How to Wash Denim Clothing Properly? Definitive Guide

It’s important to know how to wash denim right away to keep your clothes looking great.

Denim is a resilient, multipurpose material that is made to last. However, our favorite pair of denim jeans can shrink, fade, and the fabric can fray if not properly cared for. Less is more when it comes to caring for jeans.

We’ll go over how to wash denim jeans in this article so that you and your favorite pair of jeans can remain friends for years to come.

How to Wash Denim Clothing?

Jeans now come in a huge variety of styles and colors, and they are no longer just considered basic, reliable workwear. While you should always check your care instructions before washing or drying jeans, there are a few simple steps that apply to all types of denim.

Use a Delicate Or Gentle Cycle

Despite the fact that denim may seem like a durable fabric, you shouldn’t select a heavy-duty wash cycle. Instead, opt for a delicate or gentle cycle, and use cold water to avoid shrinking or fading.

Choose a gentle detergent, particularly if your jeans are blue or black if they are dark colored.

Wash Jeans Inside Out and by Themselves

Turn your jeans inside out when washing them to shield the outer fibers from rubbing and direct contact with the detergent, which helps prevent fading. Nevertheless, it’s not uncommon for jeans to bleed color, especially if they’re brand new.

Examine the care instructions before tossing your jeans in the washer to see if you should first wash them separately. If you must wash your jeans with other items of clothing, try to wash them with items of clothing or jeans that are the same color.

Related: How to Stretch Denim?

Hang Your Jeans Up to Air Dry Or Use a No-heat Cycle

Direct heat from the dryer can cause denim to shrink, fade, or turn yellow, as well as harm stretch denim fabrics made of spandex or Lycra. Use dryer balls to keep your jeans tumbling if you must use a dryer, and choose a low or no heat cycle. The best way to dry jeans is by hanging them up to air dry:

Stretch the seams and take the jeans off while they are still slightly damp. Hang them up to dry completely. Once they’re completely dry, you can hang or fold your jeans to store in a drawer or on a shelf.

Cleaning tip: Washing clothes by hand can be a great way to maintain the integrity of the material over time, whether you’re washing a baseball hat, delicate laundry, or even your jeans.

Related: How to Get Blood Out of Denim? Fresh & Dried Blood Stains

How to Wash Jeans Without a Machine?

Jeans occasionally need to be hand washed. If they have delicate beading or embroidery, you might prefer not to wash them if you’re worried about color transfer or if they’re brand new. Learn more about washing your jeans by hand and other alternatives.

1. Fill a tub or sink with cool or warm water: For the ideal temperature and the amount of water to use, read the fabric care label first. Submerge your jeans completely.
2. Add detergent to the water: Mix the water well with a small amount of liquid detergent.
3. Add your jeans: For one to two minutes, wiggle the jeans around in the water with your hands.
4. Soak for 15-30 minutes: To give your jeans a thorough cleaning, leave them submerged in the water.
5. Drain the dirty water and fill up again: After removing any dirty water, soak the jeans in clean water for an additional five to ten minutes. Move them around with your hands to remove any extra dirt or detergent.
6. Remove excess water: Do not wring out your jeans after draining the water; instead, roll or fold them and squeeze out any remaining moisture.
7. Dry your jeans: As with machine-washed jeans, adhere to the care instructions on the label.

How to Wash Denim for the First Time?

For long-lasting denim, it’s crucial to give your new pair of jeans some tender loving care right away. Washing your jeans by hand and by yourself is the best way to accomplish this.

1. Let the tub fill with water, then mix in a gentle detergent made for dark fabrics.
2. Turn your jeans inside out and lay them in the water—you can fold them to fit if need be, but don’t bunch them up.
3. Let your jeans soak for 30 to 45 minutes, then drain the water, refill it, and let your jeans sit for 10 minutes to rinse.
4. Repeat the rinsing steps until the water is clear.

If you don’t want to use a washing machine, follow the same instructions in a bathtub, kitchen sink, or large basin filled with a few inches of cold water.

Drying Your Jeans After Washing

After washing denim jeans, things could go wrong here. Most manufacturers will recommend steering clear of the tumble dryer and line drying your jeans after washing them instead. This reduces the risk of fading, shrinkage, and other potential tumble dryer damages.

Take your jeans out of the washer (or out of the tub if you’re hand washing them) as soon as you can so that you can line-dry them. Jeans should be folded at the knee and smoothed out before being placed on a rack or hanger to dry (hanging them over the shower curtain also works). This will prevent wrinkles and creases.

Of course, you can use a dryer to dry your jeans. Put your jeans in the dryer for a few minutes to help them get back to their original shape, especially if they grew loose during wear. Just be careful not to dry them too long or at too high a temperature. To lessen any potential harm that a dryer may do to your jeans, select a more delicate cycle and low heat.

How Often Should You Wash Jeans?

After each use, jeans shouldn’t be washed. Your jeans will last longer if you don’t wash them frequently. Frequently, spot cleaning or hand washing your jeans will suffice. Of course, if your jeans are soiled from spending the entire day working outside, feel free to wash them.

Wear your jeans a few more times before washing them if they aren’t obviously soiled or odorous. Every five to ten years, wash your jeans and let them air out in between. Both the environment and your favorite pair of jeans benefit from this.

Tricks for Keeping Your Jeans in Top Shape

1. Hang your jeans. If you hang your jeans when you are not wearing them, you can extend the time between washings. Particularly in the knees and seat, it will aid in the recovery of the fibers from strain and stretching.
2. Jeans with holes that are clean and visible. If you must wash ripped jeans, do so by hand or spot-clean any dirty areas.
3. Jeans should only be washed as needed. The abrasive agitation of your washing machine can gradually weaken the fabric and reduce the lifespan of your denim. Use Tide’s Antibacterial Fabric Spray, a quick-acting solution that, when used as directed, can eliminate up to 99.9% of bacteria, to freshen and remove odors from your denim jeans in between washes.

Final Thoughts: Denim Washing Guide

Even though denim is sturdy, it does need special care, especially the popular colored and printed styles that are currently in vogue as well as anything with a deep indigo wash that hasn’t been pre-washed by the manufacturer.

Your jeans may every now and then require a deeper clean in the washing machine. By turning your jeans inside out, you can avoid fading and get a better clean on the area that actually touches your skin.

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