Should You Wash New Clothes Before Wearing Them?

Yes: wash new clothes before wearing them, especially anything that sits against your skin. A first wash rinses out loose dye and some of the wrinkle-resistant finish, and the American Academy of Dermatology specifically tells anyone who has had contact dermatitis to wash new clothes first.

Use cold water, a gentle cycle and a fragrance-free detergent, and wash dark or bright pieces separately the first time (Cleveland Clinic; Iowa State University Extension). Skipping the wash on a coat or a sweater worn over a shirt is a smaller risk than skipping it on underwear, leggings or a fitted T-shirt.

Key takeaways

Always wash new underwear, socks, T-shirts, leggings, bedding and baby clothes before the first use.
Wrinkle-free and easy-care fabrics can carry formaldehyde resin; a GAO lab test found 10 of 180 store-bought items above the strictest international limits.
Wash new dark or bright clothes alone or with similar colors in cold water; vinegar and salt do not lock dye in.
People with a known textile dye allergy may need to wash new clothes at least 3 times before wearing them.
Lice die within 2 days off a person, so clothes others tried on are a low risk; hats, swimwear and underwear still get washed.

Do new clothes need to be washed before wearing them?

For most garments that touch your skin, yes. A Cleveland Clinic dermatologist recommends that everyone wash new clothes after buying them, for three reasons: bright colors can bleed onto skin before the first wash, finishing chemicals can irritate, and bacteria can pass between shoppers who try on the same piece (Cleveland Clinic).

The American Academy of Dermatology adds that dyes, metals and fabrics can all cause contact dermatitis (an itchy rash from something touching the skin), and that some people react to a garment only after wearing it for years.

Is it okay to wear brand new clothes without washing them?

It is usually fine for outer layers if your skin is not sensitive. Reactions to clothing chemicals are worse where clothes fit closely and where heat, sweat and friction build up (GAO), so a jacket over a shirt carries far less risk than new leggings or a fitted top.

Never skip the wash if any of these apply to you:

You have had contact dermatitis before. The AAD advises washing new clothes before wearing them to avoid irritation (American Academy of Dermatology).
You have eczema or sensitive skin. Unbound dye that bleeds onto skin, helped along by sweat, can trigger a dye allergy (DermNet).
The item is for a baby or child. Our guide to washing newborn clothes covers detergent and settings.
It sits against your skin all day: underwear, socks, sports bras, leggings and T-shirts.

What chemicals are on new clothes?

The two that matter most for skin are formaldehyde-based finishes and loose dye. Manufacturers may add formaldehyde or other preservatives to prevent wrinkling and mold (Cleveland Clinic).

Formaldehyde resins on wrinkle-free fabrics

Formaldehyde resins give some clothing its wrinkle resistance, especially cotton, and formaldehyde levels in clothing that touches the skin are not regulated in the United States (GAO). GAO had an accredited lab test 180 low- and moderately priced items from US stores in 2010; 10 exceeded the strictest international limits, at 75.4 to 206.1 parts per million (GAO).

Most of those 10 items were labeled durable press, and one was a crib sheet (GAO). In a European Union study GAO reviewed, 212 of 221 items were under the limits, and most of the exceptions were easy-care dress shirts or T-shirts (GAO). So the labels to watch for are "wrinkle-free", "easy care", "non-iron" and "durable press".

Washing helps, but it is not a cure. GAO found that medical articles tell formaldehyde-allergic patients to wash clothes before wearing them, while studies show levels can drop after washing and creep back up after many washes as the resin breaks down (GAO).

Loose dye

DermNet explains that unbound dye from colored clothing can bleed onto skin, and that sweat leaches out water-soluble dyes. Disperse dyes, used on synthetics such as polyester and acrylic, are a common cause of clothing dermatitis; Disperse Blue 106 and 124 are two well-known culprits (DermNet).

Dark, deeply dyed fabrics are the most likely to shed color, a problem that usually starts with poor dyeing or rinsing at the mill (Iowa State University Extension).

What's on it	Why it's there	Where it shows up	Does a wash help?
Formaldehyde resin	Wrinkle resistance	Wrinkle-free shirts, easy-care cotton, some bedding	Partly; levels can return over time
Loose (unbound) dye	Left over from dyeing	Dark jeans, black leggings, red and navy pieces	Yes; may take more than one wash
Disperse dyes	Coloring synthetics	Polyester, acrylic, workout wear	Helps; allergic people may still react

The table summarizes the GAO, DermNet and Iowa State findings above (GAO; DermNet; Iowa State University Extension).

Can you get germs or bugs from clothes other people tried on?

It is possible but uncommon. The Cleveland Clinic dermatologist notes that bacteria can spread between people who try on the same clothes (Cleveland Clinic), and the CDC lists clothing among the less common ways lice and scabies travel.

Head lice can spread through hats, scarves, coats and sports uniforms worn by someone who has them, but they die within 2 days once off a person (CDC).
Scabies mites spread mostly through long skin-to-skin contact; sharing clothing is less common, and the mites generally do not survive more than 2 to 3 days away from skin (CDC).

For clothes you know someone else wore, such as secondhand items, the CDC's scabies guidance is hot water above 122°F for 10 minutes, a hot dryer cycle, or dry cleaning (CDC). Anything that touched other people's heads or bodies directly, like hats, swimwear and underwear, is worth washing before you wear it.

How should you wash new clothes the first time?

Read the care label, then wash on the gentlest setting it allows, in cold water, with similar colors. Iowa State University Extension says to follow the label and to wash an item tagged "wash separately" on its own the first time, because that tag means the dye will bleed.

