Should I wash new clothes before wearing them?
This answer is a draft. It stays unpublished until legal review and source verification are complete.
Some people wear new clothes straight from the shop; others always wash them first. In Japan the "wash once first" camp is the majority, though few can say exactly why. Here is what is on new clothes, and where the line falls between garments to wash and garments you can leave.
What is on new clothes
| What | Why it is there | Why wash | Rules and guides |
|---|---|---|---|
| Formaldehyde (residue of resin finishes) | Sometimes used in anti-crease, anti-shrink and anti-mould resin finishes | Can cause skin rashes and allergic reactions. Highly water-soluble; one wash removes most of it | Under Japan's Act on Control of Household Products Containing Harmful Substances, infant wear (24 months and under) must be "not detectable" (16 ppm or less); adult underwear and similar 75 ppm or less. Imports sold in Japan face the same limits |
| Excess dye | Pigment left after dyeing | Dye transfer and staining of the skin. Marked on dark denim and black T-shirts | Wash alone the first time |
| Starch and finishing agents | For crispness and shop appearance | Stiff, rough feel; absorbs sweat poorly | One wash removes it |
| Dust and hand dirt | Manufacture, shipping and fittings in the shop | Hygiene | — |
| Residual smell of insecticide or anti-mould agents | Fumigation of shipping containers and warehouses | The smell can be unpleasant | Wash, or air it |
Wash or not — a guide
| Garment | Decision |
|---|---|
| Underwear, T-shirts, shirts, pyjamas, socks | Wash (touches the skin, absorbs sweat) |
| Babies' and children's clothes | Always wash. Separately from adults' clothes, less detergent, thorough rinse, no fabric softener |
| Towels, sheets, pillowcases | Wash (starch and loose fibres; towels shed a lot the first time) |
| Denim and dark colours | Wash alone (prevents dye transfer). Inside out |
| Knitwear and sweaters | No need to wash. Air in the shade if it bothers you. If you do wash, follow the label and use the delicates course |
| Coats, jackets, "do not wash" garments | Do not wash. Air in the shade and brush |
| Underwear and swimwear | Wash (hygiene) |
| Shoes | Do not wash. Wipe the insoles at most |
- How to wash: a normal wash following the care label (Japan uses the international JIS L0001 symbols) is enough. Usual amount of detergent; skip fabric softener the first time (it reduces absorbency). Dye test: press a wet white cloth on the fabric; if colour comes off, wash alone.
- Formaldehyde in practice: products sold in Japan are within the limits, but sensitive people and infants may react even so, and one wash removes most of it. Many products carry a "formaldehyde-free" label.
- Direct shipments from overseas online shops: they have not passed the checks under Japan's household-goods law, so always wash. Strong-smelling items, several times.
- Why babies' clothes are washed separately: to keep sebum, detergent residue and softener fragrance from adults' clothes off the baby's skin. "Baby detergent" is not essential; the common view is that a smaller dose of ordinary detergent with a thorough rinse does the job.
- Tags and pins: cut plastic tag fasteners at the base (pulling widens the hole), and remove the pins and basting thread (on the pockets and vents of suits and coats). Basting on a pocket means "you may open this pocket".
[Verify] Check the formaldehyde limits (infants 16 ppm or less, adults 75 ppm or less) against the Act on Control of Household Products Containing Harmful Substances. Also confirm how imports fall within the scope of the Act.
Misunderstanding 1｜New clothes are clean, so there is no need to wash them
They carry resin-finish residue, excess dye, starch and dust from fittings. Anything worn next to the skin is best washed once.
Misunderstanding 2｜Japanese clothes are regulated, so they are safe unwashed
Sensitive people and infants can react even within the limits, and one wash removes most of the residue. Direct shipments from overseas shops have not passed the regulatory checks.
Misunderstanding 3｜Everything should be washed
Knitwear, coats and "do not wash" garments need only airing in the shade. Some garments are damaged by washing.
Misunderstanding 4｜Babies' clothes must be washed in a special baby detergent
A smaller dose of ordinary detergent and a thorough rinse does the job. Washing separately from adults' clothes and skipping fabric softener matter more.
Misunderstanding 5｜Dark clothes lose colour in the wash, so better not to wash them
The excess dye that comes out in the first wash will otherwise end up on your skin and other clothes. Wash alone, inside out; after that the colour holds.
---
Sources
- Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, "Act on Control of Household Products Containing Harmful Substances: formaldehyde limits" [有害物質を含有する家庭用品の規制に関する法律：ホルムアルデヒドの基準]
https://www.mhlw.go.jp/stf/seisakunitsuite/bunya/kenkou_iryou/iyakuhin/kateiyouhin/
- Consumer Affairs Agency, "The new care labels (JIS L0001)" [新しい洗濯表示（JIS L0001）]
https://www.caa.go.jp/policies/policy/representation/household_goods/laundry_symbols/
- Japanese Dermatological Association, "Clinical guidelines for contact dermatitis 2020" [接触皮膚炎診療ガイドライン 2020] (contact dermatitis from clothing and textiles)
https://www.dermatol.or.jp/uploads/uploads/files/guideline/contact_dermatitis_GL2020.pdf
⚠️ Editorial note: the source URLs above were identified by search. Our working environment cannot reach go.jp domains, so the contents have not been checked against the text. Verify every source before publication and record who checked it and when.
About this article
What we share here are ideas and everyday practices passed down among people living in Japan, together with general information drawn from public sources. They are not official recommendations, and they are not professional instruction. Practices vary between households and regions.
This is general information. Results vary from person to person and depend on your own conditions and surroundings.
Please decide for yourself, using your own judgement, whether any of this suits your situation. We cannot accept responsibility for any damage, loss or injury arising from following this article.
Follow the care label and the maker's instructions for any garment, shoe or bag. For expensive or sentimental items, ask a specialist cleaner or repairer.
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