You Should Wash New Clothes Before Wearing Them

I've been doing my own laundry since the 6th grade. Mom & Dad had 5 kids, and both worked outside the home. That's also how long I've been washing new clothes before wearing them. Before I started washing my own clothes, my complaints about new garments being itchy, or scratchy were dismissed by my parents. Self.com reports, board certified dermatologist Lindsey Bordone supports my view, not for the reasons you might think. It has little to do with bacteria or viruses, and the potential spread of disease. New garments are often sprayed with a variety of chemicals to keep them looking crisp, and prevent growth of mold & mildew. Those chemicals include formaldehyde, which can cause dermatitis, and eczema. If a garment isn't comfortable, I'm not wearing it, no matter how great it looks.