Check the care label for the temperature, cycle and drying limits; our laundry symbols guide decodes it.
Sort by color. Wash dark, red and bright new pieces alone or with similar colors; color-catcher sheets help but are not fully reliable (Iowa State University Extension).
Turn items inside out and close zippers to cut friction and fading (Iowa State University Extension; Levi's).
Use cold water. Warm or hot water swells fibers and releases more color (Iowa State University Extension).
Choose a gentle cycle and a fragrance-free detergent, often labeled "free and clear" or "sensitive skin" (Cleveland Clinic).
Take the load out promptly. Dye transfers more easily while wet items sit packed together (Iowa State University Extension).
Air dry dark denim and anything prone to shrinking; Levi's says machine drying can add to shrinking and fading (Levi's).

Skip the vinegar or salt soak. Iowa State's extension specialists call "setting" dye with vinegar or salt a myth: if it seemed to work, the wash simply rinsed out the loose dye (Iowa State University Extension). For more on keeping colors bright, see how to wash dark and colored clothes.

How many times should you wash new clothes?

Once is enough for most people and most garments. If the water runs colored, Iowa State notes more washes may be needed to clear the excess dye, though each wash also fades the piece a little (Iowa State University Extension). For people with a textile dye allergy, DermNet recommends washing new clothing at least 3 times before wearing it.

Which new items should you always wash first?

Anything close-fitting, anything dark, and anything for bed, bath or a baby. The Cleveland Clinic dermatologist applies the same wash-first advice to new blankets and towels (Cleveland Clinic).

New item	Wash first?	Why
Underwear, bras, socks	Always	All-day skin contact; shoe and sock dyes and materials cause their own rash, called footwear dermatitis (American Academy of Dermatology)
T-shirts, leggings, activewear	Always	Close fit plus sweat makes reactions more likely (GAO; DermNet)
Wrinkle-free or easy-care shirts	Yes	Most likely to carry formaldehyde resin (GAO)
Dark jeans and black pants	Yes, separately	Excess dye rubs off onto skin, seats and light clothes (Iowa State University Extension; Levi's)
Sheets, blankets, towels	Yes	Long skin contact; one item over GAO's limit was a crib sheet (Cleveland Clinic; GAO)
Baby clothes	Always	Same skin-contact logic; our newborn laundry guide covers detergent and settings
Coats, jackets, outer sweaters	Optional	Little direct skin contact; wash if you have sensitive skin

Should you wash new jeans before wearing?

Yes, at least dark ones. Levi's says to wash new denim separately from lighter colors the first time because darker washes may release excess dye, and to use cold water on a gentle cycle, inside out (Levi's). Raw denim is the exception: it is not preshrunk, so Levi's recommends a cold hand wash and air drying (Levi's). Our jeans washing guide covers the rest.

Should you wash new socks before wearing?

Yes. The American Academy of Dermatology notes that socks and shoes can cause a rash from their dyes, rubber, glue and fabrics, which is common enough to have its own name: footwear dermatitis.

Bought a whole wardrobe at once? A large first wash can be split across several washers at a self-service laundromat, or handed to a wash-and-fold service; more than 6,700 listings in the LaundroMaps directory offer wash and fold, as of October 2026 (LaundroMaps directory data). Ask for cold water, fragrance-free detergent and darks washed separately.

Can you wear the same shirt twice before washing it?

It depends on the shirt. The American Cleaning Institute says T-shirts, tank tops, underwear, socks and leggings should be washed after every wearing, while outer clothes like dress shirts and khakis can go a few wears unless you sweated or they are visibly dirty.

Jeans: about 3 wears, per the American Cleaning Institute (American Cleaning Institute); Levi's suggests about every 10 wears for its denim to protect shape and fit (Levi's).
Bras: 2 to 3 wears, with a rest day between (American Cleaning Institute).
Whites and silks: after every wear, because they discolor (American Cleaning Institute).

The two jeans figures differ because one is a general cleaning guideline and the other is a maker protecting color and fit; wash sooner whenever they smell or show dirt. The how often to wash clothes chart covers everything else.

Frequently asked questions

Can you wear clothes straight from the shop?

You can, and outer layers like coats are a low risk for most people. Items worn against the skin are better washed first, because loose dye and wrinkle-resistant finishes can irritate, especially where clothes fit closely and you sweat.

Can I wear a shirt I just bought?

If it is a loose outer shirt and your skin is not sensitive, a single wear is unlikely to cause a problem. Wash it first if it is labeled wrinkle-free or easy care, if it is dark or brightly dyed, or if you have had contact dermatitis before.

Is it okay to wear the same clothes for 2 days?

For outer clothes such as dress shirts and khakis, usually yes, unless you sweated or they are dirty. Underwear, socks, T-shirts and leggings should be washed after every wear, according to the American Cleaning Institute.

Why should you wash new clothes before wearing them?

A first wash rinses out unbound dye that can bleed onto skin and other clothes, removes some of the formaldehyde-based finish used for wrinkle resistance, and clears anything picked up from shoppers who tried the item on.

Does vinegar set the dye in new clothes?

No. Iowa State University Extension calls this a myth: vinegar and salt do not fix dye after manufacturing. Washing dark pieces separately in cold water is what keeps loose dye off your other clothes.

How we researched this

We read guidance from the American Academy of Dermatology, a Cleveland Clinic dermatologist, DermNet's textile dye allergy page, the GAO's laboratory study of formaldehyde in clothing, CDC pages on lice and scabies, Iowa State University Extension, the American Cleaning Institute and Levi's own denim care instructions, and cited 9 sources plus LaundroMaps directory data. We favored medical and government sources for health claims and the maker only for its own product. We did not lab-test garments, and this post is not medical advice: see a dermatologist for a rash that does not clear. Researched October 2026.

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