Keeping your trusty, hardworking jeans in tip-top shape is key to looking and feeling confident. I wear jeans almost every day of my life and have quite high expectations for them (poor things!). With all of the information available out there, it can be overwhelming. Yes, I aspire to be affluent in all things laundry, but what if I just want the basics – how to keep them looking great and last a long time?
Always refer to your garment care label but, “when in doubt – hang it out” (to dry, that is).
Heat is the enemy for really most clothing and can shorten the life of your denim by causing fading, shrinking and unnecessary wear & tear. I recommend the following (no matter what your care label says):
1 > Wash inside-out in cold water
2 > Hang or lay-flat to dry
If you want to “freshen” them up in-between washes, I suggest tossing in a dryer sheet and tumbling (on low) for a few minutes. Not enough to cook them, just enough to activate the dryer sheet. (You can also do this after they have dried completely by laying flat to give them a little “life”.)
Bonus tip: add a couple drops of essential oil to a damp cloth and toss in if you don’t want to use dryer sheets
And to answer the oh-so famous questions that I’m sure you are still struggling with in the back of your mind:
How often should I wash my jeans?
In keeping your jeans looking new, less is more. When it comes down to it – wash frequency really depends on the length or wear and your level of activity. I like to keep it simple – if you feel they need a “reset”, just give them a good wash.
Do people really put their jeans in the freezer?
You may have heard of the “Freezer Method” for deodorizing your denim in between washes. This may help delay bacteria growth but in my opinion, the freezer is for your beef, not your denim.
What about raw denim?
Oh, I’m so glad you asked! Stay tuned for my thoughts (and passion) for raw denim!
Read all of this in a hurry and need the takeaways?
- Inside-out
- Cold water
- The dryer is denim kryptonite
