Do you really need to wash clothes before wearing them?
Yes, you should wash clothes before wearing them. Even if your new top or pair of leggings is fresh out of the package, it could be contaminated with germs, toxic chemicals, dirt and more. Processing textiles is a multistep process that frequently takes place in several countries, says Larissa Shepherd, PhD, an assistant professor in the Department of Fiber Science & Apparel Design at the Cornell College of Human Ecology in Ithaca, New York. "These textiles have been touched by many hands, gone through storage and transportation, and may have residual chemicals and dyes left on them from processing," she explains.
And that's just the chemical load. New clothing is often filthy, says Toronto-based microbiologist Jason Tetro, better known as The Germ Guy. "Clothes tend to travel through a number of different environments, where they may end up being contaminated with a variety of bacteria and viruses."
If you don't wear a new item for a while, can you just skip washing it?
Sorry, but no. There's no safe waiting period to put new clothes aside and skip washing them. Harsh chemicals stick around long-term (VOCs are called forever chemicals for a reason). Still, stashing the new threads in your closet to wear later may accomplish something on the germ front since viruses last only a matter of weeks on surfaces, Tetro says. Bacteria, on the other hand, can survive for months.
What's the best way to wash new items?
Wash your new clothes according to the label's instructions. Ideally, use a gentle laundry detergent, plus "an antimicrobial agent — an enzyme or a disinfectant," advises Tetro. You should also sort by color since there's a chance excess dyes may run in the wash. If you notice a new item of clothing bleeding in the wash, consider giving it a second wash before wearing to protect your skin and other garments from run-off dye.
Oh, and don't skip the dryer if your new clothes can handle it: Dryers have superpowers, and a big one is killing germs.