Your favorite jeans deserve to be treated with care. We tapped laundry experts for a jeans washing tip that can protect your jeans (and other items!) from getting damaged in the washer and dryer. Luckily, it only takes a few seconds, but it can seriously pay off when it comes to keeping your favorite jeans looking good.
While it may be tempting to just toss everything in the wash and hope for the best, being thoughtful about how you wash and dry your items is crucial to keeping them in good condition. The right settings, products, and laundry habits can be the difference between a faded, stretched-out pair of jeans you never reach for and one that’s part of your weekly rotation.
Experts at the Home Care and Cleaning Lab and Textiles, Apparel, & Paper Lab spend tons of time analyzing different laundry cycles, temperatures, and clothing fibers to see how well they perform. They shared this one important tip with us: Always zip up the zippers and fasten buttons and snaps before you put your jeans through the wash. This prevents those metal pieces from snagging on other items or parts of the machinery in your washer or dryer, which can unfortunately stretch out or damage your jeans.
It’s also smart to take a second to check the pockets for tissues or receipts and turn jeans inside out to minimize the abrasion that causes fading, as well as the wear that can happen along the hems, pockets, fly and waistband edges. And if your jeans have any rips or frayed hems, consider putting them in a very large mesh bag or securing the openings together with sock clips to prevent further fraying. (Really distressed pairs may even benefit from a gentler hand wash.)
Once you’ve prepped your pair for a spin, be just as thoughtful with your wash settings. Cold water and a short, gentle cycle (like the delicates or colors settings) are ideal. We also recommend choosing a detergent formulated for dark colors to help keep your jeans looking vibrant.
Finally, jeans don’t need to be washed after every wear. Unless they’re stained or stretched out, you can go three to four wears between washes. Less frequent laundering keeps the fabric strong and the fit snug, so you’ll be rocking that perfect pair for a long time to come.
Brigitt is a writer, editor and craft stylist with nearly 15 years of experience. She specializes in lifestyle topics, including home, health, parenting, beauty, style, food, entertaining, travel and weddings. She has written for Glamour, People, Good Housekeeping, Women’s Health, Real Simple, Martha Stewart, Apartment Therapy, The Spruce, and more.
Source: Home Ideas - goodhousekeeping.com
