Some people can go months without washing their denim jeans, while others wash theirs nearly every week – but what’s the ideal frequency for washing your jeans?
If you’re investing in a good quality pair of jeans, it’s important to know how to care for them. This will keep them looking fresher for longer and mean they’re less likely to wear out quickly too. There’s nothing worse than your favourite pair fading!
Here, we break down the do’s and don’ts for denim care, offer advice at washing your jeans and explain why you should never put them in the tumble dryer.
How often should you wash a pair of jeans?
Welsh denim brand Hiut, who count Meghan Markle as a customer, suggest abstaining from washing jeans for as long as possible to keep them in the best possible condition.
They even founded the No Wash Club to encourage it, giving another reason to avoid washing as saving water and helping the environment.
While some may not like the idea of washing jeans so rarely, it’s important not to wash them too often. Water breaks down denim, meaning the more you wash them, the less time they’ll last.
How many times should you wear your jeans before washing?
If you’d rather not get involved in Hiut’s No Wash Club, co-founders of The Laundress Gwen Whiting and Lindsey Boyd suggest washing your denim every 10 wears or until they start to smell.
If the idea of unwashed jeans freaks you out, you can pop them in the freezer overnight to kill any germs and destroy unwanted odour. Unlike regular washing, this won’t affect the quality or look of the denim.
Should you put jeans in the tumble dryer?
You should avoid putting your jeans in the tumble dryer and air dry them instead.
Many like to use the machine to dry their jeans as this can temporarily shrink them and return them to their original size. However this destroys the fabrication and is the reason many pairs of jeans lose their stretch.
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It’s best to hand wash your jeans to preserve the colour, stretch and overall quality of the denim.
How to wash your jeans
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Hiut recommend turning them inside out and submerge them in lukewarm or cold water with a mild laundry detergent (NOT fabric softener). Let them soak for around 45 minutes, then rinse them three times with fresh water.
Don’t wring your jeans, but roll them up and press down on them to release excess water instead. Then hang them up in the shower or outside, and let them drip dry.
If you want to iron them, do so when they’re still a little damp and make sure they’re inside out.
We recommend checking out Hiut’s in-depth washing instructions here for more information on how to iron your jeans and which detergent to use for the best results.
If you want to use a washing machine, you can – but make sure you put it on a cold, gentle wash. Avoid putting in other garments that are lighter in colour as the dye might run, bleeding the denim colour into your other items.
Try spot cleaning stains rather than washing them more than you need.
Is it OK to wash your jeans every week?
Not really, but it’s entirely up to you! They’ll smell great, but they won’t last as long if you wash them really regularly.
Instead try popping them in the freezer or hand washing. This will keep your jeans looking fresh for much longer and kill the bacteria, so you won’t need to buy new jeans for a while.
If you’re on the hunt for them though, check out our edit of the best women’s jeans of 2023 or read about the biggest denim trends for the year.
