MJP –
Washing new clothes before wearing them is crucial, as Alexa (@alexasnakol0) discovered the hard way. A video of hers became popular on TikTok, garnering over 2.5 million views, in which she describes the terrible odor of mothballs.
She realized that her pants were the source of the unpleasant smell. Sharing her story served as a warning to others about the potential dangers of trying on unfamiliar clothing.
Washing Pants PSA
“Take a moment to wash your pants right after purchasing them before you wear them,” Alexa begins her video with.
She describes the jeans she bought at Walmart not long ago. However, as she strolled around, she detected the aroma of mothballs.
“And honestly, I thought I was going mad because I just kept smelling mothballs all day,” she adds. It seemed like these moths were following me; I had no idea. As a result, I’m sitting here thinking, “Dude, the odor is absolutely insane.”
After that, she shifts the camera so that we can see her sitting down. Seated on a chair, the young woman is cross-legged.
And my seating position is this. “This is how I’m sitting right now,” she says. “I’ve had enough; the scent was off-putting, and I was finished.”
Afterwards, the TikToker droops her head toward her pants and sniffs. “Why does the scent of mothballs emanate from my pants?” She takes another whiff before naming a well-known brick-and-mortar store.
She inquires about Walmart’s shipping practices, specifically about whether they use mothballs. The reason behind…My mind was racing with thoughts of severe insanity. Also, I understand that occasionally I do laundry before putting my clothing on, but today was clearly not one of those days, and I feel bad about it.
Is it necessary to wash freshly laundered garments every time?
The advantages of washing newly purchased clothing have been detailed in a number of places. They said in Time, “should always clean new clothes before they are worn.”
Dermatologist and professor at Case Western Reserve University and University Hospitals Medical Center’s head of the dermatitis program, Dr. Susan Nedorost, was interviewed for the story. According to Nedorost, allergic contact dermatitis can develop when fresh clothing dyes “bleed” into the skin. According to the doctor, these dyes are a common source of allergic reactions.
When it comes to the release of these colors, “sweating and friction” are the most significant catalysts. So, it’s easy to understand why washing fresh clothes in a machine would cause the dyes to be released. These dyes would be released when they were soaked in water and stirred. “You might have a lower exposure” if you wash newly-washed garments, according to Nedorost.
An extreme case would be if these dyes leaked into the bloodstream and caused an allergic reaction that would last a lifetime. It could be as simple as washing brand-new clothes before wearing them to avoid this problem.
The personal aspect
According to Self, new clothes frequently “contain[s] leftover dyes and chemicals,” which is similar to Time’s position on the matter of wash-before-wear.
However, according to the New York Post, there’s still another rationale for washing freshly laundered garments: other people. Before you buy those pants or shirts at Macy’s, consider the countless people who have handled and shipped them, as well as others who may have tried them on. “The human body naturally produces body soils throughout the day,” says an employee featured in the article from Procter & Gamble. One liter of perspiration, forty grams of sebum (the body’s oil), ten grams of skin cells, and ten grams of salt are the typical amounts.
You can end up exposed to all this dirt if you don’t wash your clothes.
Adherents of the TikTok platform concur
Someone who left a comment on Alexa’s video felt sick to their stomach since she didn’t wash her new clothes right away.
“Who among us doesn’t wash newly purchased garments?” They inquired.
The following comment was made by another user: “I’m afraid washing ur clothes after buying them is common knowledge.”
A store worker who went on the record as saying, “I work in retail, and people fr be trying stuff on with no undergarments on” summed up the need of cleaning clothes when trying them on. So, yeah, please, launder your garments.
Clothes bought at Walmart have allegedly smelled like moth balls, according to other customers.
A writer mentioned that they had to wash their Walmart jeans three or four times to remove the mothball odor.
Juniper Calloway is a dedicated journalist with 3 years of experience in covering hard-hitting stories. Known for her commitment to delivering timely and accurate updates, she currently works with MikeandJon Podcast, where she focuses on reporting critical topics such as crime, local news, and national developments across the United States. Her ability to break down complex issues and keep audiences informed has established her as a trusted voice in journalism.
