It's a smart thing to do, particularly because most appliances and stuff come from China now and while they may clean the main parts they are still wrapped up with some sort of plastic, boxes filled with fillers and you have no idea of the paper trail on that stuff. Seems to me like every tool or something like that I've ever gotten from China was covered in a sticky grease.....We didn't experience this, however I'm really particular about washing new things very well before use, which I did.