Why It’s Best to Wash New Clothes Before Putting Them On
You might think the new clothes are pretty clean and safe to wear, but there is a good chance that you will run into some unpleasant things if you don’t wash them beforehand.
You finally find something that looks good and fits perfectly, which is why you put on new clothes as soon as you get home because you are so excited. Who hasn’t done this at some point? Heidi Mitchell of the Wall Street Journal spoke with Donald Belsito, a professor of dermatology at Columbia University, and it turned out that this was not such a good idea. Mitchell explains:
When it comes to allergens in new clothes, there are two main culprits: dye and formaldehyde resin. Most synthetic fabrics are dyed with azoaniline dyes, which can cause severe poison ivy-like skin reactions in a small group of people who are allergic to them. For others, the reaction to the dyes is less severe and can lead to mildly inflamed, dry, itchy areas of the skin …
Belsito also suggests thinking about where this shirt might have been before it got to you, and what might already have been in the fabric:
“I have seen cases of lice infestation, which may have been transmitted from fitting in a store, and there are certain infectious diseases that can be transmitted through clothing. Another infection I’ve seen from clothing is scabies.
Of course, not all garments are infected or infested with parasites, so don’t panic. This is just an example of why it is important to do your laundry before putting them on, especially if you are buying second hand. Belsito recommends washing new clothes at least once with a double rinse before putting them on, no matter what fabric you are dealing with. Better safe than sorry, especially when shopping with kids. The entire article is worth reading, so check it out at the link below.
Do I need to wash new clothes before putting them on? | Wall Street Journal via Consumerist