Washing New Clothes Before Wearing Them
By TaVare · updated 2026-08-14
You should wash new clothes before wearing them, for three reasons: new garments often carry loose excess dye, residues of chemical finishes from manufacturing, and they have been handled by many people before reaching you. A wash – or at least a thorough airing for garments that cannot go in the machine – removes most of it before the fabric meets your skin. Here is the method, and the signs that a new garment is better left to professionals.
Why should you wash new clothes before wearing them?
It is not that the shop is dirty – it is about what stays in the fabric itself from the factory to the moment you put it on. Three things are worth washing out:
- Loose dye: Dark denim, deep reds, blues and strong colours shed excess dye that transfers onto skin, underwear and furniture. A first wash rinses out what has not bonded.
- Chemical finishes: Non-iron shirts, 'anti-mildew' treatments and sizing (the starch that makes fabric stiff and smooth in the shop) can leave residues that irritate sensitive skin. These dissolve in the wash.
- Hygiene: The garment has been tried on, folded and packed by many hands, shipped in containers and stored a long time. A wash freshens it up and removes dust and any mites.
How to wash new clothes the first time
The first wash differs slightly from a routine one, precisely because the dye has not yet 'set' and the finish needs to come out. Take it gently:
- Read the care label first. It sets the maximum temperature and says whether the garment must be hand-washed or dry-cleaned – new clothes are no exception.
- Wash new, dark or strongly coloured items on their own the first time, or with similar colours. Never with white or light garments.
- Turn the garment inside out to protect the colour and surface from friction in the drum.
- Use cold or lukewarm water on colours the first time. It gives the least colour loss and shrinkage – always stay below the label's maximum.
- Use a mild detergent and skip fabric softener on technical and synthetic items. A colour-catcher sheet can safeguard a mixed load by trapping loose dye.
New clothes that bleed colour
Dye bleed is the most common unpleasant surprise with new clothes. The worst offenders are raw, dark denim and anything deep red, indigo or strongly dyed. The test is simple: dampen a white, light cloth and rub gently on a hidden part of the garment. If the cloth picks up colour, the garment is shedding loose dye and should be washed alone a few times before it goes near light clothes. Raw denim is a deliberate exception many leave unwashed to keep the fades sharp – if so, expect it to bleed onto light shoes, bags and furniture for a good while.
Garments to wash especially carefully before wearing
Everything is best given a wash, but for some garments it is more than a suggestion:
- Anything worn next to the skin: underwear, socks, activewear and t-shirts – where irritating residues and dye are in direct contact.
- Baby and children's clothes: sensitive skin reacts more easily to dye residues and finishes. Wash everything new before first use.
- Non-iron shirts: the wrinkle-free effect often comes from a chemical treatment worth washing out once.
- Towels and bedding: new cotton is full of sizing that blocks absorbency – they become softer and more absorbent after the first wash.
When should you leave the new garments to professionals?
Not everything new survives the machine. A new suit jacket, a structured coat, silk, a garment marked 'dry clean only' or anything in leather should not go in the washing machine just because it is new – you risk ruining the shape, lining or surface. If you are unsure, or you want an expensive new garment prepared gently before you start wearing it, you can send it to us. We clean and freshen up according to the garment and its care label, across all of Norway, and can remove loose dye, finish smell and manufacturing residue without touching the shape. You order online, and you see the price before you order.
You see the price before you order.
Frequently asked questions
Do you really need to wash new clothes before wearing them?+
Yes, it is recommended. New garments carry loose excess dye, chemical finish residues and have been handled by many people. A first wash removes most of it and makes the garment safer against the skin – especially underwear, activewear and children's clothes.
Do new dark clothes bleed colour?+
Often yes. Dark denim and deeply dyed garments shed excess dye that transfers onto skin, light clothes and furniture. Wash them alone or with similar colours the first few times, ideally inside out and in cold water.
Can all new clothes be machine-washed before wearing?+
No. Always check the care label. Suit jackets, structured coats, silk and garments marked 'dry clean only' should not go in the machine just because they are new – they should be aired well and, if needed, cleaned professionally.
Does washing new clothes help against skin irritation?+
It can help. Some skin irritation from new clothes comes from dye residues and chemical finishes that dissolve in water. A wash before first wear reduces these residues, especially on garments worn close to the skin.
Rather have us handle it?
You see the price before you order.