Should You Wash Clothes From Online?
Who doesn’t love online shopping for clothes? You spend hours browsing through different websites until that perfect garment catches your eye. With just a click of a button, that outfit will make its way to your front door, without you having to leave your home to go and buy it.
Research has shown that 48% of shoppers browse e-commerce stores for fashion purchases, which isn’t surprising given how convenient it is. But it raises a question: should you wash clothes from online before wearing them?
After all, they’re brand new, so surely they don’t need washing, right? Wrong! In this article, we explain why you should wash new clothing before you wear it.
Quick Answer: Yes, you should wash clothes bought online before wearing them. New garments are often handled by multiple people during packing and shipping, treated with finishing chemicals, and may contain loose dye and pollutants, all of which can irritate your skin. A quick wash before wearing removes these risks and protects your skin.
Should You Wash Clothes From Online?
As laundry experts, we would highly recommend washing all your new clothing before you wear it for the first time.
The founder of men’s clothing company Old Bull Lee, Lee W. Johnson, says that most cloth manufacturing companies or plants are situated in concentrated and highly trafficked areas. The questionable air quality in them forces the windows open and as a result, dirt along with pollutants stick to the fabric.
He adds: Even factories with good air quality are not safe from industrial pollutants that are flying around. Even so, to some extent, the chemicals used in the process can be harmful. A clothing item might look OK superficially but there is a lot happening on the surface level that you cannot see.
You may believe that the new garment you bought from an online shop is completely clean because it arrived fresh and neatly folded inside a crisp plastic bag. However, think again.
That new clothing item is probably not as clean as it appears. Dust and germs will naturally accumulate during the manufacturing process, especially if your garment has been used on a sewing machine or cutting machine.
Following this, the garment will have been transported from the manufacturing location to the stock location, where it will have sat in storage, probably in a dusty warehouse, until it made its way over to you.
The garment may also have been worn by other customers before it was returned to the business and re-sold to you.
Therefore, even new clothes can gather dust, dirt, and bacteria, which can become trapped in the fibres of the fabric. This is especially true if you buy clothes that were manufactured in a different country from yours. That means multiple hands have touched and handled your garment, from the moment it was manufactured until it was packed in the box that was delivered to you.
So, why should you wash your new clothes before you wear them?
1. You will wash away germs, dirt, and grime.
The nastiest germs and bugs can infiltrate your new clothing. There could be all sorts of bacteria, fungi, viruses, and even lice and scabies on the surfaces, which are not visible to the naked eye.
An American microbiology professor at New York University tested new clothing from popular chain stores and discovered there were skin flora, respiratory secretions, faecal bacteria, yeast and vaginal organisms on these supposedly ‘new’ garments.
Hence, new clothing can expose you to harmful germs, which will only be killed when the garments are washed with hot water and laundry detergent.
2. There could be chemical irritants that were left behind in the fabric.
Have you ever worn new clothes and then found yourself scratching your skin because of that ‘new clothes itch’?
That may be because the clothing manufacturers have coated the garments in preservatives such as formaldehyde. The purpose is to remove wrinkles and to repel mould growth, in case there is moisture in the shipping container when the clothes are being transported from A to B.
Why is formaldehyde a harmful chemical? Well, it is linked to health problems such as asthma, dermatitis, nausea, and cancer. In fact, exposure to formaldehyde can cause uncomfortable side effects such as irritation to the skin, throat, eyes and nose, and even long-term damage to the lungs.
Fortunately, any harmful chemicals on new clothing can be easily removed with just one spin cycle in the washing machine.
3. New clothes could contain dyes which could transfer to your skin.
Fabrics are often dyed in different colours. When you wear your new outfit for the first time, these dyes can transfer to your skin. This happens a lot with very dark jeans or vibrant shades of red and blue.
You will know this has happened when the colours on your new clothes start bleeding and leave stains on your skin. These dyes can cause severe skin reactions, especially if the wearer is allergic to them, which can be dangerous (especially for young children).
For instance, a common dye used to manufacture clothes is AZO disperse dye, which is a carcinogenic synthetic dye that is easily absorbed by the skin and is linked to contact dermatitis.
Consequently, washing your new clothes before wearing them will wash out that extra dye and prevent any risk of skin reactions.
Can you get an infection from new clothes?
If you have a tiny cut on your body and bacteria from new clothes enter the wound, then this makes you more susceptible to developing infections, which is another reason why you should wash new clothes before wearing them.
