아시아뉴스통신

뉴스홈 전체기사 정치 산업ㆍ경제 사회 국제
스포츠 전국 연예·문화 종교 인터뷰 TV

Don't Just Wear Newly-Bought Clothes, Wash Them First!

  • [아시아뉴스통신] Timothy Montales 기자
  • 송고시간 2018-10-01 17:23
  • 뉴스홈 > 국제
Photo Credits: PDPics via Pixabay

We all get too excited when we buy a nice dress or a brand new shirt in a store -- too excited to a point that we tend to wear it immediately without washing it first. After all, there are no stains yet, and no one has worn that piece of clothing except you in the first place.


However, we should wash newly-bought clothes before wearing them, especially underwear, t-shirts, shorts, or any other article of clothing that is worn in direct contact with your skin.


One reason is to wash out extra dye that can be transferred to your skin or other garments that can cause severe skin reactions to people, especially children. Reactions can range from dry, itchy inflamed skin patches to a rash similar to the result of poison ivy contact.


Second, just when you thought no one has worn that clothes prior to buying it, you are wrong. Other people may have tried them on in dressing rooms, which can become breeding grounds for viruses, bacteria, and fungus.


Lastly, new clothes should be washed to remove chemicals such as urea formaldehyde which is put on fabric to enhance color or texture. This chemical is used to prevent mildew from forming on clothes that have to be shipped for long distances in hot and humid containers. If you have sensitive skin you can develop a rash especially in areas like armpits, collars, cuffs, and trouser waists and thighs.


Washing new clothes will make them softer and more comfortable to wear, just make sure to use a detergent that is fragrance-free and dye free, especially if you have sensitive skin.


Clothes bought from consignment or thrift stores should also be washed or dry-cleaned for hygienic purposes and to prevent skin infection.


If the clothing has an excessive odor from perfume or scented products, you can soak the clothing overnight in a sink or bucket filled with lukewarm water and one cup of baking soda before washing, then add one cup of distilled white vinegar to help strip away any detergent or fabric softener residue in the fabric. Allow the freshly washed clothes to air dry and sniff for any foul-odor smell if there is any left.