when I first see it at a store, for whatever reason. I take comfort in knowing no one else has tried the garment on.

DeclawedJaguar

Veteran

Having been in fabric wholesale shops and tailor shops before, and having seen all that goes on before a garment is made, I most definitely do wash things prior to wearing. I have to admit, though, that I do not wash jeans prior to the first wear, mostly because I try to wash my premium jeans a little as possible to minimize wear. And if the garment shrinks before you even get to wear it, console yourself with the fact that you didn't have a chance to get too attached to it.

rachylou

Veteran

No, me neither. I'm poisoning myself, but I just enjoy what the toxic chemicals offer in terms of the way the clothes look.

Anonymous

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!

Caro in Oz

Veteran

Always, for the same reasons as Ceit & because they have been sitting around in a shop & have been tried on by others. It's amazing how dirty the water can be from the first wash - much dirtier than subsequent washes

Beth

Veteran

Nope, but these responses are making me think twice!

Currently, the only items I wash are jeans/pants before hemming.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Just undies.

lyn*

(website)

Veteran

Definitely undies.

ironkurtin

Veteran

Since pretty much everything I buy is used, yes. If it's new from the store then I don't wash it - unless, like above, it's underwear.

Diana

Veteran

I wash underwear and bras, always. At the risk of TMI, chemicals on my underwear can give me itchies in really unpleasant places. (This is how I figured out I was allergic to oxy-clean, by the way).

I also wash anything I buy used, and pants before hemming (in case of shrinkage).

Liz A.

Veteran

abso-freakin-lutely

Sara L.

Veteran

I almost always wash first. 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.

Peri

Veteran

I think you all have convinced me...I'll do better from now on.

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.

bj1111

Veteran

Nope. I have a strong immune system.

deb

Veteran

I do.

Mary Beth (formerly LBD)

(website)

Veteran

Yes and no. Underwear, anything dusty or that 'feels' funny, I wash. If it came in a package, such as stockings or socks, then no.

If it's dry-clean only, I wear it first. And if it looks like it's going to become a thousand wrinkles once it has been laundered, I wear it first. 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

Mo

(website)

Veteran

Mostly, no, I'm not that squeamish and I figure what doesn't kill you makes you stronger. 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. More icky for me is recycled plane air.

MsMary

Veteran

Nope. It never even occurred to me until I read about people here doing it. Now I wash undies but that's it.

Parsley

Veteran

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.

celia

Veteran

I don't wash things before wearing them because I like the crisp look they have when I buy them .
Also, if something looks dusty or somehow dirty in store I cannot make myself buy it.

Niefern

Never. I guess we all are constantly touching things other people has touched before, so wearing something another person has tried on before does not worry me at all.

Anonymous

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.

It's just all the sizing chemicals and formaldehyde I want out of new clothes before I wear them!

Glory

Veteran

It depends. I wash camis, undies and things like that. I tend not to wash expensive items like blazers etc.

pastrygirl

(website)

Veteran

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.

The only exception is coats. I usually don't bother with those.

Even if an item is 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.

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?

ETA2: I almost always wash items as soon as I get home from shopping or receive the item in the mail. No waiting needed! Though I do know someone who wears new clothes out of the store -- just cuts the tags off! Blech, I could never do it.

lucyt90

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!

Gabrielle

I always wash items before I wear them.

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

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).

Lisa

Veteran

I wash jeans and underwear before wearing but nothing else.

stef1968

(website)

Member

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.

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