How do you wash new jeans?

For new or lightly-soiled jeans, you can use the soak cycle on your washing machine:

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 your washing machine, you can also repeat the same steps with your bathtub, kitchen sink or a large basin with a few inches of cold water.

How often should you wash jeans?

The frequency in which you wash your jeans depends on their soil level and how often they are worn. If you use your jeans for heavy-duty jobs (like construction or landscaping), or if you frequently wear jeans in warm, humid weather, you’ll probably want to wash your denim more often. If you wear designer jeans for work or casual outings, you can probably wash your jeans less often.

Simply spot-treat stains and let your jeans air out for at least 24 hours between wearings. That being said, always refer back to your jean manufacturer’s care instructions before determining how frequently you should wash your jeans.


How to wash black jeans and prevent fading?

The guidelines for caring for black jeans are similar to those for dark denim—use a gentle cycle with cold water, wash separately or with black clothes, turn the jeans inside out and use a detergent formulated for dark clothes.

How to wash white jeans?

When it comes to washing white jeans, wash them separately or with other white clothes. Use cold water for a lightly-soiled pair and warm water for more heavily-soiled ones. In addition to using a gentle cycle, choose an extra rinse option to make sure that all detergent is thoroughly removed.

Should I bleach my jeans?

You should avoid using bleach when washing your jeans as it can cause yellowing or damage to the fabric. Fabric softener should also be avoided since it can cling to the fabric and cause a dulling effect. As with other jeans, let them air dry or put them in a low or no heat dryer cycle.


How to wash raw denim without shrinking or fading?

If your jeans are not labeled as pre-shrunk or faded, then you may have purchased “raw denim” —denim that hasn’t been shrunken or had its dye set during manufacturing. This allows you to wear your jeans so they mold to your body and develop their own unique fading patterns over time.

To prevent shrinking or bleeding, only use cold water to wash your jeans, and wash them separately or with similarly-colored denim. If you decide to hand wash your new jeans, don’t wring them out when you finish rinsing them. Instead, fold or roll them before squeezing out the leftover water. Once they are damp, hang up your jeans to finish drying.