Retail worker shares one thing you 'must do' to new clothes after ringworm nightmare

We should all be doing this with our new clothes before wearing them.

When we go clothes shopping and come home with a new haul, it can be tempting to wear our new garments as soon as possible. However, one former retail employee is urging people to do one important thing before they don their new clothes after she reportedly at work.

May Ricketts shared a video on in which she told people to make sure they wash clothes before they wear them. She claimed that she got simply from handling the clothes that people had tried on in the unnamed retailer she worked at, and said you never know who has been trying on the clothes that you eventually buy.

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She said: "When you buy new clothes, please wash them or at least steam them. I know the temptation is there. I know you buy something new and you just want to wear it, and I am guilty of doing that sometimes still. But I got ringworm from working in the fitting room of a big clothing retailer.

"It is grim out there. People try on clothes, they bring them back to you, and sometimes they reek. Or sometimes they're carrying contaminants like ringworm. All I did was handle the clothes; I didn't even put them on, and I got ringworm from touching them.

"You see the clothes on a hanger, and you think it's clean. Wrong! Chances are, everyone and their mother has tried it on, and all it takes is one dirty, grotty person with ringworm to have tried it on and bang! Now you're a victim.

"You think that people aren't that minging out there, that if they get things like that, they're getting it sorted, but they're not. There are people walking around with ringworm and they're happy with it. They're living with their little ringworm."

Contrary to its name, ringworm is a fungal infection not caused by worms. The main symptom of the condition is a rash that is usually circular in shape and can appear anywhere on the body, including the scalp and groin.

Ringworm can be treated with an antifungal medicine that can be purchased from a pharmacist. The states you may need to use the medicine for up to four weeks, and it's crucial you use it for the right amount of time, even if your rash has gone away before the treatment period is over.

Commenters on May's video were horrified by her revelation, as many admitted they'd never considered the possibility of their new clothes not being clean before.

But others said they now feel vindicated after always washing their new clothes and feeling "paranoid" about it for years.

One person stated: "I thought I was being paranoid by washing everything before wearing it."

Another added: "I always wash any clothes I buy before I wear them. I don't like the odd smell. I didn't realise you might get ringworm!"

And a third posted: "This is why I only ever shop online as it comes packaged, and I know I’m gonna be one of the firsts to wear it! I'm probably wrong in thinking that but it makes me feel better!"