It doesn’t matter who you are, where you live, or what you do: nearly everyone has jeans in their wardrobe. Whether you’ve been rocking the same pair for decades or have a different cut for every outing, it’s hard to imagine life without them.
However, jeans almost always require extra care when it comes to laundry. Why? The same reason you love them so much: they’re unlike anything else in your closet.
From the basic washing process to common mistakes to avoid, keep reading to learn how to wash jeans the right way!
How to Wash Jeans
How Often Should You Wash Your Jeans?
Garment experts could debate this age-old question forever, but common answers include:
Every three to five wears
Only when they’re obviously dirty
If they don’t get noticeably dirty, every two to three months
For raw denim jeans, you can push it up to six months. For jeans blended with non-denim materials, you can go for the three to five wears rule. Read your care label to double-check what they’re made from.
Remember that water, detergent, and spinning can damage jeans over time, so always opt for under-washing rather than over-washing.
Washing and Drying Jeans: the Basics
We’ve already covered how to wash denim, but your precious blue jeans deserve some extra TLC.
If you have time to spare, hand-washing your jeans is always a good idea. It’ll leak less of that gorgeous indigo-blue coloring and preserve the structure for longer!
Here’s how to hand-wash your jeans:
Fill a sink, tub, or bucket with lukewarm water
Add a dash of liquid non-bleach detergent
Submerge your jeans and gently rub them together for a few minutes
Soak your jeans for 30-60 minutes
Drain and rinse your jeans
If you’d like, toss them in your washing machine for a spin-only cycle
For machine-washed jeans, follow these steps:
Place them in the drum alone or with other dark garments
Add a dash of non-bleach liquid detergent
Select a delicate cycle
To dry your jeans, turn them right-side out, shake out any wrinkles, and always air or line-dry them!
Mistakes to Avoid While Washing Jeans
Want to extend the life of your jeans? Here are remedies to common mistakes:
Shrinkage: select a colder wash temperature, and never wash with warm water!
Color leaks: always turn your jeans inside out before washing, and add ½ cup of clear white vinegar to your hand-wash basin or detergent compartment
Stretching: never use fabric softeners, and always store your jeans folded for a crisper texture
For stain removal, the #1 mistake you can make is waiting too long to treat your jeans. The minute they fall victim to a spill, dab away excess liquid and brush off unwanted dirt. Then head over to this article to save them!
Head to Your Local Laundromat Instead.
Don’t trust your own machines to clean your jeans without destroying them? Our Thornton laundromat facility has everything you need to wash your favorite pieces with ease.
Want to let the experts clean your prized pair of jeans? Instead of searching ‘laundry near me,’ visit our website to schedule a professional service, complete with pick up and drop off. See you soon!