It is a more sustainable choice, and you often come home with original clothing items or things that no one else has. But how clean is that second-hand sweater or that silver cutlery set, really?
There are absolutely bacteria in second-hand clothing, says Chris Callewaert, who conducts research at Ghent University into our skin microbiome and the question of whether bacteria that sit on our skin can move. “The closer the contact with the skin, the more bacteria and sweat molecules can attach themselves to the clothing,” he says.
That is especially true for underwear, socks, and tight-fitting shirts. You might not quickly go to the second-hand store for ‘new’ underpants. You are more likely to be looking for shirts, trousers, or sweaters. Callewaert does not see such a problem with the latter two garments; sweaters and trousers are often looser around your body and are therefore cleaner anyway.
Microbiologist Hans de Cock of Utrecht University talks about microorganisms. It is known that they not only stay on clothing but can also be transferred from body to garment. The microorganisms that are on our skin are bacteria, viruses, and fungi.
“These microorganisms have a better chance of survival in a relatively dirty and moist environment,” says De Cock. And that is entirely the case with garments made of natural material such as cotton or linen. “They have a higher moisture content than synthetic fabrics.”
Bacteria come out in the washing machine
According to Callewaert, wearing a second-hand sweater or trousers will not quickly lead to all kinds of skin diseases. “The amount of bacteria in such a garment is not that great either. And you are protected by bacteria that you already carry on your skin,” says De Cock. “They offer resistance against other foreign bacteria. That is – among other things – the function of your skin.”
In daily life, you are constantly touching things, but that has no effect. “Like petting a dog,” says De Cock. So you are well protected by yourself, unless you suffer from certain conditions. And the good news is that you can easily get the bacteria out by throwing your new sweaters in the washing machine.
“People have a body temperature of around 37 degrees. That is also the ideal survival temperature for these organisms. If you wash your ‘new’ clothes with soap and at a higher temperature, they will not survive that,” tips De Cock.
If you wash at 60 degrees, you know for sure that you are in good shape, says Callewaert. According to him, washing with antibacterial ingredients such as vinegar or soda can also help. “And soda is also good for removing old sweat molecules.”
Are there stains on your new clothes? With these tips, you can get them out so easily
You can best soak a yellowed garment in vinegar for a night or treat the stain with a paste of baking soda and water.
If there is an annoying toothpaste stain on that new sweater, try dabbing the stain with hot water first. Then it can help to rub detergent on the stain, let it soak in, and rinse with cold water.
Hairspray seems to work against lipstick stains. For other makeup stains, you can go here for tips.
Grass stains are a lot harder to remove. Try it with rubbing alcohol. If that doesn’t help, it might work with cleaning vinegar.
You don’t just get itchy
If you suddenly get itchy from that second-hand sweater, know that wearing this kind of clothes rarely leads to problems. And if it does, it is often about the Staphylococcus aureus, says Callewaert. That is a bacterium that occurs on the skin and in the nose, and can cause many different infections – from a superficial skin infection to a bloodstream infection. That doesn’t just happen. “Usually, other factors also play a role. Such as a weak immune system.”
You don’t have to worry about the purchase of second-hand wine glasses or other tableware. “The general hygiene rules apply to that. Wash them well with soapy water, that is enough,” says De Cock. “You really don’t have to thoroughly clean these things before you can eat from your ‘new’ plate.” And the same goes for those second-hand trousers and sweaters. One wash is sufficient, if you want to wear your ‘new’ clothes without worry afterwards.