Should I Wash New Clothes Before Wearing Them? When you buy a new piece of clothing, it is always a bit nerve-wracking the first time you wear it. You want to make a good impression on all your friends and family in this new addition to your wardrobe, but you worry that they will judge how you smell when they get close enough.
To avoid being judged by your loved ones for wearing clothes straight from their packaging, there are a few things that you should do before stepping out in your new threads. Read on this article to find out should I wash new clothes before wearing them:
Wash New Clothes Before Wearing Them
It is without saying that if something has just been made, it hasn’t had a chance to dry yet fully. This means that your new favorite shirt or jeans will likely contain unpleasant moisture and will still release the chemical finishes and dyes used during production.
Furthermore, if you notice any stitching sticking out or unfinished marks on the garment, this could indicate areas where excess material has been leftover from the cutting process.
Air New Clothes Out
If you’ve ever tried on a piece of clothing straight after its packaging was opened for the first time, then you will probably suspect that something isn’t quite right. It’s common knowledge that newly manufactured clothes can often smell “off” or chemically processed at first.
By allowing them to sit outside in the open air for a short period, you can do your best to reduce the chemical content and overpower its aroma.
Wash New Clothes With Unusual Colors Separately
Even if you’re not convinced that freshly manufactured clothes smell strange, there’s no harm in washing them with special color-catching powder or tablets as soon as they go into the wash.
This is particularly important if your new garment has come out of the packaging slightly discolored, as this could mean that excess dye has been used during its production.
Furthermore, if you notice any leftover residue on your skin after wearing a colored clothing item, it will also be worth giving it a good wash before wearing it again.
Air Out New Clothes Before Wearing Again
As we’ve already mentioned, it may be a good idea to give each type of clothing item you buy some time out in the open before wearing it for the first time.
While this can help remove any strange smells from freshly manufactured clothes, it can also positively affect new shoes and accessories that contain plastic or rubber components.
This process of airing your new purchase is particularly important if your garment emits a strong odor when worn. This could mean that the chemical finishes used during production have been transferred onto your skin.
Wash New Clothes That Have Special Edges Separately
We know that washing isn’t always necessary every time you wear a piece of clothing but if you want to avoid ruining any special edges or finishes that your new garment contains, this should be done separately.
Items containing rubber, leather, or plastic are likely to react negatively with the mixture of water and detergent used during a typical wash cycle, meaning they will begin to tear apart faster than normal.
Furthermore, if you choose to wash the laundry by hand, make sure that you use special detergent or soap designed specifically for each type of material involved.
Wash New Clothes That Have The Same Colors Together
While this may go without saying in most cases, it’s worth bearing in mind that just because two pieces of clothing contain different colors doesn’t mean that they can’t both be washed together.
For example, darker-colored shirts aren’t likely to become discolored even if they’re soaked in a batch with lighter tops. However, it’s recommended that you don’t wash two items of the same color together as this can lead to both garments fading at a much faster rate than normal.
Make Sure New Clothes Are Completely Dry Before Wearing Them Again
When you receive a new item in the post, there’s often nothing worse than thinking about all of the different ways you could wear it straight away.
Of course, when your garment is still wet from being freshly produced, this is not possible, and by allowing them to sit out overnight or until completely dry, you can be certain that they will keep their shape.
Depending on what kind of material has been used during manufacture, it can take anything from an hour to several hours for clothing items to completely dry out after washing.
Don’t Wash New Clothes With Other Items Of Clothing
No matter how well you keep your new clothes stored away between uses, there’s always the risk that you could pick up a piece of dirt or residue before wearing them again.
Luckily, it’s easy enough to clean your hands by simply washing them with warm water and soap, but if this doesn’t work, you can also try using some hand sanitizer instead.
However, don’t forget that just because you’re careful not to contaminate your hands doesn’t mean that other pieces of clothing are safe from being stained.
As a general rule of thumb, it’s best to avoid washing new clothes with other clothing items to reduce the risk of discoloration, fading, or even damage caused by intermixed dirt.
Don’t Wash New Clothes With Household Items
We all want to make sure that our new purchases are well taken care of, but this doesn’t mean you should overdo things either.
Many household items are not designed to be washed together with different fabric types, meaning they can leave behind residue, which can easily ruin any garment involved in washing operations.
For instance, if you mix up your whites and colors, then there’s a high chance that you’ll find your colored garments becoming stained in future washes, ruining their look in the process.
It’s also worth noting that household cleaning products aren’t as strong as those used by specialist washing machines meant for clothing.
Wash New Clothes In Cold Water Instead Of Hot
While it might seem like a good idea to wash your new clothes in hot water at first, it can often be more beneficial to clean them using cold instead. This reduces any shrinking that may occur during a regular wash cycle and reduces the amount of time needed to complete a load.
Furthermore, if you’re particularly concerned about making your new garments look as great as possible, cold water washes are less likely to fade colors and keep stains away from the surface.
Conclusion
In conclusion, I think that you should wash new clothes before wearing them because it’s good for the garment and washing machines.