Author Topic: Are you supposed to wash jeans when you buy them new or second hand? (Read 1670 times)

onerousdeporte · « **on:** 08 May, 2023, 10:05:52 am »

Just wondering, have a discussion and some say yes and others say no.

Am lost, what do you do?

Canardly · « **Reply #1 on:** 08 May, 2023, 10:18:42 am »

Certainly wash them separately when you do.

perpetual dan · « **Reply #2 on:** 08 May, 2023, 10:21:18 am »

Second hand, I would if they smell of the previous owner.
New, not so much.

Pickled Onion · « **Reply #3 on:** 08 May, 2023, 10:31:18 am »

New jeans are pre-washed. There was a time when they weren't, but that was way back - early 1970s or possibly 60s. They would shrink on their first wash, so people normally washed them before wearing them.

pumpkin · « **Reply #4 on:** 08 May, 2023, 10:38:39 am »

Back in the day 501s were first worn whilst sitting in the bath so they shrank to fit

Polar Bear · « **Reply #5 on:** 08 May, 2023, 11:10:24 am »

Quote from: pumpkin on 08 May, 2023, 10:38:39 am

Back in the day 501s were first worn whilst sitting in the bath so they shrank to fit

I have fond memories of sitting in the bath in the seventies wearing my new jeans for about an hour. Oh the excitement of new jeans.

Flite · « **Reply #6 on:** 08 May, 2023, 01:00:33 pm »

I always wash new or second hand clothes before use.
But I do have dry skin so have to be careful with treatments on new clothes, or type of detergent.

Kim · « **Reply #7 on:** 08 May, 2023, 01:12:37 pm »

On the odd occasion I've bought second hand clothes, they've required several washes to remove all the Ecover or similar pongfest they've been washed in.

onerousdeporte · « **Reply #8 on:** 08 May, 2023, 02:49:28 pm »

So yes and no.

The clothes were bought from TKmax, so that makes me wonder.

Flite · « **Reply #9 on:** 08 May, 2023, 04:29:07 pm »

And listening to the radio at lunchtime, retailers reckon a lot of clothes are bought online, worn and returned for refund, so what you get might not actually be new! And in that case definitely not washed before return.
Was it Ian who posted a few days ago about some decidedly second-hand shoes sold as new?

Jurek · « **Reply #10 on:** 08 May, 2023, 04:37:29 pm »

Going back to 2000 or so, my ex reckoned that it was regular practice to buy stuff online, wear it once, and return it for a refund, unwashed.
ETA: Also, whilst in the employ of The Science Museum, we had occasion to visit site at short notice. One of our members had no safety boots so, some were ordered on an overnight service from RS. What turned up the following morning were a pair of boots in a pristine RS box. Only the boots within had been subject to many years of use.

rogerzilla · « **Reply #11 on:** 08 May, 2023, 06:09:16 pm »

I would definitely wash secondhand jeans. Ewww. I don't wash new ones.

ian · « **Reply #12 on:** 08 May, 2023, 06:18:53 pm »

Quote from: Flite on 08 May, 2023, 04:29:07 pm

And listening to the radio at lunchtime, retailers reckon a lot of clothes are bought online, worn and returned for refund, so what you get might not actually be new! And in that case definitely not washed before return.
Was it Ian who posted a few days ago about some decidedly second-hand shoes sold as new?

It was and they were. Someone had obviously worn them at least a couple of times outside and made no effort to disguise the fact. Marked uppers, dirty sole with actual wear. I’d say the return process wasn’t very robust. Odds on they’ll just put them back on the virtual shelf for someone else to buy.

I’ve read a fair number of stories about wear and return - order party outfit, wear it, then return. Not really an issue for me as I rarely wear party dresses.

I solved the jeans dilemma by not owning a pair of jeans.

rogerzilla · « **Reply #13 on:** 08 May, 2023, 06:32:07 pm »

(insert urban legend about borrowed prom dress returned to hire shop/mother/sister with population paste stains down the front)

Pingu · « **Reply #14 on:** 08 May, 2023, 06:35:48 pm »

Quote from: onerousdeporte on 08 May, 2023, 02:49:28 pm

...The clothes were bought from TKmax, so that makes me wonder.

Will they survive a wash?

neilrj · « **Reply #15 on:** 08 May, 2023, 06:46:28 pm »

Quote from: Pingu on 08 May, 2023, 06:35:48 pm

Quote from: onerousdeporte on 08 May, 2023, 02:49:28 pm
...The clothes were bought from TKmax, so that makes me wonder.

Will they survive a wash?

Nah that's Primark that have 30 minute fashion.

Mrs Pingu · « **Reply #16 on:** 08 May, 2023, 06:59:50 pm »

I wash everything new before wearing. I believe a lot of new clothes fabrics have some sort of dressing in them which I prefer not to have on my skin.

lissotriton · « **Reply #17 on:** 08 May, 2023, 07:02:11 pm »

Quote from: onerousdeporte on 08 May, 2023, 02:49:28 pm

The clothes were bought from TKmax, so that makes me wonder.

So lying around in a warehouse for the last 5 years? Maybe a bit musty.

perpetual dan · « **Reply #18 on:** 08 May, 2023, 08:34:02 pm »

Quote from: Mrs Pingu on 08 May, 2023, 06:59:50 pm

I wash everything new before wearing. I believe a lot of new clothes fabrics have some sort of dressing in them which I prefer not to have on my skin.

Mrs Dan certainly washes any fabric she’s sewing with, for this reason.

onerousdeporte · « **Reply #19 on:** 08 May, 2023, 09:06:13 pm »

So I'm washing them.

Was thinking of just steaming them.

barakta · « **Reply #20 on:** 08 May, 2023, 10:06:46 pm »

I usually wash new jeans cos they often smell HORRID and as Mrs Pingu says, have weird chemical stuff in them.

onerousdeporte · « **Reply #21 on:** 14 May, 2023, 06:05:31 pm »

Mrs Pingu and Barakta are mostly right so will do as they instruct.

Author Topic: Are you supposed to wash jeans when you buy them new or second hand? (Read 1670 times)

ian