How to Wash and Care for Denim

When you purchase a pair of high-quality jeans or a denim jacket, you’ll want to extend the life of the material for as long as possible. As we all know, raw denim can be expensive. Properly caring for denim means more than throwing it into the washer and dryer. In fact, you may have been caring for your denim in all the wrong ways. For example, denim can be weakened very easily by chemicals and over-washing. Prevent denim from fading, pilling, and fraying by following these helpful tips for caring for your jeans and other denim.

Quick Tips for New Denim Care

After you buy a new pair of jeans or jacket, the dye is still very saturated and will bleed on other clothing when wet. To prevent your light-colored apparel from taking on blue and other colored tints, wash new denim clothing by itself. Add two tablespoons of salt to help set the dye. Afterward, they’ll be far less likely to bleed. Make sure you turn your denim inside out to prevent damage to any embellishments!

Only Wash Denim When Necessary

You may be accustomed to washing your denim after every wear, but this is not good for the material. Over-washing will quickly fade the denim, so you’ll lose that deep blue look that you love. To prevent this, only wash denim when absolutely necessary. That means if you’ve spilled something on them that can’t be spot cleaned or if they’ve developed an odor, then you can get them in the wash. Otherwise, they’re good to go. This is easier for denim vests and jackets—items that aren’t as easily soiled—than it is for a pair of men’s work jeans. When you do wash your jeans or denim jacket, follow these denim care instructions to preserve the integrity and appearance of denim.

Hand-washing is the best method for denim.

It is easy to wash denim by hand, and the method will help preserve that deep indigo color:

1. Fill up your sink with cold water and add a small drop of mild detergent—no more than a tablespoon!
2. Turn your jeans or jacket inside out and submerge them in the water and detergent mixture. Turning them inside-out will protect any embroidery or beadwork designs on the denim.
3. Let them soak for an hour or so, then rinse them well.
4. Hang your denim clothing to dry, and they’ll be ready for the next time you want to wear them.

If you’re short on time, denim can machine-washed. Make sure the water is on the coldest setting and turn your denim is inside out. Zip all the zippers and fasten all buttons to avoid snags during the wash cycle.

Air-Dry Denim, When Possible

When drying your jeans or jacket, hang them inside, away from direct sunlight. The sun’s rays can fade the color of the denim. If you need to machine dry them, only use the lowest heat setting. Take your denim out halfway through the cycle and let them finish drying on a table or other flat surface. Always be aware of where you put your wet jeans, as the dye could stain your floors or furniture. Placing them on top of an old towel on a table will suffice. Smooth and re-shape the denim—some denim enthusiasts recommend putting jeans on to wear when they’re still a bit damp to allow the denim to completely dry to fit your legs and waist. This way the next time you put them on, they’ll have retained your shape—especially handy for skinny-fit women’s jeans.

Prevent Damage While Wearing Denim

To keep your denim jeans in top shape, try to not tug and pull at the belt loops of your pants. Frequently doing this could cause the denim to thin, stretch, or tear. If you’ve followed the previous tips, then the jeans should fit right into place with minimal effort.

Be mindful while eating or drinking to avoid spills so you don’t have to spot clean or totally wash your denim garments. Don’t ever use a bleach pen or harsh chemicals on stains! This could deteriorate the material and even create an off-color hue that sticks out. Spot clean only with a washcloth and very mild detergent.

When properly taken care of, denim will last you for years and years. With these denim care tips, your jeans, jackets, and other favorite clothing items will last longer without fading, thinning, or tearing. When it is time to replace your denim, explore the