"Should I wash my jeans?"
You often hear people say, "You shouldn't wash your jeans!"
There are various opinions on this, such as "it ruins the unique color and texture of the jeans" or "I'm worried about fading and shrinking."
While washing can indeed change the texture, jeans you've worn will inevitably pick up sweat and odors.
If left untreated, stains that could have been removed may become permanent, and it can even lead to the fabric aging faster.
To prevent this and to keep your jeans looking clean for a long time, it is important to wash them.
In this article, we will explain the precautions to take when washing jeans and how to wash them so they stay beautiful and last longer.
Is the idea that you shouldn't wash jeans a myth?
You often hear people say "It's best not to wash your jeans," but this is actually incorrect information.
Originally, this was said regarding expensive antique or vintage jeans, meaning you shouldn't wash them so as to preserve their original texture.
However, this came to be misinterpreted as applying to ordinary jeans as well, and the misinformation spread.
In reality, as long as you know the following correct information, it is perfectly fine to wash your jeans.
Things to know before washing your jeans
Jeans are prone to laundry mishaps more than other clothing items.
There are 5 important precautions to follow rather than just "throwing them in the washing machine."
Keep these in mind so your precious jeans don't shrink or fade.
Fasten the buttons and zippers
If you wash them with the buttons open, the fabric around the buttons will weaken, which may cause them to fall off while you're out, or the metal parts of the zipper may rub against and damage the denim.
This can also cause the jeans to lose their shape, so make sure to fasten all buttons and zippers.
Unroll the cuffs
Dust and dirt tend to accumulate in rolled-up cuffs.
Unroll them before washing and check to make sure there is no debris inside.
Washing them while rolled up can cause wrinkles and uneven fading in the folded areas, so be careful.
Turn your jeans inside out
While you can wash them right side out, doing so causes the fabric to rub against itself, leading to localized color changes and greater damage to the material.
You can prevent this by washing them inside out.
Be careful with other laundry
When washing jeans, do not wash them with other items; wash them alone.
Denim fabric inevitably fades when washed, and the color might transfer to your other clothes.
To prevent this, wash your jeans together as a batch or hand wash them.
Use detergent for delicate garments
Standard household laundry detergents are often "alkaline."
However, their cleaning power is too strong, which can actually damage your jeans.
To maintain the texture of your jeans, use a neutral detergent or one specifically for delicate garments. Be careful not to use synthetic detergents like bleach.
You can identify neutral detergents by checking the label on the package, which will state "Neutral."
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How to wash jeans to make them last longer
There are 5 precautions to follow to make your jeans last longer.
As long as you keep these 5 things in mind, your jeans will last, so please be sure to remember them.
No need to wash frequently
Jeans fade every time they are washed, so you don't need to wash them every single time you wear them.
Depending on the season, washing them once every 5 to 6 wears, or whenever you notice odors or stains, is perfectly sufficient.
If you want to bring out their unique character and texture, you can adjust the frequency accordingly.
Use detergent specifically for jeans
Did you know that there are detergents made specifically for jeans?
There is actually a wide variety available, including detergents that prevent fading while removing only dirt, ones that restore stiffness, ones that add softness, and ones with added fragrance.
They are a bit more expensive, but they are great for high-end or favorite pairs of jeans.
Wash gently on the "Hand Wash" or "Delicate" cycle
When washing jeans in a machine, use the "Hand Wash" or "Delicate" cycle. To avoid long wash times, adjust the settings to keep the "wash" and "rinse" times short, and limit the spin cycle to 1 minute.
Hang them out immediately after washing
Leaving wet jeans in the washing machine can encourage bacterial growth.
Not only that, but it can also lead to uneven fading and wrinkles, so take them out as soon as the spin cycle finishes.
Do not use a dryer
While using a dryer is a quick way to dry clothes, the high-temperature hot air will cause jeans to shrink.
It can also damage the fabric, so caution is needed.
To avoid having your favorite pair of jeans shrink to the point where they no longer fit, avoid using a tumble dryer.
How to dry jeans
I have covered how to wash your jeans, but there are actually key points to consider when drying them as well.
By understanding these 5 points, you can prevent them from losing their shape, fading, and getting wrinkled.
Reshape and smooth out wrinkles
Once the spin cycle is finished, first smooth out any wrinkles.
Clap the jeans between your hands to flatten the fabric.
Gently pull on the waist and knee areas to reshape them and prevent them from stretching out of place.
Dry in the shade whenever possible
The key is to dry your jeans in a well-ventilated, shaded area.
Indoors is fine, but drying them outside is even better.
While sun-drying has sanitizing effects, direct sunlight can cause discoloration, so reserve that only for when you are truly worried about odors.
Dry them inside out
After washing them inside out, hang them up to dry while they are still in that state.
