I once knew a punk who told me he never washed his jeans. They looked crusty and I believed him. Years later, I read a memoir by a French fashion editor who also claimed she never put a pair of jeans in the wash. I remember being quite shocked by this – had she not experienced the butt-hugging heights of putting on a pair of 501s, fresh from the wash?
Recently we’ve been debating the frequency of washing in the Fashion Journal office. From makeup brushes to activewear, it seems like everyone is operating under a different schedule. And when it comes to denim, the advice only gets more confusing.
For more health and wellness advice, head on over to our Health section.
I’m sure we’ve all felt the pain of putting a favourite pair through the wash – for the fifth time – only to discover they have shrunk in the most triggering way. Unless the look you’re going for is the flood pants Milhouse wears in The Simpsons, it can be heartbreaking.
Maybe, like me, you’ve tried all the rogue tricks – like wearing jeans on a hike to ‘break them in’, putting them in the freezer to ‘sterilise’ them, or wearing jeans in the bath so they ‘shape’ to your body (those Junk Food skinnies needed to be tight in 2013).
To help dispel the myths and give us a little more clarity, I reached out to two local denim experts: Hanh Le, Creative Director of Denimsmith and Victoria Bolton, Head of Design at Neuw. Both are well-versed in all things denim care, so trust their advice over a punk you met a party.
Is it true that you should never wash your jeans?
According to Hanh, you should wash your jeans, just not too often. “Every five to ten wears is appropriate, depending on the purpose of them. This is to keep the integrity of the denim fabric, colour retention and longevity, as oil does build up and can cause odour and skin irritation,” she says. “We tend to say a sniff test will be the best indicator if the jeans look clean. Personally, I wash my jeans one to three times a year, but that is personal preference.”
Victoria says it’s a case by case, “less is better but it will depend on the fit and fabric. The nature of indigo fabric is that the wash will fade, so the more you wear it and wash it, the more you change the original wash.” She says not washing your jeans will help maintain the aesthetic of the denim. “It’s more of a rigid denim thing – whereby wear increases the character,” she explains.
Can you explain the freezer myth?
I was told that putting your jeans into a freezer overnight ‘kills the bacteria’ so you don’t have to actually wash them. While Victoria thinks there’s some merit to this (“it won’t remove stains, but it will kill the bacteria”), Hanh believes this is a myth. “When they ‘defrost’ the odour is still present, if not more intense. And the bacteria remain,” she explains.
If you’re not putting your jeans through a full wash cycle, she says your best bet is to spot the area and air dry them in a well-ventilated space. “If it’s lighter coloured denim, place them in a shady ventilated area to deter from sun damage.”
What are the biggest mistakes people make when washing jeans?
Hanh stresses that denim is extremely easy to care for, however she has a few washing tips to get the most wear out of your jeans. “As indigo is designed to fade over time, certain detergents can be quite harsh,” she says.
“We prefer using no detergent or use [detergent] very sparingly to retain the colour.” She also advises to use a cold wash (at most 30 degrees), and to place your jeans in the washing machine inside out, with similar colours. “Then hang them dry in a ventilated area. We do not recommend a tumble dry, as it can break down the fibres rapidly and [cause the jeans to] lose its form.”
To this, Victoria adds, “Don’t leave them in the machine once the cycle is complete, don’t dry them in direct sunlight… [and] don’t wash raw or rinse jeans with other items as the dye will transfer.”
Do you have any tricks for getting out stains in jeans, without ruining the colour?
Both Victoria and Han sing the praises of spot cleaning jeans. Do it gently, with lightly soapy water (no harsh chemicals) and a damp cloth. Use light strokes as to not lift the indigo dye, then rinse thoroughly and air-dry to help it deodorise slowly too.
How can you extend the lifespan of your jeans?
Hanh, who naturally has an extensive denim wardrobe, says jeans can last over 10 years if you use the right aftercare. It comes down to several factors: choosing high quality denim, repairing small damages before the repair becomes severe, and infrequent washing (as per the tips above!)
And it goes without says, but buying quality denim. “Understand the fabric used, the wash and the dye process – all of which contribute to the lifespan of the garment,” says Victoria.
We’re lucky to have so many excellent denim makers in Australia (both Neuw and Denimsmith are FJ team favourites) and you can you check out more options in our best denim directory.
For more on how to properly care for your jeans, try this.
This article How to wash your jeans so they last longer, according to denim experts appeared first on Fashion Journal.
2025-05-07 12:43:00
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