Yes, You Need to Wash New Clothes Before Wearing Them

Most of us love new clothes! They are "perfect"–colors are bright, lines are crisp and pristine. So why would you ever wash them and risk changing the look before you even get a chance to wear them?
Why You Need to Wash New Clothes Before Wearing

There are three good reasons to wash new clothes, especially pieces like underwear or t-shirts and shorts that are worn in direct contact with your skin, before you wear them.

One reason to wash new clothes is to wash out extra dye that can be transferred to your skin or other garments. Most fabrics made from synthetic fibers (polyester, acrylic) are colored with azo-aniline dyes. These dyes can cause severe skin reactions for people, especially small children, who are allergic to them. If the allergy is severe, the rash will be similar to poison ivy. But even less severe reactions can cause dry, itchy inflamed patches of skin. 

It is possible to transfer lice, scabies, bacteria, and fungus from one person to another person when clothes are tried on. Dressing rooms can become breeding grounds for everything from viruses to athlete's foot. Why take that risk?

And, most importantly, new clothes should be washed to remove the chemical finishes like Urea formaldehyde that manufacturers put on clothes to enhance color or texture. The finishes won't bother everyone, but if you have sensitive skin you can develop a rash especially in constant contact areas like armpits, collars, cuffs, and trouser waists and thighs.

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