Expert Reveals Surprising Reason Why You Should Always Wash New Clothes Before Wearing Them

Many people prefer to wear purchased clothes before even putting it in the washing machine perhaps because they like the idea that the item is still shop-fresh. However, a clothing manufacturing expert has warned against this seemingly harmless practice.

Lana Hogue, a textile expert said that not washing new clothes before wearing them exposes you to harmful chemicals that can be particularly irritating to the skin. In her interview with elle.com, Hogue said that dyes used to color clothes can cause skin irritation.

wash new clothes

“You should absolutely wash clothes before you wear them. Especially anything that is right next to the skin or that you will sweat on. Most of the chemicals used in dyeing fabric and putting finishes on yarns that allow them to be processed through spinning equipment are known irritants,” Hogue explained.

Formaldehyde resin and aniline dyes, which are chemicals routinely used in the manufacture of new clothes, are linked to allergic reactions and skin irritations. Some scientists even believe it can increase the risk of cancer.

Moreover, the fact that many people try on the piece of clothing before it ends up being purchased exposes you to other people’s dead skin cells, hair and germs.

How Often Should You Wash Your Clothes?

Are you wondering how many times you should wash your clothes?

This can be tricky as washing clothes too often can wear them out quickly and shorten their lifespan, while washing it rarely will make you end up wearing dirty clothes and exposed to bacterial growth. Since we all want our clothes to smell fresh and clean without damaging them, here’s a quick guide on how often we should wash our clothes, according to PopSugar.

  1. Bras should be washed after three to four wears.
  2. Underwears, socks, stockings, swimwear and sportswear should be washed after every wear.
  3. Jeans must be washed after five to six wears.
  4. Tops, dresses and leggings must be washed after one to two wears.
  5. Pants, skirts, shorts and pajamas should be washed after three to four wears.
  6. Jackets and blazers must be washed after five to six wears.

Keep in mind that this guide doesn’t apply if you are prone to excessive sweating or when accidental spills occur.

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