Should You Wash New Clothes Before Wearing Them?
Everybody enjoys the pleasant, fresh feeling of wearing a brand-new outfit. It just starts your day off on a positive note, when you are well-dressed and neat in appearance. In the UK, young people have the highest purchase frequency, with nearly 60% of 16-24 year olds buying clothing at least once a month.
It is exciting indeed to add new apparel to our wardrobes, but this has prompted many people to wonder, should you wash new clothes before wearing them?
We will discuss this question in this article, so read on to find out the answer.
Should you wash new clothes before wearing them?
So, you have just bought a new outfit and you are eagerly waiting to wear it for the first time. Most of us will throw our new clothes on and the idea of washing them beforehand never pops into our heads.
But did you know that washing your new clothes before wearing them is an excellent hygiene practice?
Here are the advantages of washing new clothes before wearing them:
- You will wash away germs
On your new clothing, there could be all sorts of bacteria, fungi, viruses and even lice and scabies on the surfaces. That piece of clothing will have been touched by many hands, and it may have been tried on by multiple shoppers in the fitting room.
Fitting rooms are one of the grossest, germiest places you could ever visit. Did you know that you can develop Athlete’s Foot, warts, an STD or a virus like herpes, simply from trying on clothing in a fitting room? That is not because the fitting room itself is dirty and unhygienic- it is because bacteria and germs live in the clothes that numerous people are touching and trying on every day (and no clothes on the shelves will ever get cleaned!)
Research from an American microbiology professor at New York University has shown that norovirus, bacteria including strep and staph, and even faecal germs were present on clothing from popular chain stores. So, new clothing can expose you to harmful bugs and germs, which will only go away when they are washed with hot water and laundry detergent.
If you have a tiny cut on your body, and bacteria from new clothes enter the wound, then this makes you more susceptible to developing infections, which is another reason why you should wash new clothes before wearing them.
- There could be chemical irritants which were left behind in the fabric
Have you ever worn new clothes, and then found yourself feeling itchy, because of that ‘new clothes itch’?
Well, that could be because your new clothes contain skin-irritating compounds. These are chemicals that clothing manufacturers use to keep their products fresh, soft and wrinkle-free. These chemicals can irritate the skin, especially for people who have sensitive skin or eczema.
Some new clothes are treated with a chemical called formaldehyde, to remove wrinkles- but this is actually a carcinogenic agent which can be hugely harmful to your health.
Fortunately, any chemicals on new clothing can be easily removed with just one spin cycle in the washing machine.
- New clothes could contain dyes which could transfer to your skin
Fabrics are often dyed in different colours, and yes, believe it or not, these dyes can transfer to your skin when you wear your new outfit for the first time. This happens a lot with very dark jeans or vibrant shades of red and blue.
You will notice this has happened when the colours on your new clothes start bleeding and they leave stains on your skin.
These dyes can cause severe skin reactions, especially if the wearer is allergic to them, which can be dangerous (especially for young children).
So, washing your new clothes before wearing them will wash out that extra dye and prevent any risk of skin reactions.
- Washing your new clothes will keep them smelling fresh
Who doesn’t love the lovely aroma of freshly washed clothes?
When you wash your new clothes immediately, they will emit the lovely fragrance of your detergent or fabric softener, which will make the experience of wearing the garments even more pleasant.
If you wash your new clothes and then store them away in your wardrobe, this means that the lingering germs and odours won’t transfer onto your existing clothes.
- Washing your new clothes will preserve their shape and quality
Washing your new clothes, first thing will help them improve their lifespan and last longer.
A neat trick is to wash your new clothes in cold water, as this won’t fade the colours or shrink the fabric as much as hot water would.
So, should you wash new clothes before wearing them? We believe the answer is yes, as this will thoroughly clean your new clothes of nasty germs and toxic chemics, which have built up ever since the garment left the warehouse and arrived in your home.
Should you wash new baby clothes before a baby wears them?
Yes, you should always wash your baby’s new clothes before dressing your little angel up in them. That cute little onesie might be harbouring dust, dirt, bacteria, fungi and viruses, which means you will be exposing your baby to harmful germs.
