Faced with fast fashion, second-hand stores are opening one after the other, responding to constantly increasing demand. In Île-de-France, the number of second-hand stores would have increased from 312 in 2021 to 437 in 2023, an increase of 40%. Second-hand fashion is considered less expensive and more eco-friendly, especially in the midst of the climate crisis.
Although it is difficult not to wear your new pink jeans with fringes and sequins as soon as you buy them, it is necessary to wash them before your first fashion show to avoid contracting any infectious diseases. Indeed, according to an article published in The Conversation, second-hand clothing can provide a breeding ground for many infectious diseases.
Each human has an individual skin microbiota which is characterized by plural microorganisms: bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasites (from the mite family). The microbiota being unique, what is normal and harmless for one person can be a source of disease for another. However, when you wear clothing purchased second hand and which has not been washed, the germs of the microbiota of the previous owner are still potentially present in the fabric.
Research has shown that clothing can harbor many infectious agents. We find in particular germs of Staphylococcus aureus (the cause of skin and blood infections), bacteria such as salmonella or norovirus (main virus responsible for winter gastroenteritis epidemics), as well as fungi that can cause athlete’s foot disease (mycotic infection of the skin of the feet). If clothing is stored at room temperature, some infectious agents are able to survive for months. A humid environment can also encourage the growth of germs on…
A good round of laundry…
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