Why wash new clothes before wearing them? Post 763

Why Wash New Underwear?

I was following a few forums on Facebook and elsewhere on whether you should wash underwear or all clothes. Some people say you don't know who might have checked the garment at the factory, packed it, re-packed it, posted it. Whether it lay around and got dusty, dust mites, insects, bacteria, viruses. 

Whether an item was tried on in the shop, then put back in the package. Or posted out, tried on, wrong size, returned still with the tag attached, but touched, and against somebody's skin.

Washing Donated Clothes

 When I lived in Northwood in North west London I used to shop in the Cancer Research shop. I queried the cleanliness of donated clothes. An assistant told me that everything was washed in their washing machine at the back of the shop. 

I think every charity shop should have a washing machine, and mark which clothes have been washed if some are washed and others not.

Risks Of Unwashed Items

How do you know that donated clothes are not night clothes and bedding from a bed or house with bed bugs? That the owner had cancer, or some illness without evening knowing about it? Maybe house clearance was done by a complete stranger. What about hats, children's clothes, hair on dolls, containing nits, in a bag of other donations.

When they closed or could not take in more clothes, maybe the washing machine had broken down.

I buy a lot from St Luke's. They do not wash clothes.

However, I was told that they don't take in clothes left in bags outside the shop when it is closed. 

Why not? I read that a person took clothes from outside a charity shop in Pinner and was prosecuted for theft.

The lady at St Luke's had not heard of that. She told me that she never took in clothes left in bags outside the door. 

Why? 

How do you know a passing dog has not urinated on the bag and clothes. 

Or just licked them. 

Hats, Nits, Bedding, Bed Bugs

Now I hear about an outbreak of nits at a school. How do you know that hats are not carrying nits? And nightclothes and bedding might be carriers of bed bugs.

I have read that washing clothes makes them softer. But I like to wear new clothes without washing them because the stiffening makes them look ironed and fresh.

Crease-free Clothes

I postpone washing because I don't like crumpled clothing. And I don't have hours to spend on ironing. 

The advantages of poly-cotton clothes, and the brand Kim & Co, are that I as a customer hope they will be crease-free.

Websites On Cleaning Clothes

 https://home.howstuffworks.com/home-improvement/household-hints-tips/cleaning-organizing/question470.htm

https://science.howstuffworks.com/formaldehyde.htm

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