Wearing a new garment involves risks. To resist the temptation to put on your new t-shirt immediately, find out all the problems you are exposing yourself to. Enough to calm down immediately!
New items are not necessarily harmless, and even less clean. A garment on a hanger may contain a lot of chemicals that have been stored in its fibers during manufacturing and transportation. Not to mention the number of people who have tried on the garment before you and left behind a host of germs and bacteria.
Toxic substances in new clothes?
- According to Fashion Revolution’s 2020 Transparency Index, only half of the top 250 fashion brands have yet to list banned substances, and only a quarter have committed to eliminating them from their supply chain. However, there is the famous Oeko-Tex Standard 100 label that guarantees that the garment does not contain chemicals that are harmful to health.
- In France, following an alarming study, ANSES (the French National Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health Safety) identified around twenty chemical substances in new clothing, including benzidine, chromium 6, nickel, nonylphenols and formaldehydes. While these toxic agents can cause irritation, allergies and dermatitis, some are known (such as nonylphenols) for their role as endocrine disruptors , reproductive toxicants and carcinogens.
- In addition, all these clothes that often travel around the world before arriving in your closet are treated with many preservatives to prevent mold in humid atmospheres and anti-crease substances, to keep a minimum of hold after their journey.
- Add to all this, all the human contact. From the workers who make the pieces to those who pack them in cardboard boxes and plastic bags. Not to mention all the potential buyers who, also tempted by the same garment as you, have tried it on before you. Philip Tierno, professor of microbiology at New York University, has detected all sorts of bacteria including streptococci and staphylococci! He explains that the act of trying on but also touching, unfolding, and then putting it back abandons all these invisible critters on the garment via the skin but also the respiratory tract. Then all you have to do is touch and rub your eyes, brush your mouth or nose, for the germs to colonize you. Beyond the irritations, putting on an unwashed garment can give you scabies, fungus or even lice.
- And don't think that an organic label , or any other label, will protect you. It tells you that the fibers are organic, but it doesn't assure you that it hasn't received any treatment products, such as dyes during its production, and that it hasn't been manipulated or tested.
As you can see, you absolutely have to wash a new garment even if it looks "squeaky clean". Fortunately, the ANSES study also showed that a first wash ensures the disappearance of toxic substances including nonylphenols. No need to boil at 90°, just follow the manufacturer's instructions.
Safe and eco-friendly washing for new clothes
If the recommendation is 30° for a new garment, it is 30°. An efficient temperature that is much better for the planet as well as for your wallet. Indeed, every degree counts to save energy and reduce global warming. According to Procter & Gamble, which is launching a campaign "every degree counts", calculated that in Europe 60% of the carbon footprint of a laundry comes from its washing temperature and that lowering this temperature from 40 to 30° saves 35% of CO2 in one month, the equivalent of the consumption of the city of Nantes or removing 2 million cars from the roads in Europe. Note: by lowering the average washing temperature by 3°, you save 11% energy. Know that at 60°, you consume 1.3kWh, at 40° approximately 0.7 kWh and at 30° your consumption drops to 0.4kWh. Not to mention that you can do your machine during off-peak hours to reduce your bill even more. In addition, the low temperature takes care of the textile and prevents wear.
If you have time, it is best to soak your garment overnight in cold water before putting it in the washing machine. This will tighten the fibers and also remove chemicals.
How to wash new clothes for toddlers?
Baby clothes are designed to be machine washed, but avoid fabric softeners which can be irritating. Instead, put 250 cl of white vinegar in the fabric softener compartment and you will not detect any vinegar smell on the laundry.
