# New clothes - wash or not?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-clothes-wash-or-not/102659>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [April 9, 2002, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-clothes-wash-or-not/102659 "2002-04-09T14:02:46Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![slackergirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b38774/32.png) [@slackergirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slackergirl)\
**Post date:** [April 10, 2002, 5:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-clothes-wash-or-not/102659/21 "2002-04-10T05:59:47Z")

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It depends. Uusually I wear, but I am allergic to one of the finishing product they use on bedding - it smells slightly of vinegar, and if I let it come in contact I swell up and break out into hives.

Unfortunately I discovered this while sleeping nude on my brand new flannel sheets my mom gave me for christmas when I was in college. I had hives everywhere. And I do mean everywhere. For days.

Anyway, sometimes I can smell it on clothes too, so I wash them out to be sure.

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**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\
**Post date:** [April 10, 2002, 7:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-clothes-wash-or-not/102659/22 "2002-04-10T07:14:44Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by slackergirl \*  
> **Unfortunately I discovered this while sleeping nude on my brand new flannel sheets my mom gave me for christmas when I was in college.**

You should have called me. I would have protected you by interposing my body between you and the sheets.

I’m really very noble.

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**Author:** ![slackergirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b38774/32.png) [@slackergirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slackergirl)\
**Post date:** [April 10, 2002, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-clothes-wash-or-not/102659/23 "2002-04-10T17:46:44Z")

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Well sir, I’ll have to keep that in mind. I think I’ll be due for a new set again this christmas. 😃

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**Author:** ![Lady\_Venom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9fc348/32.png) [@Lady\_Venom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lady_Venom)\
**Post date:** [April 10, 2002, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-clothes-wash-or-not/102659/24 "2002-04-10T19:28:31Z")

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I used to be a wear type of person until one day in 1995 when I developed an allergy to the “sizing” used in clothing that makes them “stiff”

I learned from the doctors that the sizing can stay in the clothing or bedding for up to 3 washes, therefore I need to wash at least 4 times as to not blow up like the Marshmallow guy from Ghostbusters!!

ouch, I still remember the pain!! :eek:

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**Author:** ![Godfrey\_Daniels](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Godfrey\_Daniels](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Godfrey_Daniels)\
**Post date:** [April 10, 2002, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-clothes-wash-or-not/102659/25 "2002-04-10T23:47:06Z")

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Wash. Always. What **FairyChatMom** said in the OP describes my feelings perfectly.

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