To wear new clothes safely and hygienically, it is always recommended to wash them before wearing them.
New clothes might look clean, but they can carry unseen contaminants from the manufacturing process, handling, and being tried on by various people. According to the provided reference, they might have bacteria, fungi, and insects.
Why Wash New Clothes Before Wearing?
The primary reason to wash new clothes before putting them on is hygiene. When multiple people try on the same garments in a store, there's a risk of transferring microbes and pests.
- Bacteria and Fungi: These can thrive on fabric, especially if handled frequently or stored in certain conditions. Skin contact can transfer these to you.
- Insects: Lice or scabies are mentioned as potential transfers from one person to another through trying on clothes.
- Chemicals: While not explicitly in the reference, new clothes can also contain residual dyes or finishing chemicals from manufacturing that might irritate sensitive skin.
Therefore, washing new clothes helps to remove these potential contaminants, making them safer and cleaner for you to wear.
Best Practice: A Simple Step
The most straightforward answer, supported by the reference, is:
- Launder: Wash the new clothing item according to its care label instructions.
- Dry: Dry the item appropriately (tumble dry or air dry).
- Wear: Once clean and dry, your new garment is ready to wear.
This simple step significantly reduces the high chance that bacteria, scabies, fungus, and insects like lice may transfer from one person to another person while they try the same clothes.