Jeans are one of the most popular pieces of clothing the world over. This probably comes as no surprise—after all, their range of styles, colors, cuts, and shapes can make them flattering on anyone, and they’re durable and classy.
Sadly, many face challenges with holes, fading, and thinning in their jeans. Finding that perfectly fitting pair can be a challenge, and no one wants to see them wear out and need to be replaced.
Here are some simple laundry tips for maintaining your favorite pair of jeans so they last as long as possible while keeping their color and shape, whether washing them at home or taking them to the laundromat.
Preserve Jean Material With Fast Washes
The denim (or blend) that makes up a pair of jeans is hardy for everyday wear, but it’s susceptible to damage in the wash. One of the best things you can do for your jeans is to wash them as sparingly as possible.
Naturally, you don’t want to leave these clothing items until they start to take on a smell of their own—but delaying a wash until you’ve worn the jeans four or five times is ideal.
This will prolong their life and slow down how fast the denim degrades. You can even purchase multiple pairs of jeans and wear them in rotation to delay how frequently they end up in the wash.
Wash Your Jeans Inside Out
Another way to preserve denim is to turn it inside out when it does need to be washed. Doing so prevents the fibers from being agitated against other clothes or the sides of the washing machine, which can artificially wear down the denim faster than normal use would. It also helps to preserve the color.
Use the Cold Delicate Cycle On Jeans
Denim fibers are prone to stretching and shrinking; these are important elements of their fit. You’ll likely notice that your denim is tight when you wear it for the first time after a wash, and then it loosens until you rewash it.
While this gradual and repeatable shape change is normal, washing jeans in warm water or too aggressively can permanently stretch or shrink the fibers, ruining the fit of the jeans.
Instead, wash in cold water to keep the fibers taut, and use the delicate cycle to avoid artificially stretching out the denim.
Jeans Should Avoid the Dryer (Unless You Need It)
Since washing in cold water is smart for denim, you should avoid the dryer’s heat. Air dry your jeans whenever possible to maintain fit and prolong the life of the denim fibers.
However, if your jeans are too big, you can use the dryer to modify their size. Air dry the jeans until they are barely damp, then put them in the dryer for a few minutes. This can adjust their size slightly—but it will be permanent!
Spot Clean Your Jeans Instead
Instead of washing your jeans each time they get dirty, spot clean whenever possible. A cloth doused in cold water and a little soap is sufficient to remove many stains from jeans; just be sure to fully air dry them before wearing them again.
Use spot cleaning to spread out how often the jeans must be washed and to prevent permanent staining.
Douse Your Jeans with Salt and Vinegar
Denim can hold onto vibrant colors, but over time, those colors can dull and fade to a grayed, washed-out hue. To avoid this, practice all the tips outlined above, but consider using some salt and vinegar the first time you wash the jeans.
A handful of salt and a quarter to half cup of white vinegar in the laundry with your jeans will help to set those colors into the denim.
Not only does this keep your jeans vibrant for longer, but it also helps to prevent that color from leaching from the jeans and staining your other clothing items.
Be sure to use white distilled vinegar and not apple cider or white wine vinegar, which are stronger and do not have the same useful chemical composition.
Get Your Jeans Perfectly Cleaned Every Time at Tiny Bubbles Laundromat
If you’ve found the perfect pair of jeans, you’ll want them to last as long as possible while maintaining their color and fit.
You can tackle all of the above tips at home, but if you want to be certain your jeans get the treatment they deserve, consider entrusting them to a reputable laundromat with expert staff right on-site.
The team at Tiny Bubbles can help you choose the correct washer settings for your jeans, or we can launder your jeans for you.
Please visit one of our Tiny Bubbles locations at 14510 Jefferson Davis Hwy Woodbridge, VA 22191 or 505 E Main St Front Royal, VA 22630, to tackle your washing needs in a convenient location.