Turning them inside out prevents fading even if sunlight happens to hit them directly.
Furthermore, drying them inside out reduces the number of overlapping layers, helping pockets and other thicker areas dry faster.
Dry them upside down
Jeans soaked with water are surprisingly heavy.
Drying them upside down uses that weight to pull the fabric taut, which helps prevent the jeans from shrinking.
Just hang them using clothespins or bottom hangers.
Be careful if you have stretch jeans, as hanging them upside down might cause them to stretch out too much.
Dry them in a cylindrical shape
Hanging them in a cylindrical shape allows air to circulate inside, improving ventilation and helping them dry much faster. Even thick denim will dry thoroughly, and this prevents that damp, unpleasant odor while saving time.
How to hand-wash your jeans
Hand washing is the best way to minimize fading.
Although it takes time and effort, it allows you to maintain the original color of the jeans without putting stress on the fabric.
The method itself is quite simple if you follow these points, so please give it a try.
Prepare a large tub and detergent for delicate clothes
Prepare a tub large enough to fit the jeans completely.
If you don't have a large tub, your washroom sink or kitchen sink will also work.
Use detergent for delicate clothes to remove any stains.
Always use water
A key point for hand washing is to use cold water.
While hot water makes dirt easier to remove, it can also cause the color to bleed or the fabric to shrink, so always use cold water.
Fill the tub with water, add the detergent for delicates, and dissolve it thoroughly.
Follow the amount of detergent specified for hand washing on the package.
Place your folded, inside-out jeans into the tub carefully.
Soak for 10–15 minutes
Soaking helps the detergent permeate the entire fabric and loosens the dirt.
Even just soaking can remove a fair amount of dirt.
If the water turns brown, that is proof that the dirt is being removed.
Don't soak for too long, as it will cause the indigo dye to bleed; keep it to 10–15 minutes.
Press-wash
After soaking, discard the water, refill with fresh water, and gently press the jeans down into the tub with both hands.
Repeat the "press down" and "lift up" motion 2–3 times, turning the jeans over occasionally, to rinse them throughout.
If there still seems to be detergent left, rinse them once more.
Be careful not to scrub or rub them forcefully during this process.
Spin-dry in the washing machine
Once the detergent has been thoroughly rinsed out, use the washing machine to spin-dry them.
If you are worried about them losing their shape, put them in a laundry net.
Even for hand-washed items, set the spin cycle time to be as short as possible.
Take them out of the machine promptly when finished and hang them to dry.
How to wash special types of jeans
So far, I have explained how to wash standard jeans.
However, distressed jeans and white jeans require special care, so I will explain each of those.
Always use a laundry net for distressed jeans
Be sure to put distressed jeans in a laundry net so the damaged areas don't tear further.
Folding them into thirds to fit the size of the net will minimize wrinkles and shape loss.
Put only one pair per net so they don't rub against other jeans.
How to wash white jeans
Standard detergent is fine
Unlike regular blue jeans, there is no need to use neutral detergent or detergent for delicates.
Any detergent with optical brighteners or bleach that you have at home is fine.
Powdered detergent has more cleaning power than liquid, so it's effective when you really want to remove stains.
After you've selected your detergent, the rest of the steps are the same as regular jeans.
Be sure to wash them gently using the delicate cycle.
When washing light-colored blue jeans or beige/off-white jeans, take care to use neutral detergent or detergent for delicate items to prevent color bleeding.
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Care methods when not washing your jeans
Sometimes you might think, "They aren't dirty enough to wash, but they have an odor..." or "I got a tiny stain on them."
Here are some ways to deal with those situations.
Spot cleaning
If the stain is only in one spot, use a cloth dampened with a bit of water and neutral detergent to gently dab the area.
Just like when removing stains, it is effective to place a cloth underneath the stained area of the denim fabric.
Be careful not to scrub the fabric.
The trick is to "gently dab" so the stain transfers to the cloth!
Use a steam iron
Using a steam iron can help remove odors without damaging the jeans.
Keep the steam iron slightly away from the jeans and iron while smoothing out wrinkles to ensure a beautiful finish.
Drying outside is also effective!
An even easier way than using a steam iron is to hang them outside.
To avoid direct sunlight, turn your jeans inside out and hang them in a well-ventilated, shaded area.
If there are no actual stains and you are only worried about odors, hanging them outside can be surprisingly effective.
Conclusion
In this article, we introduced how to wash your jeans.
I'm sure there were many points and precautions that you hadn't heard of before.
Jeans have become such an easy-to-wear item that is活躍 in various scenes, from casual to formal.
Wearing them frequently and washing them causes their color to change, adding character that makes them uniquely yours.
I hope you enjoy washing them correctly and wearing your favorite pair for a long time.
