Why & How To Wash New Clothes Before Wearing Them (2024)

FAQs

Why & How To Wash New Clothes Before Wearing Them? ›

The main reason to give your clothes a pre-wear wash is that there may be chemicals on the clothing that—in high enough levels, and with enough exposure over time—can be harmful. Examples include flame retardants, and, most commonly, dyes.

The main reason to give your clothes a pre-wear wash is that there may be chemicals on the clothing that—in high enough levels, and with enough exposure over time—can be harmful. Examples include flame retardants, and, most commonly, dyes.

New Clothes

"It's best to wash any new items of clothing on their own for the first few cycles, following the instructions on the item's care tag," says LaLonde. "New items tend to bleed dye or shrink more easily, and separating them prevents this."

The easiest way of disinfecting the clothes is by using disinfectant sprays. You just need to spray them on your clothes and your clothes are free of microbes. Disinfectant sprays are more effective than other means of disinfecting your clothes. They don't damage or decolorize your clothes.

It's always a good idea to wash new bed sheets before their first use. This helps remove any chemicals or residue from production, soften natural fabrics and also remove lint and dust particles. Follow best practices such as cold water, mild detergent and gentle washing to ensure they come out looking their best.

Lice and Scabies can even be transferred from your “new” clothes due to the person who tried them on. Scientists have found skin and fecal bacteria to also be on clothes in stores. Avoid this unpleasant situation by cleaning your new threads on the highest possible temperature allowed per care instructions.

Rinse your clothing in cold water and allow it to air dry.

Fresh air can help get rid of any formaldehyde smell left over in your clothes. Alternatively, throw your clothes in the washing machine on a normal cycle, then put them outside to air dry.

Fill a spray bottle with cheap vodka or plain grain alcohol, spray the fabrics well on both sides then allow the garment(s) to completely air dry. If you're wondering how to get the perfume smell out of clothes, some people have had success by using isopropyl alcohol. Just be sure that alcohol won't damage the fabric!

Should you put new clothes in the dryer? ›

Use the lowest heat setting on your dryer and remove promptly to avoid shrinkage or color fading in new clothes.

One of the most common questions after getting a new pair of jeans is whether you should wash them before wearing. The answer is YES, with the exception of raw denim. Washing jeans before wearing them the first time helps to prevent dyes from bleeding onto your skin and other clothes.

Chen's take: It's a reasonable precaution to wash your new clothes to rinse off any residue, especially if you have sensitive skin. In her own life, she always washes first: “It's an easy enough thing to do, and it's not worth the potential issues” to just wear clothes off the rack, she says.

New clothes can transfer dye to your skin.

While you likely will not experience any serious health issues by not washing clothes before wearing them, more than anything – washing clothes before wearing is just good personal hygiene. Before washing, make sure to follow the instructions on the care tag.

There's no hard and fast rule for how many times you can wear clothing again, but experts say there are a few types that should be washed after every use: underwear, socks, tights, leggings and activewear. This advice also applies to any other clothes with stains, sweat, odor or visible dirt, Mohammed said.

From cleaning to deodorizing, white vinegar is a safe, natural product that has many practical uses around the house—and it's a powerful laundry disinfectant, too. Add one cup of distilled white vinegar to the rinse cycle when you want to sanitize a load of laundry.

While you may not always feel inclined to wash before you wear when you're shopping for yourself, baby clothes should be treated a little differently before first use. It's a good idea to pre-wash newly purchased baby clothes because they may have been treated with things like flame retardants, have excess dye, etc.

Beware of the “new clothing smell.”

Sprinkle one small-sized box of baking soda (or 1 cup) into the washing machine. Soak the clothes overnight. When convenient during the soaking, agitate the machine for a few minutes. Launder as usual.

It is even possible that lice, bacteria, and fungi can transfer from one person to other while trying the outfits. This might cause some skin allergies in people who have sensitive skin. It might lead to rashes, redness, itching or skin dryness. Thus always wash clothes before wearing them.

The first wash cycle usually causes most of the shrinkage a garment will undergo through relaxation. Additional shrinkage in the next few wash cycles is called progressive shrinkage. Usually after 5 wash cycles, shrinkage is complete and clothing won't shrink anymore over time.