It is pivotal to wash underwear before wearing it for the first time. Those undergarments will have been handled by manufacturers, packing and shipping workers, retail workers, and customers. There is a real possibility that the bacteria from these multiple hands will live on the underwear for weeks and months, which can lead to an unpleasant bacterial infection.
Additionally, the chemical irritants on the underwear can expose the wearer to yeast infections, mastitis, as well as swelling of the vulva and contact dermatitis.
Do you wash second-hand clothes before wearing them?
Yes, always. Pre-loved clothing can carry germs, dirt, and odours. You should cold wash clothes to be safe. For full guidance on second-hand clothing, check out this dedicated guide.
Where can I find laundry and dry cleaning services?
We at Love2Laundry offer laundry and dry cleaning services, which you can access from your smartphone.
We operate an on-demand laundry service in London, Manchester, Birmingham, Bolton and Bury.
We provide a door-to-door service, so we will collect your items, wash, dry and fold or hang them up, and then deliver them straight to your door!
Across London, we also offer ironing services, dry cleaning, linen services, shoe repairs, upholstery cleaning and alterations.
All you have to do is place an order online on our website, or through our mobile app (available for iOS and Android).
You can choose a location and time slot that works for you, and our friendly couriers will collect your laundry items. We will then professionally clean your items and return them to you- all within 48 hours!
Weekend and evening slots are available, which is why our laundry and dry cleaning services are so popular with busy families, working professionals and students.
How much does the Love2Laundry service cost?
Our prices are affordable- for example, our ‘wash, dry, and fold’ package starts from £3.10 per kg.
To get a load of laundry washed, choose our ‘6kg Wash Dry & Fold’ package, which is only £18.60. For context, a 6kg wash is enough to wash around 30 shirts or a dozen bath towels.
If you would prefer to separate your laundry into individual items, then we can also accommodate this. For instance, it costs £2.90 to wash, iron, and hang a shirt.
For dry cleaning, we have different costs per item- e.g., the price is just £26.88 to dry clean a two-piece suit and five shirts.
Are you too busy to figure out whether to separate your laundry or go for a 6kg wash? Then simply go on our website and click ‘Skip This Step: Just Send Me A Bag, And I’ll Fill It’.
We offer a 25% discount on laundry and dry cleaning for all new customers, so get booking with Love2Laundry today!
At Love2Laundry, with our ‘Refer a Friend’ scheme, you and your friend can get £5 off if you refer them. There is no limit to how many friends you can refer, so you and your friends can take part in our scheme and make great collective savings!
How do I pay for my order at Love2Laundry?
At Love2Laundry, we are not your typical launderette. We operate a cashless system, so you will pay for your order via our mobile app or online via our website. We accept various forms of payment, including American Express, Visa, and MasterCard.
No more worrying about finding the correct change or physically dropping off your laundry items. Simply place your order with just a click of your fingers, and we will take care of everything!
Read more articles like this.
To read more articles about laundry, dry cleaning, and more, click here to read our blog articles on:
How Much Does It Cost to Run a Washing Machine Per Hour in the UK?
What is Online Laundry Service?
What Is a Self-Service Laundry Called?
Where Is the Nearest Launderette to Me?
Is There Any Laundry App for Dry Cleaning?
How Do You Use the Laundry App?
Stain Removal: 13 Best Ways to Get Stains Out of Whites
What Is the Fastest Way to Do Your Laundry?
How Do You Get Your Laundry Done While Travelling?
FAQs
Is it really necessary to wash brand-new clothes before wearing them?
Yes. Many pollutants and chemicals are attached to new clothes during manufacturing. They are handled by many people during manufacturing, storage, and shipping, so they can carry dirt, dust, and germs. Washing removes this residue before it touches your skin, giving you a cleaner, fresher garment from the first wear.
Can new clothes irritate your skin?
Yes, they can. Some new garments contain finishing chemicals, such as formaldehyde resins used to prevent creasing, which may trigger rashes or itching in sensitive skin. Washing before wearing helps remove this residue and greatly reduces the risk of irritation.
Can dye from new clothes stain your skin?
Yes, it can. Loose dye in dark or bright fabrics may rub off onto skin when you sweat or get wet. Wash new items separately first. Whether you wash clothes inside out, it also helps protect their colour.
Should you wash underwear before wearing it for the first time?
Yes, always. Underwear sits against sensitive skin, and unwashed pairs may carry bacteria or residue from handling and trying on, which can raise the risk of irritation or infection. A wash on the care-label setting makes them safer to wear.
