Thanks, WhyNot. One of these days, when I’m not so lazy, I’ll give that a go. I find dark blue and black is a bit of a problem as well (and much of my stuff is in those colours.)
They always smell funny to me, and the texture is off – I hate crisp sheets – so I wash 'em. And I wash clothes, too, before wearing them. You never know who might have tried it on before you…
Not really into the whole watching bedsheets thing.
Yes, I do. I wash everything before it touches a part of my body.
I once made the mistake of wearing a new bra without washing it first. I got a bad rash everywhere it touched my skin. Itchy, red, blister-y…it was embarassing and lasted for 2 weeks. I’ll never have that happen again!
Never! I love sleeping with those big square wrinkles! Plus, I don’t entirely trust my home washing machine. It sound silly, but I always have this subconcious feeling that any clothes that don’t get sent out to be dry-cleaned, or aren’t bought new in some sort of package, aren’t really clean. Yeah, they might smell nice, and the stains are gone… but there’s some sort of mystical ooze that takes professionals to remove from clothes.
…straight into the wash! Sometimes twice.
Feels better, smells betters and is a hell of a lot more sanitary. God only know what 3rd world erchin has been living under/dribbling on/dressing wounds with this fabric
I only make an exception for new motorcycle helmets, for obvious reasons. But then, I’m a hell of a lot more picky when it comes to buying them!
Since when have bedsheets been made out of used fabric?
Nope, never wash clothes, towels or bedsheets prior to first use, and I’ve somehow made it to age 53 without ill effect. Firstly, I doubt that customers drool on items in stores with any great frequency. Secondly, I tend to buy new clothes, towels and sheets without any obvious stains or marks on them, so I’m not going to worry too much about who might have handled them before. Thirdly, last week I bought a leather jacket. How the hell would I wash that before use?
In all seriousness, I do think about the possibility of residual chemicals, but I’ve felt no obvious effects so far and I’m only ever going to sleep on new sheets for a few days at a time before they are washed anyway. My mother and sister both give me stick about it though, that’s probably the worst thing.
Nope - for me, the best part of buying new sheets is sleeping on them the first night when they have that “new” feeling to them.
You’ve never worked retail, have you?
Do you use the type of deodorant that comes as a blue-colored stick? That stuff gives me a terrible rash. I use the gel-type deodorants, and never have any trouble.
As for the OP, I wash new sheets to get the starch out. I don’t want to feel like I’m sleeping under a sheet of plywood.
Yes. I like soft sheets. True they come sealed in a package, but I still wash them. I don’t wash comforters or blankets prior to use, though.
Re the underwear: I never used to, but now I do. I got into the habit of washing things when new because of my MIL. When she would give stuff (clothes) to my kids, they stank of cigarette smoke. So, I would wash them prior to them wearing them. The habit grew and now I wash all undergarments before wearing, as well as towels and sheets. I don’t wash kitchen towels prior to use, oddly enough. My MIL no longer smokes, but she’s not buying Cinderella undies for my daughter anymore, either. Regular clothes I don’t wash prior to wearing.
Oh, and I do wash pajamas before use (not that we buy a lot of pj’s-we’re more a t-shirt and boxer type family).
Nope. I have sensitive skin, but I’ve never had a problem with rashes from new sheets. Many times from various types of laundry detergent, though.
You beat me to it! I always washed stuff before I wore it because the clothes smelled/felt a bit odd off the rack…but then I worked a fitting room. Now I wash everything because of some of the people I saw trying on clothes!
Of course you should wash new sheets, as well as almost everything else. New textiles have chemicals on them for different purposes (could be referred to as “sizing”). I’ve even heard that textiles coming out of China have been known to have formaldehyde on them.
New sheets right out the package are stiff and have a chemical smell. I couldn’t imagine not washing them.
Some links:
Boy Catches Fire After Wearing Pajamas With 500 Times The Safe Level Of Formaldehyde
Chinese-Made Children’s Clothes Contaminated With Formaldehyde
Doing a quick Google search, here are some more cites about chemicals on clothes and bedding…
Wash new clothes or bedding first before wearing or putting on the bed. That “new” smell is a potent mixture of chemicals such as formaldehyde and urea resins, and they should be removed. The chemicals are used to “finish” fabric for a range of purposes including stain resistance, mercerizing, keeping them from wrinkling, and even sometimes for disinfecting. Most contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which, like formaldehyde, are often sensitizers and suspected carcinogens.
http://www.grist.org/advice/ask/2002/07/30/umbra-clothing/index.html
Chemicals are used to produce and process fabrics, dye them, make them wrinkle-free, clean them, and, keep them from becoming insect nests during shipping. Many of these chemicals will give off gas either when newly applied or throughout their lives. … Wash new clothing before you wear it…
http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/1066/New-Clothes/
In order for clothes to maintain their look and avoid being shop soiled, manufacturers add a chemical finish… One of the chemicals that is used to protect garments is: Formaldehyde - which helps prevent mildew and is most common for clothing that needs to be transported long distances. … We should also wash new clothing because we really don’t know where it has been. Who has tried it on? What are other people’s hygiene habits like? Think about the possible contamination that can happen through shipping. What are the storage facilities like in a warehouse or factory? Do any of these places have insect or vermin problems? The same principle applies to bed linen and towels.
I wash everything! Eleanorigby reminds me a story about a bloke who had a triple bypass and was recovering nicely post surgery, when he was due for a shower. The nurses were alarmed to find that his torso, arms and legs had turned bluish, indicating a heart or respiratory problem. His surgeons and doctors had tele-conferences with colleagues around the country to try and diagnose what was happening. Then his wife confessed she hadn’t had time to wash his new blue pjs.