All You Need is Love | How to Care for Your Favorite Jeans
While there’s no debate over the classic style of denim, there’s plenty of debate on how to “correctly” care for them. We’ll go over a few main points to keep in mind when making sure your Stitch’s last forever.
Washing
Denim is different from the other clothes in your closet — and with that, they require different care instructions. If you accidentally mark your jeans, always go for a spot clean system first. Use a mild detergent and damp cloth to lightly dab (not harshly scrub) the stain away.
Of course, it is perfectly fine to throw your jeans in the wash but have these notes at top of mind before doing so!
- Do not wash your jeans after each time you wear them. Hold off and wait to only wash them every 10 wears or so.
- Do hand wash when you can. Do not scrub or wring them out, as this will interfere with the natural fibers of the denim.
- Do use the gentle wash cycle when you do toss jeans in the washer.
- Do turn them inside out and use colder water. This helps to prevent fading.
- Do take your time in choosing a less harsh detergent. Not only is this better for all clothes (not to mention your skin) it makes a huge difference in locking in those indigo colors.
Drying
After pulling your denim out of the wash, what comes next?
- Ideally, you should hang the jeans up and let them line dry. After they air dry, if the fabric is feeling super stiff you can run them in the dryer for a few minutes on low to soften up.
- If you don’t have the time to wait for the air dry process, you can put them in the dryer but make sure to keep it on a tumble dry/low cycle.
Refreshing
If you’ve been wearing your denim frequently and they’re still going strong without a refresh, it is perfectly fine to hold off on washing them. This does not mean they get “dirty,” but if you want the comfort of a quick cleanse - listen up.
- Toss the denim in the dryer on low with a dryer sheet for a few minutes. The heat will help cure odor causing bacteria.
- Yes, you can freeze denim! Throw your jeans in the freezer overnight as another alternative to kill any bacteria growth.
- Put your steamer to good use (if you don’t already have one, this is an excuse to buy one) and steam away! This is another way mild heat comes in handy to kill off bacteria. It’ll also help soften the jeans if they’re feeling a bit stiff.
Storing
There’s no rule that says you need to hang jeans. In fact, they may actually get stretched out more easily if they’re strewn across hangers in a messy closet!
- Fold. Stack. Store. Admire. It’s that simple.
Your denim is always there for you. Isn’t it time you returned the favor?