Do you wash your newly bought clothes before you wear them?

@freymind (1351)
Philippines
February 11, 2010 12:20pm CST
Do you wash the clothes that you buy first before you wear them? I had received an email before regarding a scientist who worked in a remote country who wore her brand new bra before washing it. A few weeks later, her boobs were getting sore and she went to the doctor for the check up. The doctor put bandages on them because it became really swollen, a few days when she went back to the doctor to put fresh bandages, to their horror, her the middle part of her boobs has so many holes in it and there are like worms inside it eating her mammary glands. Never had I worn anything that is brand new without washing them...
12 responses
• United States
11 Feb 10
Sounds like an urban legend to me, have you found any legit news sites that confirm this story? Not that washing your clothes before you wear them is unnecessary or silly. It's smart, especially if you buy the clothes used. I don't usually wash anything before wearing it unless I bought it used from goodwill or a thrift store.
1 person likes this
@freymind (1351)
• Philippines
11 Feb 10
I don't know if this is urban legend or not, the email that i had was like years ago, and there's a picture of the scientist. That's what really scared me. Definitely a smart way. Have you watched an episode of CSI or Medical Investigation I think, not so sure what series it was, where in the teenagers bought some pants in the store and well the pants were soaked accidentally with rat poison and the girls became bed ridden and slipped to coma after they had worn the pants. Don't know if its true or not but its better safe than sorry.
@breisa (165)
• New Zealand
19 Jun 10
Yes... I do wash my new clothes before using them. Clothes from stores are not 100% clean because many people go in the mall everyday and would try to wear it to see if it fits! Just imagine, the dirt and odor that might contaminate you. You do wash your new clothes right?
@zoey7879 (3092)
• United States
15 Feb 10
I have to agree with allyoftherain.. It does sound much like an urban legend. I always wash clothes when I receive them, regardless if they come from a secondhand store, a friend or relative, or brand new off of the shelf. I do this for numerous reasons, the biggest being in case they were returns that there are no remnants of any cleaners, to help set the dyes, and to help get rid of germs that might be recently piled up onto the item from multiple people handling it. Also, because I'm very very allergic to a product that's common in most perfumes, detergents, cosmetics, and hand lotions... This helps assure that I don't have a bad reaction in the event that these things might have been transferred to the clothing from previous shoppers touching the items.
• Philippines
3 Mar 10
yes i wash them first coz it might be very itchy or irritable to my skin if not coz i dont know where do they put it during sewing. and theres still dust on them even if they look clean. i also dont like to wear them as other people might smell them as they will know its new coz of the smell. but in case of emergency like what happened to my niece during out vacation when she accidentally slipped on the water and she got wet, we need to buy new clothes and she wear them up in the store after we pay.
@puccagirl (7294)
• Israel
19 Jun 10
I am not sure this is a true story, but I think it probably for the best to wash your stuff when you get it. I always wash the stuff I get that is vintage, or second hand (I love those bargains!), or if I get stuff off Ebay, but if it is "new" stuff from a store, I can be a bit lazy with it sometimes... I try to wash those too, before wearing anything, but it doesn't always work...
@asliah (11137)
• Philippines
7 Dec 12
hi, when i have a new clothes that i buy i always wash it first before i will use it because they are dirty,and aside from that i get easily irritating when i use a clothes without washing,so i will make it sure to wash them all before using it.
@cripfemme (7698)
• United States
12 Feb 10
Yes i do i tend do have a lot of values and find that washing my clothes makes it less likely for me to react to the dye and other chemicals.
@cher913 (25782)
• Canada
11 Feb 10
well i am in North America and i dont wash my new clothes before i wear them. the only time i actually do wash them is if i buy them from a thrift store (Because they are used). i have never heard of this before! scary!
@Preciousgem (1182)
• Philippines
12 Feb 10
I usually wash it, if it is come form cheap store, before i boil it in boiling water, the wash it in the washing Machine.
@olepmis (840)
• Philippines
14 Feb 10
Maybe it is not the bra that cause the boobs to be swollen. You just wear the bra for a day or 2 then wash it. The boobs may have been sore/infected before wearing the unwashed bra. Perhaps the scientist is untidy in her body so the infections were severe.
• Indonesia
11 Feb 10
I always wash my new clothes before i wear them...
@jes2ie (50)
• Singapore
12 Feb 10
Hi freymind, Oh my, that's scary! Whether it's true or not, it's a good reminder to me that you never know where your new clothes have been to... I don't usually wash them but now, think it's better to be safe than sorry.