Should you wash your new clothes before wearing them? For most people, unless they buy their clothes secondhand, they may not even give it a thought. However, washing new clothes is a practice you should embrace. New clothes are actually a lot dirtier than they look—and wearing without washing could lead to some harmful side effects.
Why wash before you wear?
Here are some of the most important reasons you should wash your new clothes:
- Germs, germs everywhere: Your clothes might be a haven for germs. Brand-new clothing from clothing stores has been found to have strep, staph, fecal germs, norovirus and other types of bacteria. That’s pretty gross—and probably not something you want to rub on your skin. Remember, your new clothes have probably been handled by dozens, if not hundreds of people before you buy them. Wash them thoroughly before wearing them.
- Other people have tried them on: Sometimes it’s obvious when clothes have been tried on before—deodorant stains, stretched-out garments and rips or tears are a dead giveaway. However, even if a garment looks pristine, there’s a good chance that someone else has tried it on before you brought it home. Wash clothing to get rid of body oils, dead skin cells, hair and other human debris. After all, you’d probably only share your clothing with close friends or family members. Why do the same with strangers?
- Avoid unpleasant critters: Even new garments can pick up unwanted hangers-on. Some studies have shown that new garments may contain scabies, lice and even fungus. These are not critters that you want anywhere near your bare skin. Washing and drying your clothes will kill any hitchhikers you inadvertently brought home.
- Get rid of harmful chemicals: Even if your clothes were sealed when you got them, you still need to wash them. That’s because many clothes are processed with chemical additives, tanning agents, dyes, resins and detergents that can irritate your skin. Eczema and contact dermatitis are just two of the more unpleasant side effects you may experience.
- Wash out excess dye: If you’ve ever worn a pair of brand-new, super-dark denim jeans, only to notice that dye is rubbing off on your skin, clothing, nails, handbag, furniture and car seat, you know how much excess dye can be present in new clothing. Washing your clothes before wearing them will remove any excess dye from the fabric, so you won’t have to worry about staining Great Aunt Agnes’ pristine white couch.
You don’t have to be a germaphobe to be grossed out by what’s on your clothes. Washing new clothes is the best way to ensure that you won’t be harmed by chemicals, germs and other unpleasant hangers-on. Sure, it might seem like a hassle when all you want to do is wear your brand-new outfit, but you’ll be glad you did.
Want to save time washing your new clothes? Let the team at Barry’s Cleaners & Launderers handle it for you. Call or stop by today to get started.