# Do You Wash New Clothes Before You Wear them? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 10, 2021, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-wash-new-clothes-before-you-wear-them/946157 "2021-07-10T14:47:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2021, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-wash-new-clothes-before-you-wear-them/946157/61 "2021-07-13T03:44:57Z")
> [@Ulfreida](#): > > You don’t wash your clothes in the sink while traveling? Weird. I always do. Never, if I spill something on a shirt, then yes I’ll soak it in water to try to mitigate damage. In Europe, I look for one of those pick up and drop off laundry services when I’m in a city long enough and know I have a day of wiggle room if there’s a delay. Even laundrettes are becoming rare and often not in areas near the tourists ---
**Author:** ![Ulfreida](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ulfreida/32/8014_2.png) [@Ulfreida](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulfreida)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2021, 10:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-wash-new-clothes-before-you-wear-them/946157/62 "2021-07-13T10:51:34Z")
How very limiting. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2021, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-wash-new-clothes-before-you-wear-them/946157/63 "2021-07-13T14:32:36Z")
> [@Ulfreida](#): > > You don’t wash your clothes in the sink while traveling? Weird. I always do. Only the clothes I work out in. They get nasty pretty fast if I don’t do something. ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2021, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-wash-new-clothes-before-you-wear-them/946157/64 "2021-07-13T16:39:27Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > Only the clothes I work out in. They get nasty pretty fast if I don’t do something . (username / post combo) ---
**Author:** ![Ulfreida](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ulfreida/32/8014_2.png) [@Ulfreida](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulfreida)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2021, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-wash-new-clothes-before-you-wear-them/946157/65 "2021-07-13T18:07:58Z")
> [@bordelond](#): > > (username / post combo) I saw that! ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2021, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-wash-new-clothes-before-you-wear-them/946157/66 "2021-07-13T23:40:38Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > Yes, they’ve got formaldehyde on them. > [@Jackmannii](#): > > Textiles are commonly treated with formaldehyde-based residues that may potentially induce allergic contact dermatitis in sensitive individuals In hockey it was known as [‘The Gunk’](http://www.lockerroomdoctor.com/the-gunk-a-virulent-oozing-rash/). Personally, I wash new underwear and sheets. New shirts only get washed first if they are too stiff. ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2021, 7:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-wash-new-clothes-before-you-wear-them/946157/67 "2021-07-14T07:09:54Z")
Almost always. To remove excess lint, excess dye, or anything else that might be on them. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2021, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-wash-new-clothes-before-you-wear-them/946157/68 "2021-07-14T12:50:09Z")
No. I like the feel of new, unwashed clothes. ---
**Author:** ![Saintly\_Loser](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saintly_loser/32/4045_2.png) [@Saintly\_Loser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saintly_Loser)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2021, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-wash-new-clothes-before-you-wear-them/946157/69 "2021-07-14T17:50:39Z")
Yes. Always. Every time, every article of clothing. Even with new dress shirts, they go off to the place that does my shirts before I wear them. As to other issues that came up in this thread, I’ll use any old laundry detergent. I have no sensitivities, and (luckily) neither do my wife or my children. So whatever the best deal is at Costco, that’s what I use. I’ve never used fabric softener. I don’t see the point. My wife feels differently. We don’t wash our clothes together. For the kids’ stuff, I don’t care enough to argue. So dryer sheets are used for their clothes. ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2021, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-wash-new-clothes-before-you-wear-them/946157/70 "2021-07-14T20:40:55Z")
> [@bob\_2](#): > > As an aside, I learned how steaming can get wrinkles out of material. I had to collect a load of evening dresses from a manufacturer which had been made for a well-known store but rejected because they were impossible to iron. We hung them on rails in a small room and left a bucket of boiling water on a low gas in there all day. He sold those dresses for a good profit once all the wrinkles were gone. I’m surprised the store didn’t either know about steaming or didn’t have one of those handheld steamers. It’s a pretty universally known technique I thought. We don’t use dryer sheets or softener – we use those wool dryer balls to reduce static. That’s it. ---
**Author:** ![lobotomyboy63](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobotomyboy63/32/2900_2.png) [@lobotomyboy63](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lobotomyboy63)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2021, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-wash-new-clothes-before-you-wear-them/946157/71 "2021-07-14T20:48:18Z")
Yes. I thought they used a chemical that kept moths and other insects from eating the fabric while it was in storage etc. I heard it can cause a rash when it comes in contact with sweat. Likewise new sheets and towels. ---
**Author:** ![Dendarii\_Dame](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bbce88/32.png) [@Dendarii\_Dame](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dendarii_Dame)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2021, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-wash-new-clothes-before-you-wear-them/946157/72 "2021-07-14T22:43:20Z")
Yes, I wash them. (Although not coats.) ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2021, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-wash-new-clothes-before-you-wear-them/946157/73 "2021-07-19T20:13:29Z")
Always. Who knows what they have on them, certainly could be pesticides, rodent or roach droppings, blood sweat and tears of the workers depending on the factory. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-wash-new-clothes-before-you-wear-them/946157.md?page=3)