surak

Seems like a good idea to wash before wearing some bike gear, like shorts. Who knows what kind of stuff is still on them from the factory. But what about jerseys, arm/leg warmers, socks, etc?

Bandera

Do you know who has doing what to your new garments?
You decide.

-Bandera

mcours2006

I know I should, but I don't always.

55murray

Yes, bike clothing is a subset of all clothing, so rules for all clothing apply.

SquidPuppet

Sizing chemicals are nasty. I wash every new item before wearing it.

But, I also won't wear petroleum/plastic athletic clothes to begin with. But that's another argument.

SethAZ 

I could theorize all kinds of crazy things that could happen, but in practice I pretty much never wash new stuff like this before using, and it's never actually caused any problems that I'm aware of. If I had a compromised immune system or really deadly allergies or chemical sensitivities I'm sure my attitude would be different.

canklecat

Shorts, sure. The other stuff, nah. Unless it reeks of chemicals I don't worry about it. But I don't have any particular skin allergies. And most manufacturers are making an effort to reduce or eliminate known sensitizers. I try to buy from manufacturers that emphasize this stuff.

The only shorts I've had that caused skin irritation were Baleaf padded liner shorts. I hand washed them first but should have machine washed them a couple of times. No problems since then. The problem may have been excessive padding, as much as anything else. That thick 3-D gel padding soaks up and holds sweat. Felt like sitting in a puddle. I switched to Pearl Izumi and AeroTech shorts with thinner padding that wicks more effectively.

Folks who are more sensitive probably should wash 'em first. And some folks can build up allergic reactions from exposure to sensitizers. This is why some folks are surprised to discover they're reacting to stuff that didn't bother them before. For example, folks who work with masonry, cement and mortar, etc., may gradually become sensitized, and later become more sensitized to other chemicals.

HerrKaLeun

do you include polyester in that list? I've recently discovered and came to love the "wicking" stuff which doesn't soak up any water unlike cotton. (also comes out relatively dry out of washer). most of them are polyester. Really feels great for almost any activity inc. just normal life.

Any type of clothing I wash at least once before wearing. there are residuals of coloring, and who knows what chemicals.

SquidPuppet

Yes. It's actually at the top of the list. But I don't want to derail the thread. I shouldn't have even made my previous comment. Back on topic, to wash or not to wash.

Lazyass

I wash my bibs before wearing them. They could have been tried on by someone with herpes or the crabs or something.

shelbyfv

I wash it all before wearing but folks have different tolerances for yuck. There are some guys here who are proud to say they don't wash their shorts after every ride....

indyfabz

'scuse my ignorance on the subject, but what are sizing chemicals. Something manufacturers treat clothes with to get them to the proper size?


Edit: Never mind. I just saw the post above.

SquidPuppet

I know you have your answer now, but I'll just add this. The more presentable or "perfect" a garment appears on the rack or shelf, the more nasties it has been treated with, helping it hold it's shape and fight wrinkles. Have you ever noticed that some store's clothing departments have a particular odor? I've had some name brand garments that have filled my car with the unpleasant odor on the way home from the store because they have so much "preservative" on them. Plus they feel like hell. Totally unnatural. Gotta get that crap off before I'll wear 'em.

surak

I know I should wash everything first, especially since my skin is on the sensitive side, but I too am guilty of not always doing so. I had some new PI shorts, jersey, and arm warmers recently delivered and, except for the arm warmers, first tried them on for a few minutes. I tried the shorts over boxer briefs since I figured that I should check the sizing but not make contact with my nether regions until after washing them. I think of the jersey as analogous to a t-shirt, so I'll wash it first before really wearing it. But I decided to wear the arm warmers today, without having washed them, to see if they are any good.

jefnvk

That is because wearing underwear with them eliminates the need

But seriously the only clothes I wash before I wear are things I get from thrift shops, and I am certainly not buying bike shorts there! Never had any skin issues with chemicals and such.

sdmc530

YES, always everything!!


....now where did I put my 5 gallon pale of hand sanitizer

Murray Missile 

I never wear ANYTHING without washing it first! Well, except shoes.....

a1penguin

Never. I seem to be in the minority!

Wileyrat

Shorts, yeah....Jerseys, sometimes.

If I buy a jersey at a LBS, I assume it has been tried on and will wash it, online purchases I figure are virgins, and I might wear it out of the box.

shelbyfv

I think of a slave laborer with TB barking on it....

kevindsingleton 

I'd like to hear the story behind the origin of that term.

bobwysiwyg

Ditto

jon c. 

I wash all clothes before wearing. You never know what might be on them.

canklecat

Yup. The main reason to take precautions with resale and return clothing is bed bugs and other critters. The best way to de-critterize is with a hot clothes dryer or steam heat from a wand used to de-wrinkle fabrics that can't be laundered conventionally.

In fact, a fabric steam wand is great for eradicating bed bugs from the home as well. It's labor intensive but works on furniture, clothing, baseboards, pretty much everywhere you can reach with the steamer wand. Bed bugs are resistant to pesticides so it's a waste of time and money to try any conventional spray or chemical -- it just doesn't work. Our apartment complex was infested a few years ago, but our apartment had only a few of the critters because I used the steam wand weekly (and Cimexa dust, a remarkably effective desiccant with almost no risks to humans or pets) until they were eradicated. And the entire building appears to have been free of infestation since then.

SquidPuppet

Just the thought of those scares the heck out of me. I saw a documentary about how difficult it is to get rid of them. Yikes.