Do You Rinse Your New Clothes Before Wearing Them?

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   quicksandposted 11 years ago

   Do You Rinse Your New Clothes Before Wearing Them?
   
   I do. I rinse them in plain water with a few drops of disinfectant added. I leave them to soak for about an hour so that the disinfectant can sort of "get to work!" Then I spin-dry them and put them out in the sun the other side out. You never know who's tried them on for size. If you are not in a habit of doing this, would you consider it a good thing to get used to?

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   duffsmomposted 11 years ago

   No I don't wash or rinse new clothing before wearing them.  I understand your concerns but most serious bacteria and viruses would not survive on cloth for very long.  I worry more about toilet seats, grocery carts, money etc.  Those are handled far more often and by people of all different hygiene inclinations.
   
   Someone who is out shopping for clothing is likely more hygienic that someone grocery shopping...we all need to eat but we all can't afford new clothes.  So grocery stores see a huge variety of hygiene levels.
   
   So because there is a multitude of ways to pick up bacteria, viruses and disease I have forced myself not to become overly worried about it because we cannot sterilize every one. 
   
   I do tend to get a little resentful if I am checked out by a grocery clerk with a cold then 3 days later get sick!  Seriously, as unreasonable as it is, I want to go see them and say, "SEE WHAT YOU DID!"  But being a sane person, I don't! :-)

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      quicksandposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Oh yes, come to think of it, there are other ways to pick up bacteria as well. Thanks for responding. Cheers!

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3. 59

   mohiuahmedposted 11 years ago

   No, I didn't rinse the new dresses before wearing them,
   I understand your thinking, but as a garments merchandiser I know it very well that at the time knitting and dyeing of the fabrics, a chemical washing process -named angime and silicon wash removed all bacteria from the fabrics. And i thingk its hygienic for us.
   For these reason it didn't bother me.

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      quicksandposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Thank you for responding.

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   Lisa HWposted 11 years ago

   I just wash everything new before I use it.  I did a one-day stint working behind the scenes at Marshalls and saw what goes on with the new clothes and bedding (etc.).  Who knows what goes on at the factory before they get to the back of Marshalls, but trucks come in with giant boxes of clothes and there's no guarantee that clothes don't end up on the floor.  Besides, there's always people knocking stuff on the floor once it's on the racks.
   
   I suppose it's a good enough idea to do the disinfectant and sun thing, but it's nothing I'd do.  I guess I figure, there's a point where my immune system has to fight off some things.  I suppose, too, I think that the chances of running into a germ that is spread through contact with an object are probably a lot less than running into clothes tried on by someone without such a "germy situation".  I touch shopping cart handles and use restaurant tables a lot more than I buy new clothes.  There are so many kinds of germs everywhere that we're all exposed to on a regular basis (and may even carry around with us but not get sick from).  The person who tried on a dress with a condition may have that condition from the same kind of germs that we already have, or have been exposed to regularly.  Who gets sick (or a condition) can depend on immune system, previous exposure (and immunity), and degree of exposure.
   
   I'm not saying I'm right (or even that I'm just not being completely ignorant on this).  Just saying it's my present way of thinking.      I certainly don't think your approach is a bad one, though.

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      quicksandposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Ya, my approach is one of caution. Lol! Thanks for responding!

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   A Little TRUTHposted 11 years ago

   I do when I think about it, not for germs, but for the chemicals.  I wash and rinse with the rest of the dirty clothes.  Who knows what chemicals are residual, or even purposefully left on the clothes from the manufacturing and cleaning processes.  Add a little skin moisture/oil, and the chemicals are absorbed into your bloodstream - unknown chemicals with unknown effects.  Or maybe somebody does know, but they aren't talking.
   
   I also rinse twice with whole-house filtered water after each wash (new or dirty clothes) to dilute the chemicals from the laundry detergent.  I'd rather not have toxins leaching into my body if I can easily avoid it.

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      quicksandposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      There's a lot of truth in what you say, A Little TRUTH!

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   Modonikaposted 11 years ago

   Yes, I do. Its all because of chemicals..clothing smells due to that sometimes. Skin allergies is common problem whenever I tried new clothing without rinsing. So, to solve it, I used to rinse my new clothes. I do not use any disinfectant..

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      quicksandposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Thanks Modonika. Thanks for commenting!

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   fitmomposted 11 years ago

   I always wash clothes before wearing them. New clothes often have formaldehyde residue on them and I don't want that to absorb into my skin. Our skin is our largest organ and has no filter. I don't worry about germs as much as I worry about chemicals and toxins. For that reason, I wash all new clothes before wearing them.

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      quicksandposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Great! Now I am assured that I am not insane!

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   BlossomSBposted 11 years ago

   I do, too. My Mother taught me to do this years ago and it really makes sense. We also washed out any linen to get the 'size' out of the fabric, underwear to make sure it was hygienic and the same with towels. Like you, they were given extra time outside in the sunshine to make sure they were clean, and I still do this.

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      quicksandposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      That's good. So I am not the only one!

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   danielledremptposted 11 years ago

   That would take the exitement away from "new" clothes.

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      quicksandposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      It sure would!

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10. 62

    Rosyel Sawaliposted 11 years ago

    We grew up doing this all the time. Before we wear any new clothes, we should wash them first. Just want to be sure they're clean and all.

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       quicksandposted 11 years agoin reply to this

       Great, thanks for posting!

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    Li Galoposted 11 years ago

    If I buy it from a department store, I never wash it first.  If I buy it from a thrift shop, you better believe I'm gonna wash it.  I haven't heard of any thrift shops that wash the clothes first yet!

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