Monday, March 23, 2009

Buying Clothes: Procedures

There are many ways in which I was not so much like my mother. For example, I cringe when someone leaves the wet shower curtain bunched closed or forgets to hang the bath mat to dry. Why? Or why must all the light switches be pointing up when they are off and down when they are on? Because growing up, light switches had to all be pointing certain directions and heaven help the person who left them the wrong way.

But there is one habit I am quite thankful my mother instilled upon me: I wash clothes before I wear them. This means that when I buy something at the store, I take it home and then put it in the washing machine/dryer before I let it touch my body. I do this for several reasons:

1. Armpit juice. I sweat like a hog even when I'm wearing deodorant. Other people try on the clothes from stores and the thought of their armpit juice--potentially more abundant than mine--grosses me out.
2. Commando. Some people just don't wear underwear. Then they try on pants. Maybe this doesn't happen, but the fear of it is enough to make me do laundry
3. Filmy residue. When I worked at K-mart, I discovered that clothes come from the manufacturer individually wrapped in plastic. Every single shirt or pair of pants is generally individually wrapped and the sales associate has to take it from the plastic before putting it out on display. Perhaps this is why store clothes feel/smell odd? Anyway, I like to wash that gunk off before my delicate skin wears my stuff.

I thought everyone pre-washed. But it turns out they do not! Corey's mom doesn't pre-wash clothes, only sheets. Corey doesn't pre-wash anything at all. I must admit, in a pinch I've slapped new rugby shorts on my body before a match, but that's different somehow (though I don't know why...I've seen the scuzzy men's bodies at tournaments trying things on at those tents...).

Are people just not afraid of these bodily fluids? Why, if you don't wash, do you not do this? How can I be less paranoid or should I even try to stop pre-washing my garments?

13 comments:

kk said...

NO don't stop washing before you wear!!!!!! And please instill this upon Baby Lev. Although since he is of the male species it may not sink in. I have one son who will wash before wearing and one who doesn't . Can you guess which one does and which doesn't?

Valtastic said...

It's kind of like sex with a new boyfriend... you know they've had sex before but you don't want to think about it.... therefore I don't wast my clothes... only things that touch my naked body... towels...

Peg said...

Prewash! Please, so many other things to do, like wash the really dirty clothes.

Emily said...

typically I agree with val, but for baby lev, definately prewash (Even though i doubt anyone tries on baby clothes, i wouldn't want plastic residue on the soft baby skin!

Katy said...

KK, I bet James prewashes and Matthew does not. Am I wrong?

freya said...

I have to admit that I prewash rarely, but I don't have sensitive skin. I know people who have to prewash everything because they are allergic to scented detergents that the manufacturer may have used.

Since it's not a safety issue, I really can't be bothered. The possibility of other people's sweat isn't enough to do it for me.

kk said...

Katy you are correct.

Anonymous said...

you talked about rugby boys. i like them, washed clothes or not. see you wed for lunch my friend.

Anonymous said...

I'm with Corey -- washing clothes when you first buy them is a complete waste of time -- those clothes will NEVER be as clean as they are the day you buy them (at least in my world)!
And I wouldn't call you paranoid so much as "obsessive-compulsive" (the lightswitch thing is a textbook case).

-Uncle Jordan

P said...

I don't wash. I probably should, b/c I'm one of those "sensitive skin" people, but mostly I'm too lazy.

Anonymous said...

prewashing is only practical if a) you have a washing machine in house and do not have to schlep it to a laudromat, and b) you are not buying said articles of clothing because you are completely out of clean clothes (which i have done more often than i'd like to admit). i've actually bought clothing from a thrift store and worn it without out washing. which is pretty gross.

ninny said...

what about that pervert that was caught masturbating on the underwear in sears? you people still don't wash your new clothes? ewwww! don't worry, katy. everyone else is nuts. you're perfectly normal. heehee

freya said...

If I go to put on new underwear and there appears to be dried semen on it, I will definitely wash them. Or, not buy them!