Should you wash that new shirt or sweater before wearing it? Probably, especially if it’s clothing for a child. Dr. Jennifer Shu, a pediatrician who answers questions on the CNN website, cautions that clothes have probably been handled by many different people in factories and stores before reaching store shelves.

In addition, clothing may have been sprayed or treated with chemicals to prevent bacteria growth or to keep them smelling fresh. Wash new clothes, or at least air them out thoroughly, before letting them get close to any sensitive skin.