Do you wash your children's new clothes before they wear them for the first time?

Question

I always have done, but do you think its necessary? My children are 3 and nearly 2.

Answer 1

You should wash ALL clothes before you wear them. They are often treated with chemicals to prevent mildew and bug infestation. Not to mention you never know what was shipped in the truck with them/before them.

http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/1066/New-Clothes/
In order for clothes to maintain their look and avoid being shop soiled, manufacturers add a chemical finish. This is also supposed to make the clothes smell better, but I beg to differ on that. Most swing tags placed on clothing specify that garments need to be washed before being worn for this reason. Most of us will also notice, upon washing new coloured clothes for the first time, alot of dye is washed out of the garment. This is another reason as to why we should wash new clothes before wearing them; to help remove excess dye. If we do not do this, the excess dye can come off onto the skin.

One of the chemicals that is used to protect garments is: Formaldehyde - which helps prevent mildew and is most common for clothing that needs to be transported long distances. This chemical has been linked to allergies in some people.

With all this being said, we should also wash new clothing because we really don't know where it has been. Who has tried it on? What are other people's hygiene habits like? Think about the possible contamination that can happen through shipping. What are the storage facilities like in a warehouse or factory? Do any of these places have insect or vermin problems?


http://health.usnews.com/usnews/health/allergy/atopic_dermatitis/ad.manage.clothes.htm
Wash new clothes before wearing them. Formaldehyde and other irritating chemicals often are present in new clothing.

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/358931/clothing_made_in_china_and_other_asian.html
Washing new clothes before you wear them sounds strange. They generally look good and perhaps a quick iron to smooth out the wrinkles caused by shipping is all that is necessary to make your children look well kept and stylish as they return to school.

Wrong! Clothes shipped for long distances, particularly clothes made in China, India, Bangladesh or other Asian countries contain formaldehyde to prevent any mold or mildew that may form due to exposure to high humidity or moisture. Formaldehyde is also involved in permanent press textile processing which is applied to many items of clothing made in China as well as elsewhere.

Formaldehyde is a colorless gas that provides that "new" smell for many clothing items. I recently purchased two inexpensive T-shirts to complement my summer attire and developed a rash on my chest after wearing one of the shirts. It had never happened before and my only explanation is that I might be more susceptible as I age or perhaps there was more formaldehyde in this particular shirt. A quick check revealed "Made in China" on the label. A further check via the Internet contained more information than I was seeking about clothing made in China. It revealed a dangerous and somewhat hidden secret about the use of formaldehyde in textiles. Seems formaldehyde is widely used and there are many dangers to individuals that are exposed.

Formaldehyde can cause a long list of ailments, and although exposure from textile products probably cannot cause the cancer associated with long term exposure, it certainly can cause rashes, respiratory problems and other allergic reactions to the eyes and skin. This would seem to be particularly applicable to our children and babies if they are wearing clothes that are made in China or other Asian nations which are not washed and aired before being worn.

Answer 2

Yes... I used to work in a department store when I was younger and people throw the clothes all over the floor and allow their children to touch everything... sick or not. I also don't like the smell of the store and the dyes they use. It is a good thing to wash the clothes before they are worn.

Answer 3

you should ALWAYS wash new clothes before wearing them. ... many fabrics contain chemcials such polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and formaldehyde, which companies use because it makes the fabric stain free, wrinkle free, flame retardant and disinfected. The only problem is that these chemicals are gases at room temperature and when found in large enough concentrations, become harmful to humans. PBDEs impair memory, learning, affect thyroid hormones, and can cause neurodevelopmental effects on unborn babies. Many of the chemicals have been found to be carcinogen, which makes it easier to understand why more and more people are developing cancer, becuase of the abundance of chemicals around us.

P.S. The "new car smell" is also full of chemicals, which is why you should air our a new car or always buy used.

Answer 4

Can't hurt ans you can never be to sure about where the clothes have been. You don't know if they were tried on by others before you bought them. So I would keep on washing them before they wear them.

Answer 5

you should always wash them first.anyitem made of material should be washed.i used to work in a clothing factory and al material has chemicals and a form of formaldahyde on it to preserve it and keep insects from eating it.to the ones who said never unless there used clothes,think of it this way,those chemicals are soaking into there skin and can be harmful.ALWAYS WASH ALL MATERIAL ITEMS BEFORE USE

Answer 6

Yes! Can you imagine what the clothes have been through? How many people touched it before you bought it. How many times has it fallen on the floor and got stepped on. Were the people sick when they were touching it. Yuck. It makes me sick just thinking about it.

Answer 7

I never did. Only when they were born and only the first new set of clothes. After that I never did unless it indicated on the tag like on the new born clothes. They don't look the same after you wash them, especially if you dry them, they shrink. Almost all the clothes out there are 100% cotton.

Answer 8

I never did on new clothes and would only wash them if its second hand ones. So far my son's skin is fine and he is 1 year old. Never did on my own clothes either and I never have any problems.

Answer 9

Yes, always! And mine and my husband's too. Do you know how many people have tried on those clothes before you bought them, touched them, dropped them on the floors, cleaning chemicals on them.... its so gross why would anyone expose their kids or themselves to that?

Answer 10

When many clothes are new, they have a starch in them, so I wash. They have also been handled by other people.