Are you mistreating your much-loved wardrobe staple? Follow these tips to care for your denim so your jeans will last for years and years.
1. Washing right side out:
The first mistake your making is leaving your favourite jeans right side out when washing. Always turn pants inside-out to reduce abrasion on the fabric.
2. Washing jeans too often:
As a rule of thumb, wash your jeans after 4 or 5 wears. Washing too often deteriorates the fabric and colour plus denim usually masks dirt well.
3. Washing too many pairs at once:
You might be trying to get laundry day over and done with but cramming too many pairs of jeans in a load will increase the chance of snags caused by zips. Your jeans will be much better washed when they have a bit of room to move during the cycle.
4. Using a rough wash setting:
A cold hand wash is the ideal way to preserve dark jeans, however most of us are too busy to hand wash our denim every time. Instead, choose the gentle cycle with cold water on your machine to get the job done well.
5. Not using anti-fade detergent:
Look for a washing detergent with anti-fade properties to lock in the colour of dark indigo and black denim.
6. Mixing dark and light garments:
It is especially important to wash like colours together to avoid dark denim bleeding onto other garments. Be aware that dye from new jeans can rub off on other clothing and should be washed separately for the first time.
7. Using a dryer:
Opt for line-drying or drying flat in the shade to extend the life of your jeans. Leaving them in the drier too long will fry the fabric and cause shrinkage. If you have to use the dryer, use a cool temperature setting and remove them when slightly damp and allow to air dry.
8. Not pulling wet fabric to shape:
Leave your jeans crinkled up and they will stay that way when dried, so keep your jeans in great shape by gently pulling them back to shape when damp.
9. High iron setting:
If your jeans are wrinkly, use a steam iron on warm setting.
10. Folding jeans in a wardrobe:
Never fold your jeans to store them as these folds will set into the fabric over time. Instead, hang your denim in your wardrobe.
