Denim is a must-have in the closet and can be worn for decades if it is cleaned and maintained properly. But surprisingly, for some people, the secret is not to clean it too often. “Denim is a very durable fiber, so it doesn’t require a lot of cleaning,” explains Adam Taubenfliger, co-founder of sustainable denim company Triarchy. “Hatie is a very durable fiber, so it doesn’t require a lot of cleaning.”
There are many factors that affect when you wash your jeans, including their odor, their appearance and how they feel. With these aspects in mind, the general washing guide is to wear it three to ten times every time. For example, if your jeans smell and look clean, it is best not to wash them. Washing jeans inevitably affects how it matches the legs, especially if you're wearing hard denim. Therefore, the frequency of washing depends entirely on your personal preferences.
"Rigid denim gets bigger or looser with wear, so some people like to clean their rigid denim after wearing it a few times to make the weaving tighter," explains Sarah Ahmed, co-founder and chief creative officer of denim brand DL1961.
In contrast, elastic denim can still retain its shape after wearing it many times, so Ahmed recommends washing it only when it is "dirty enough to wear". Of course, lighter-colored jeans need to be a little careful, as they are more likely to leave traces and stains. Local cleaning is a great solution – use stain remover to target specific stains so you don't have to throw your entire pair of pants into the washing machine.
Taubenfliger said excessive washing of jeans will eventually "wear away the fibers and shorten the life of the clothes", and it is recommended to wash jeans only when absolutely necessary.
If you really want to wash jeans, you should wash them correctly so that you can keep the color and texture of the jeans. For best results, turn your jeans over and cool them with mild detergent, and a lower temperature will minimize shrinkage. You can choose an additional rinse cycle, which may be useful as it will help flush out the detergent completely. After washing, hang them outside and air-dry them, which will prevent shrinkage.
