This is a tip handed down to me by my grandma and my Mom. I grew up in a small town and my Mom was a snob. Hmm… I don’t think she’d like me saying that 😉 But growing up, she shopped for our clothes in other places, never in town so we’d only shop once or twice a year, around Chinese New Year (and thanks to Mom, we stood out in our out of town finery! 😉 )
When she got home, she’d empty all the year’s worth of clothes for the whole family into a HUGE tub and handwash every single item before we could wear them. She said it was more hygienic and that the clothes won’t be as hot when we wear them.
When I grew up, I did the same because I always listen to my Mom and because I found from experience that washing new clothes before wearing them made them more comfortable. Truly, they did not feel as hot when you wear them for the first time.
Later I read somewhere that it was advisable to wash all new clothes before wearing them, because you do not know where your suppoedly “new” clothes have been! I’ve been to a clothing factory/warehouse before. Its not the cleanest place in the world and yes, clothes are piled higgledy piggledy all over the place, and on the floors where you just don’t know what has been where.
So, no matter where my clothes come from, even if they look clean and are brand new, and come packed in plastic, I always wash them before wearing them for the first time. I take no chances!
Do you do this too?
Paris B
I do! I do! Listened to my mom as well, and the habit stuck. I told my friends time and time again to wash their new clothes, but they just wouldn’t! They don’t want the ‘new’ smell of their MNGs to go away. Ridiculous!
I used to not wash my new clothes before wearing them. As they’ll be thrown to wash anyway at the end of the day, so was quite lazy. Til I had ababy. For her sake, no choice have to wash every single new clothing that comes along my way, so as to remove any chemicals or starch that’s on the new clothing.
LOL Even if they smell good, I still wash it first no matter what 😀 Even if it’s a pretty towel, I still hand wash it for the first time no matter how lazy I am 😛 Can’t change a habit that easy right? 😛
I normally do but if it’s something expensive and delicate I would wear them once first ( for a short period eg nice dinner out or wedding reception) as I never know how they would turn out after! Careless dry cleaners have ruinned at least two pieces before 🙁
haha i don’t.. because i’d feel too “heart pain” to wash new clothes then i’d feel they’re not new anymore as they lose the store-bought smell 😀