Remember that your baby’s immune system is still developing, so they are more likely to develop colds, infections and allergic reactions from unwashed clothes.
Your baby’s skin is more tender and sensitive, so babies are therefore more prone to skin irritation from harsh chemicals and dyes that may be lingering on the fabric.
It is especially important to wash second-hand baby clothes before your baby wears them.
When washing baby clothes, choose a mild unscented detergent, which is gentle enough for your baby’s skin.
How do you wash new clothes for the first time?
Follow these handy tips to wash you’re new clothes before wearing them:
- Check the care label of your new clothes, to check if they are machine washable, ‘hand wash’ only, or ‘dry clean only’.
- When washing your new clothes, separate them by colour, and fabric, if you prefer.
- You may find it useful to turn your clothes inside out before washing them, to give the detergent more access to clean the inner parts of the garment (which are often the dirtiest, germiest parts.)
- Remember to button up your shirts before washing them, as this prevents your clothes from hooking onto each other during the spin cycle.
- Wash your new clothes on a gentle cycle, on a low to medium heat setting.
- If you want to hand wash your new clothes, simply let them soak in a tub of soapy water and swirl them around to get rid of the dirt and grime. Allow them to fully dry, before wearing or storing them.
Can you wash your new clothes with other clothes?
It is better to wash your new clothes in a separate load from your other clothes, to avoid any possible contamination, and to avoid wrinkling.
Where can I find an online laundry service?
Here at Love2Laundry, we are an on-demand laundry service, serving London, Manchester, Birmingham, Bolton and Bury.
We provide a door-to-door service, so we will collect your dirty laundry and will wash, dry and fold or hang them up, and then deliver them straight to your door!
We also offer ironing services across London, as well as dry cleaning, shoe repairs, upholstery cleaning and alterations.
All you have to do is make an order online on our website, or through our mobile app (which is available for iOS and Android).
You can choose a location and time slot that works for you, and our friendly couriers will collect your laundry items. We will then professionally clean your items and return them to you- all within 24 hours!
Our prices are affordable – for example, the ‘wash, dry, and fold’ package starts from £2.65 per kg. See the prices on our website here.
At Love2Laundry, we are not your typical launderette. We operate a cashless system, so you will pay for your order via our mobile app or online via our website. We accept various forms of payment including American Express, Visa and MasterCard.
No more worrying about finding the correct change, or physically dropping off your laundry items- simply input your order with just a click of your fingers, and the rest is up to us!
Love2Laundry’s Hotel Quality Linen Cleaning Service in London
Here at Love2Laundry, we also offer an on-demand linen cleaning service for hotels and Airbnb hosts. All you have to do is make an order, and we will pick up your dirty linens on the same day and professionally clean them for you.
We also offer all the essentials that you need to keep your guests comfortable and happy, including a complete range of bed linens, towels, hotel toiletries, bath mats, kitchen clothes and more.
Click here to learn more about our Hotel Quality Linen Cleaning Service in London and request a quote.
Does Love2Laundry operate internationally?
Yes, we have branched out to several countries and we now cover Ireland, Netherlands, Dubai, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Pakistan.
Read more articles about laundry
We at Love2Laundry know that many people spend time online, searching for the answers to frequently asked questions about laundry.
That is why we update our blog with articles to help people find the information that they need about laundry, dry cleaning, ironing and home hacks.
You may find it useful to read our blog articles on:
- Laundry collection and delivery near me- Online Laundry Service
- What is a laundry collection service?
- Is there an app for someone to do your laundry?
- What is the difference between a dry cleaner and a launderette?
- Where is the nearest launderette to me?
- The best laundry service London has to offer
- The rise of online laundry after Covid-19
- Can I wash a duvet at a launderette?
- An expert’s take on viral laundry trends
About Love2Laundry
We hope we have answered the question ‘should you wash new clothes before wearing them?’
For more content like this, check out our blog here to read more articles.
Find out more about Love2Laundry’s dry cleaning and laundry services by visiting our website here.
Download our Love2Laundry app on the Apple App Store here or on Google Play here.
Contact us at 0203 600 0296 or at info@love2laundry.com.
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