How often to wash
There is no fixed rule. Wash jeans when they are dirty, smell, or have lost their shape. For many people that means every five to ten wears, and less often for raw denim worn for fades. Jeans worn for physical work or in hot weather need washing more often.
Between washes, air them out by hanging them overnight, and spot-clean small marks with a damp cloth and a little mild soap. Many people believe putting jeans in the freezer cleans them. It may reduce odor for a while, but freezing does not reliably kill bacteria or remove dirt and sweat. If they need cleaning, wash them.
Washer settings
- Empty the pockets, zip the fly and button the waist. A closed zipper is less likely to snag other clothes.
- Turn the jeans inside out. This reduces rubbing on the outside, so the color fades more slowly.
- Use cold water. Warm and hot water fade indigo faster and can shrink cotton.
- Choose a gentle or delicate cycle with a lower spin speed.
- Use a small amount of mild detergent. Some detergents are made for dark colors.
- Wash with similar dark colors, never with whites, especially the first few times.
Avoid chlorine bleach on blue denim. It strips color unevenly and weakens cotton fibers. Never mix bleach with other cleaning products, since some combinations release harmful gases.
Drying
Air drying is gentlest. Hang jeans by the waistband or the hems, or lay them flat. They take a while to dry, so allow a day in a warm room. If you use a dryer, choose low heat and take them out while slightly damp. High heat shrinks cotton, sets creases and wears out the stretch fibers in most modern denim, which can leave stretch jeans baggy at the knees.
Keeping dark denim dark
- Wash less often and always inside out in cold water.
- Skip the dryer.
- Keep new dark jeans away from light upholstery and pale bags until the extra dye has washed out. This blue transfer, called crocking, fades after a few washes.
- Expect some fading anyway. Indigo is designed to wear off. The fabrics guide explains why.
Raw denim
People who wear raw denim often wait months before the first wash, so the creases from wear become sharp fades. That is a style choice, and plenty of people wash sooner. When you do wash raw denim, use cold water and a gentle cycle, or soak the jeans in a tub of cold water with a little mild detergent for about an hour, then rinse and hang to dry. Check whether the denim is sanforized first. Unsanforized denim shrinks in the first soak, and some people do that soak before wearing to set the size.
Stains
Treat stains quickly and blot rather than rub. Cold water works for most food and mud. For grease, a drop of dish soap worked into the spot before washing usually helps. Test any stain remover on an inside seam first, since some products lighten indigo. Avoid hot water on stains you haven't removed, since heat can set them.
Ironing and storing
Most jeans don't need ironing. If you want to press them, turn them inside out and use a medium setting, with a little steam. Store jeans folded on a shelf or hung by the waistband or belt loops. Avoid hanging them by a single belt loop for long periods, since the loop can tear. A torn loop is easy to fix with the steps in the repairs guide.