There’s nothing better than slipping into a brand new outfit, is there? And while you may be very impatient to throw on your new clothes as soon as you get back from the store—or as soon as that package arrives on your doorstep—you may also be wondering if it’s safe to do so.
Fortunately, we have the answer as to whether you need to wash your clothes before you wear them, courtesy of fabric experts.
- Frances Kozen, senior lecturer in fiber science at Cornell University.
- Nomi Dale Kleinman, chair of the textile/surface design department at the Fashion Institute of Technology.
Should You Wash New Clothes Before You Wear Them?
In general, it is a good idea to wash your clothes before you wear them, especially if it’s something that you wear close to your skin, says Frances Kozen, senior lecturer in fiber science at Cornell University. “I usually wash it before wearing to remove processing chemicals, excess dye, and dirt from all of the handling during production. Textiles and garments have passed through many hands, often in multiple countries.”
Why New Clothes Should Be Washed
Even “new” clothes can be loaded with some stuff that you may not want touching your skin. “Textile products may have stray chemicals from the production process in addition to starches used to keep the clothes crisp while shipping, packaging, or hanging in the store,” says Nomi Dale Kleinman, the chair of the textile/surface design department at the Fashion Institute of Technology.
If clothes are to be worn close to the skin and have been in the actual store, rather than shipped directly from the retailer, there’s also the potential issue of other contamination from people trying on or touching the clothes at the store—as studies have found that bacteria, fungi, and viruses can live for days or even weeks on fabric.
Washing your clothes before you wear them also helps soften your clothing so it may fit and feel better against your skin. “A first washing will take care of relaxation shrinkage in a cotton garment that is not labeled pre-shrunk,” Kozen says. “Textiles are held taut during processing and that tension will relax when wet.”
Which Clothes Can You Skip Laundering?
While you should probably wash most new clothes before you wear them, Kozen is a little more lax about items that aren’t close to the skin, or that aren’t easily washed. “Clothes that recommend dry cleaning I don’t pre-wash, and I don’t worry about sweaters, for instance, that are worn over shirts.”
What Could Happen if You Wear New Clothes Without Washing Them?
If you don’t have sensitive skin, you may be just fine wearing new clothes without washing them, Kleinman says. But there is a potential issue that the chemicals or microbes in the clothes could cause skin irritation or a rash, especially if you are prone to hives or other skin reactions.
But it isn’t only your skin that’s at risk. If your clothing has been dyed—especially the strong blues associated with jeans—you may find that the dye rubs off on your skin, other clothing, or furniture. And blue-hued legs may not be something you desire.
Dark or bold-colored clothes like jeans or red shirts probably warrant a separate wash (or at least with like-colored clothing) for the first few times, to help reduce the risk of them bleeding onto the rest of your laundry.
Tips for Washing Your New Clothes
Obviously, the care tag will be the first line of defense against laundering mistakes that could ruin your new clothes, so check the tag and follow the instructions. After all, if it says “Dry Clean Only,” washing isn’t advised.
“If you want to extend the life of a product and reduce shrinkage, I suggest washing in cold water and drying on low or hang-drying clothes,” Kleinman says. The heat from both the water temperature and dryer settings can fade, stretch, and shrink your favorite clothing.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/wash-new-clothes-GettyImages-2196940333-453d6f42a7b94cdbb7dc5aecb61358c1.jpg?w=1200&resize=1200,0&ssl=1&description=Do+You+Need+to+Wash+New+Clothes+Before+You+Wear+Them%3F){kind=link}