How To Wash Brand New Clothing

Many people buy brand new clothes and put them on right away, this might make sense but you should clean them. Why do you need to clean brand new clothing then? Well, clothes even if new to you aren’t going to be new to the shop.

They could have been hanging in the shop for a long time before being bought by you. So, while they might not look dirty they might have been collecting dirt and dust for quite some time. So, giving them a wash is highly advised.

Washing New Clothes – The First Steps

The first thing you should do is prepare the new clothes that need washing. You can (and should) wash most new clothes straightaway although things like jeans, suits and formal wear, in general, shouldn’t be washed first. These kinds of garments are okay to wear right away without any prewashing.

Make sure all the tags are safely removed and whenever possible it is advised that you turn the clothes inside out before putting them in the wash. While it might seem like a hassle if you have a very diverse range of new clothes you shouldn’t just throw them all in together either.

They should definitely be separated by colour, darks, and lights for example. You might also want to separate them by materials as well as it will make the washing more efficient.

Finally, make sure the clothes are unbuttoned and unzipped as well.

The Best Washing Cycle

Once your clothing is in the washer you will need to choose the best wash cycle. This again can vary depending on what exactly is in the washer but in general, a colder wash cycle is recommended. New clothes shouldn’t be overly dirty but they might have dust mites or some other form of invisible grime.

This means you won’t be washing to get rid of stains so a cold wash cycle will often do the job. However, if you have a lot of new white clothes like work shirts for example then you might want to opt for a warmer wash instead as it will be more effective overall.

If somehow any of your new clothes have got stained then again a warmer wash is the best option. Carry out the rest of the wash as normal using the most suitable speed for the clothing, and make sure you are using a compatible detergent.

Finally, I would recommend sticking to a short wash cycle whenever possible. You won’t want the clothes to get too wet because they shouldn’t really be too dirty. So, to speed up the process opt for a short wash cycle. Once that is finished either hang the clothes up to dry or place them in a dryer if you have one.

Can I Hand Wash Instead?

While washing by hand is unlikely to be anyone’s first choice when it comes to washing clothes it is still an option. Hand washing can be very useful for tackling more severe stains and it is still an option for new clothes as well.

If you don’t want to risk clothes shrinking or wait for a wash cycle to complete then washing by hand is certainly an option. Some clothes will actually recommend that you wash them by hand as well especially if they are more delicate or made from more fragile materials.

To wash clothes effectively by hand you should fill a basin with lukewarm water. If the clothes are larger than a basin then use your bath or sink to do it. Once that is done mix in some detergent and leave the clothes to soak.

Then gently rinse the clothes in cold water to wash out the detergent and leave them to dry. Because clothes washed by hand will likely be much wetter you should avoid putting them in the dryer. Instead, hang them up to dry or lay them down on a flat surface.

Once they are just a little damp you can run them through a dryer to speed up the drying process.

Do I Need To Do This?

So, now you know how to do it lets tackle the question most people are probably asking themselves do I actually need to bother with any of this? While you strictly don’t need to and certain clothes like the previously mentioned jeans are designed to be worn first before washing for most clothes washing them first will be more hygienic.

You can wash away dirt and grime, dust mites and germs. To the naked eye, the clothes might look perfectly clean but if you were to look under a microscope things would tell a very different story. And while it might seem like hard work when written out like this it will likely be a lot easier than you think.