There’s nothing like the look of brand-new clothes that don’t need to be ironed or steamed, but you probably should wash them before you wear them. According to the experts, wearing new clothes before washing them might lead to skin problems.
Harmful chemicals are often used during the manufacturing process
You might think new clothes are safe if they look unsoiled, but they could actually be harmful to your skin if they contain toxins, which can leach into your skin.
Lee W. Johnson, founder of the men’s clothing company Old Bull Lee, explains that most apparel manufacturing factories are located in highly trafficked urban industrial areas with a high concentration of people, trucks and manufacturing. He adds that these factories tend to have “questionable air quality” and are cooled by open windows, which allow pollutants to circulate and attach themselves to the fabrics.
“A lot of airborne industrial pollutants are flying around and they likely settle onto things during that time spent while they are being manufactured. By the time the clothes get to you, they might look OK but there’s a lot of stuff sitting on them that you might not see,” he added.
Even if a factory has better air circulation, the chemicals used in the process can be dangerous.
Luckily, cleaning your new duds isn’t a strenuous task and you can rely on the same tips your mom passed down.
Johnson suggests you “turn new clothes inside out, give them a light cold wash (cold to retain the color) and tumble dry (low) to knock off all the invisible soot and toxins that might be on the surface from just their exposure to the surroundings during the process of manufacturing.”
If the pieces are delicate or you’re concerned about damaging them before you have the chance to wear them, you can always hand-wash them, according to Shirazi: “A very simple, quick hand-wash with a little bit of detergent is all you really need to get some of the chemicals and dyes and things off the clothing before putting it in contact with your skin.”
Talking of new clothes, we have added some new items to our store. Take a peek at them.
