Why Should You Wash New Clothes Before Wearing Them?
It is recommended to wash your new clothes before putting them on – though it may be tempting (and exciting!) to rip the tag off a new shirt or a new pair of jeans to wear them right after purchasing.
New clothes can harbor allergens, fungi, or potentially irritating and harmful bacteria from where they were made and stored before hitting the racks. Some new clothing items may also have residual chemicals, ink, or dye on them from the manufacturing process, which can discolor or irritate your skin as well. Dyes, chemicals, and the fabric itself can cause contact dermatitis, which is an allergic reaction or irritation on the skin. Symptoms of contact dermatitis include redness, itching, scaling, burning eyes, and chest tightness.
In addition, you just don’t know what kind of journey your newest items went on before you bought them. Though the clothes are new to you, others may have tried them on or even owned them before you. People can transfer their skin cells, germs, and viruses to clothes while handling or trying them on, although the risk of getting sick from this is lower than from person-to-person contact.
Washing clothes before wearing them is your best bet to maintain the quality and integrity of the items and to keep any potential irritants, allergens, or viruses away from your skin.
When Should You Wash New Clothes?
There’s no exact timeline for washing the new items in your wardrobe. While there may be bacteria, chemicals, or dyes on your new purchases, you don’t need to be in a rush to toss them into the washing machine as soon as you get home from the store. Simply keep your new purchases separate from the rest of your wardrobe and clean them before you want to wear them.
How to Wash New Clothes
1. Check Items
Turn new clothes inside out, button all buttons, and zip up all the zippers. Check all pockets for any items.
2. Add
Add mild laundry detergent and OxiClean™ Versatile Stain Remover (fill to Line 1) to the drum before inserting new clothes.
*Test OxiClean™ Versatile Stain Remover in an inconspicuous area prior to use. Do not use on wool, wool blends, silk, silk blends, leather, or fabrics labeled dry clean only.
OxiClean™ Versatile Stain Remover is chlorine-free and safe on all colors, making it perfect for your new clothes. It works in both HE and standard washing machines, and it can help boost any laundry detergent. Always check the packaging for instructions and follow the care label on your activewear.
You can also use OxiClean™ Versatile Stain Remover to clean your new clothes! It’s safe to use on colors and it contains no dyes or perfumes. Try soaking your new clothes in a mixture of OxiClean™ Versatile Stain Remover powder and water (follow the package instructions) before washing to get your items ready to wear for the first time.
Should You Use Hot or Cold Water to Wash New Clothes?
It is generally best to wash new clothes in cold water to avoid color bleeding and shrinkage. Cold water is gentler on new items, which will help maintain the quality and integrity of the clothes. Clothes made from cotton, linen, and polyester blends can be washed in warm water.
Follow the directions on the item’s laundry care label to ensure that you are washing your new clothes in line with the manufacturer’s instructions.
Can You Wash New Clothes with Old Clothes?
While washing new clothes with old clothes is convenient, and it can save on water (and time), it’s best to separate new clothes out from the rest of your laundry.
Why? Because dye can transfer from new clothes to old clothes. If you’ve ever washed a new pair of dark-wash jeans with a white t-shirt, then you’ve likely seen this happen first-hand. Plus, if you don’t know how exactly your new items will wash, it’s best to err on the side of caution and keep them away from your trusted wardrobe favorites while you figure it out.
How to Remove Odors from New Clothes
Similarly, you can use OxiClean™ Odor Blasters™ Versatile Odor & Stain Remover Powder to eliminate any unpleasant smells like sweat, body odor, or from musty towels, that may have been on your new items when you bought them.
1. Mix
Use a full scoop per gallon of water. Submerge items in solution after dissolved.
2. Soak
3-6 hours. Depending on severity of stains or odors, some items may require more time to soak.
How Should You Wash New Jeans?
Before you break in your new denim, run your jeans through the washing machine at least once, as they tend to leave ink residue on skin and other clothes (and they can continue to do so even after a few washes). Before you start the machine, turn your jeans inside out to minimize the dye transfer, and wash them on a cold, gentle cycle. It’s optimal to air-dry jeans instead of putting them in the dryer, as they tend to shrink and lose their shape with dryer heat.
While you may want to wash all your new items at the same time, avoid washing your jeans with any new workout items or other delicate clothes. The rough texture of the denim can cause some wear and tear when mixed in the washing machine with the synthetic materials that are often found in workout gear and with any delicate fabrics.
How Should You Wash New Workout Clothes?
Wash your new workout clothes in cold water on a gentle machine cycle. Workout clothes are generally made from sweat-wicking fabrics like polyester, nylon, spandex, and other synthetic fibers, so your items will maintain their shape and strength when they are washed this way.
Hot water can stretch out workout clothes and cause them to lose their elasticity. Similarly, tossing your new workout gear in the dryer can stretch it out, shrink it, and even lead the fabric to pill. Instead, hang your new workout clothes up to air dry after washing in cold water.
How Should You Wash New Sweaters?
Sweaters tend to be items that you would wash in cold water only, since they are typically made from wool, cotton, cashmere, or other synthetic fibers. Sweaters should also be air-dried so they can maintain their shape.
How Should You Wash New Baby Clothes?
Washing baby clothes is crucial to keep irritants, chemicals, dyes, and any other potential allergens away from your newborns. Separate your baby’s clothes from the rest of your load and wash them with a gentle detergent. Read the laundry care label to determine if you should wash with warm or cold water.
Will Washing New Clothes Ruin Them?
Washing new clothes should not ruin them, although you should check the care tag inside for proper washing care instructions (and to see if the items should be drycleaned instead of washed in a machine).
In fact, washing new clothes before wearing them may help preserve their lifespan.
How to Wash New Clothes without Shrinking Them
Washing clothes in a gentle cycle with cold water will help prevent them from shrinking upon the first wash. As mentioned, heat from the washing machine or the dryer leads to shrinking. If you plan to dry your new items, do so on a tumble dry setting to further prevent any shrinking.
Keep New Clothes Looking Fresh with OxiClean™
Washing new clothes should be as exciting as the moment when you bought them, and it is necessary. Pay close attention to the laundry care label and remember that cold water is best when it comes to color preservation, shrinking prevention, and keeping your items looking as new as possible.