We all have those pair of jeans which are the go to for absolutely everything, whether it's mess causing work, a night out with friends or just to chuck on before you run out the door. Either way, we all know perhaps they don't get washed as much as they should (... I mean what are you going to wear while they're in the wash) Denim itself is a durable hard-wearing weaved fabric which has been around since the 1800s. We've seen the ‘jean’ through the birth of famous brand Levi’s, Cowboy culture, rock’n’roll, hippie and anti-war protestors, even feminists wore jeans as a statement of equality through the early 1960’s. Keeping the history going with the jean that fits you, we're going to show you the basics to washing jeans and keeping that denim fresh.
HOW OFTEN/ SHOULD YOU BE WASHING YOUR JEANS?
YES, Jeans need to be washed, just like any other cotton garment in your wardrobe. They can be and should be washed in a washing machine, and more times than not your jeans should be worn multiple times between washes to prevent fading and wear. You'll usually know when they're in need of a wash, but as a rule of thumb go by these two main things…
- Smell, the obvious one when you know you know!
- The jeans start to feel soft and lose their normal shape a little.
- Stains or just dirty in general.
However, If you're a clean freak and prefer to wash your pairs more frequently, remember these three things:
- Wash in cold water.
- Close the zippers.
- Turn the jeans inside out, to prevent the dye from fading.
WASHING YOUR JEANS MADE EASY - OUR SIMPLE GUIDE
First things first! Always check your care instruction label, although all jeans are fundamentally the same, this label will tell you any unique washing requirements your garment has!
Use a delicate or gentle cycle:
Denim isn't as tough as you think when being washed. Use cold water to avoid shrinking and saggy pockets as well!
Wash jeans inside out and on their own:
This helps protect the fibres on the outside of the jeans, it's not uncommon for the dye on jeans to bleed, so check the care label to see if it's recommended to wash on their own. If you're desperate to wash your jeans with other items then do so with similar coloured ones.
Air dry or use a no-heat setting:
Exposing your jeans to heat in a dryer can cause damage such as shrinking, fading or yellowing of the denim. If it's possible to avoid the dryer, do. Air drying jeans is the best options, for the planet, your jeans and your bank!
OUR TOP TIP TO STOP JEANS FROM BLEEDING COLOUR:
For a machine wash use the soak cycle setting and turn your jeans inside out, repeating this 30-40 min wash until the water is clear of colour! Alternatively, do the same thing with a bathtub of water and washing detergent. Just make sure the excess dye is washed out, that's all!
Now you're an expert on washing every kind of denim jean, take a look at our favourites from Carhartt, Dickies and Levis, find your next go-to bottoms here.
References:
https://www.vogue.fr/fashion/article/vogue-encyclopaedia-the-history-of-denim-jeans
https://www.byrdie.com/how-to-keep-your-dark-denim-jeans-from-bleeding-2040385
https://www.levi.com/US/en_US/blog/article/the-definitive-guide-to-denim