Does Denim Bleed? 5 Ways to Avoid Denim Bleeding

We’ve all owned a pair of jeans that left blue stains on everything they touched, but these solutions can help you get rid of the problem.

Does denim bleed? Bleeding is a common problem with denim jeans. You might find that some of the dye transfers from the fabric of a pair of raw denim jeans to other clothing when you wear and wash them. All jeans are susceptible to the bleeding phenomenon.

If you want to prevent this from happening (which, in the case of furniture, you almost certainly want to), there are a few easy steps you can take to reduce damage and undo any dying that does take place.

Does Denim Bleed?

Yes, one of the dangers of breaking in a new pair of raw denim is the significant amount of indigo dyeing that will happen on furniture, your hands, your boots, and anything you put in your pockets in the first few weeks as the dye sets itself.

However, due to the fact that raw denim jeans are made of unwashed denim, bleeding is more frequent with them. Fortunately, you can take a few safety measures to stop your raw denim jeans from bleeding.

Related: Does Denim Fade? Reasons & Preventions

How to Avoid Denim Bleeding?

Learn how to stop the fabric from bleeding onto your pair of denim jeans by continuing to read.

Choose a Lighter Color

They can be kept from bleeding by selecting raw denim jeans in a lighter shade. The most popular shade for raw denim jeans is indigo. It has come to be associated with raw denim jeans and is a dark, deep blue color. However, indigo bleeds more frequently than other, lighter colors.

Choose raw denim jeans in a lighter color to help prevent bleeding. For instance, you might want to go with light blue rather than indigo. Although less common than indigo, light blue still has raw denim jeans available in this shade.

Raw denim jeans are also produced in white, yellow, beige, and olive in addition to light blue. Choosing a pair of raw denim jeans in one of these pale hues will lessen the likelihood that they will bleed.

Wash New Jeans

The first step in making sure your jeans stay transfer-free is to wash them as soon as possible. We know you can’t wait to give your new denim its shining moment in your closet. The majority of jeans come with a disclaimer tag warning that the indigo dye process used to create them will cause color bleed and to wash them right away.

Because hot water will cause your jeans to shrink, wash your dark denim jeans inside out in cold water. Cold water is kinder to fabric dyes.

To be on the safe side, wash the jeans in the washing machine by yourself the first time. By doing this, you can be sure that any dye that is released during the wash cycle won’t smear on your other clothes.

Add Vinegar to Your Cold Water and Rinse

Although vinegar is a common household ingredient, it also has some major advantages for your wardrobe. When dark indigo jeans are treated with white vinegar, especially when they are still new, the acetic acid in the vinegar, a mild acid, helps to lock in the dye and prevent fabric bleeding.

Additionally, vinegar is a natural bactericide that kills any unpleasant microbes that may be present on your clothing, including new jeans.

Try soaking new dark denim jeans in a vinegar bath, which is simply a solution of cold water and vinegar, if you prefer to hand wash your clothes instead of using the washing machine.

To do this, add one cup of white vinegar to the cold water in your bathtub or bucket. Without needing to rinse, let the jeans soak for about an hour, then wring out the excess liquid and hang them up by the waistband to dry.

If your jeans are expensive or you’re worried about them keeping their shape and color, hand washing is your best option.

Try a longer vinegar bath that lasts all night, followed by a run through the cold water cycle of the washing machine, if your jeans are still bleeding.

Pour one cup of white vinegar into your bathtub or a bucket filled with cold water to accomplish this. Lay your jeans out in the tub overnight to soak. The next morning, rinse them in plain, ice-cold water, and then hang them up to dry.

Repeat Washing

Before you put on your brand-new pair of jeans for the first time, repeat the vinegar bath or cold water rinse several times, making sure to turn them inside out each time to prevent the dye from transferring to your other clothes.

Your jeans will keep their shape and size if you don’t dry them in the dryer when the time comes. Instead, hang them by their belt loops to let them dry naturally. Try soaking your jeans in water and fabric softener overnight, then rinsing them the next day to avoid your jeans becoming stiff after drying.

Air Dry

Air drying your raw denim jeans is another suggestion for preventing bleeding. When compared to using a conventional clothes dryer, air drying is a kinder, safer method of drying jeans. Your jeans won’t be subjected to high temperatures or mechanical stress.

As a result, air drying is preferable. Your raw denim jeans’ dye will stay locked in place thanks to this, making bleeding less likely.

Both indoors and outdoors are suitable for air-drying raw denim clothing. Having said that, many people favor drying their clothes in the open air, including their jeans. Jeans made of raw denim will smell better after air drying outside.

Conclusion: Avoid Denim Bleeding

Before jeans are produced and sold, the denim is literally washed. There are methods to stop bleeding, though, even with raw denim jeans. The risk of bleeding can be reduced by picking a light color, washing the garment before wearing it, getting the right length, setting the dye with vinegar, and letting it air dry.

This straightforward guide ought to be effective for the majority of instances where indigo stains need to be prevented or removed, but if you have any additional ideas, tips, or modifications, please share them in the comments section.

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