Should you wash clothes before wearing them?

The answer to this question is often yes. Many clothes are treated with chemicals and finishes and washing clothes before wearing them will help to remove some (although not always all) of these chemicals. It is particularly important with baby clothes as babies skin is very sensitive and can easily be irritated by chemicals. Some clothes will also have excess dye which can be removed by washing.

Clothes made of natural fibres can go mildew if they get damp. Manufacturers often treat clothes with formaldehyde to prevent the growth of mildew, especially if they have been shipped a particularly long distance. Formaldehyde is often blamed for allergic reactions and is a known carcinogen.

You can however be sure that organic clothing does not contain such chemicals. Petroleum scours, silicon waxes, formaldehyde, anti-wrinkling agents, chlorine bleaches, or other unauthentic materials are not used in the manufacture of organic clothes.

picture from www.waterwise.org.uk