Each of us has at least one pair of jeans in our closet. We love them because they are comfortable, practical and flatter your figure. If we want them to look like new, we must know how to wash jeans in the washing machine and by hand. Here are tips to help keep your favorite denim pants looking great for years to come.
Features of denim
Classic denim is made from cotton twill weave. This fabric is very dense, with a characteristic relief, comfortable to wear. Denim is often supplemented with threads with a synthetic base: this adds new properties. Stretch jeans with polyester have excellent stretch and fit perfectly to the figure.
Caring for natural and blended denim consists of a number of rules. The most basic ones are always indicated on the label.
How often to wash
Although no one forbids washing jeans every day, frequent contact with water and detergent will cause the fabric to lose its elasticity and color faster. The less frequently we wash our jeans, the longer they last. But this does not mean that you need to stay in your pants for a whole month, and only then wash off the ingrained layer of various dirt. Washing is always commensurate with wear: worn a little, then washed.
It is better to wash new jeans immediately after purchase. Local stains should be washed by hand in a basin, so as not to spin generally clean trousers in the drum.
Advice A sure sign that jeans need cleaning is a stretched waistband or slightly protruding knees. After drying, the shape will be restored.
Does drying affect the quality of clothes?
Once the wash is complete, remove the pants from the drum and shake them thoroughly to even them out. It is recommended to hang jeans in the shade, preferably on a balcony or outside. Remember to turn them upside down to ensure even drying. Remove your jeans before they are completely dry. While the trousers are damp, turn on the iron and run it through.
It is forbidden to use machine drying, otherwise the trousers will become very wrinkled.
Now it’s not difficult for you to answer the question at what degrees to wash your jeans. Rest assured that no matter which washing method you choose, you will have no problem caring for them. Share the secrets of successful washing with your friends!
Washing rules
For any type of washing, try to use cold, or maximum warm, water. Jeans need to be prepped a bit before soaking or cycling in the machine.
Preparation
Check your pockets and remove anything unnecessary. It is better to fasten zippers and buttons. If you machine wash on the standard cycle, turn the pants inside out so that the front side experiences less friction. Be sure to turn decorated trousers inside out.
If there are difficult stains, for example, grass or berry juice, then wet them with water and soap them with laundry soap. Antipyatin soap for colored laundry works well on jeans.
Wash by hand
Hand washing is a priority if jeans are prone to shedding and contain synthetic threads.
How to wash by hand:
- Dissolve the detergent in a large bowl. The jeans should be completely submerged in water. Temperature - 30-40 degrees.
- Soak the prepared pants for 40-50 minutes.
- “Massage” your pants with light movements, paying attention to the seams, pockets, knees, waistband - those places that get dirty the most.
- Drain the solution and rinse thoroughly in running water.
- Squeeze gently. You can twist it, but moderately.
- Shake off the moisture, straighten your pants and set them to dry.
Machine washable
It is important what mode the jeans will be washed on. Consider the composition of the fabric.
How to wash denim in a machine:
- Choose manual or delicate mode. “Cotton” at 30-40 degrees is suitable.
- Reduce the spin speed to minimum if you want to save your pants.
- To avoid overloading the drum, do not wash more than 3-4 pairs at a time. Cotton jeans become heavy when wet.
- Don't neglect additional rinsing.
- Avoid machine drying.
Should new jeans be washed?
It's worth washing your trousers: water will wash away excess dye from the fabric, which can stain your skin, underwear or shirt. In addition, chemicals are used in production that can lead to allergies and rashes.
Another reason is hygiene. Other people tried on the jeans in the store, so washing them will protect against contagious skin diseases.
You can wash your new jeans by hand or in a machine. The shortest and most gentle mode will do, for example, delicate, manual or 15-minute.
Typical washing mistakes
Banal laziness or ignorance of the features of jeans leads to minor troubles, and if you are unlucky, then to damage to the pants beyond repair. Don't make these mistakes like other housewives.
Washing with other items
Washing classic blue jeans with white clothes, even at 30 degrees, is a big risk. After such a mistake, housewives take a long time to remove blue stains from T-shirts and shirts.
Wash jeans only with similar fabrics, preferably of similar composition, following the instructions on the labels.
Heat
Washing at 60 degrees or higher often causes jeans to fade, especially if they are black or deep blue.
There is another problem: the fabric shrinks. You risk simply not fitting into your favorite trousers.
Incorrect spin
If you set the washing machine to the most powerful spin, thin jeans may not withstand the load and tear. Reduce speed to avoid excessive wrinkling of the fabric.
Incorrect washing mode
Natural cotton jeans on the “Wool” or “Synthetic” mode may not wash.
Which product to choose
Use detergents without phosphates, enzymes, or bleaches. Aggressive substances wash out the color and lead to the destruction of fabric fibers.
Detergents for washing denim fabrics:
- Household bulk washing powder – soft, without bleaches.
- Liquid washing gels.
- Powders with added laundry soap.
- Special products for denim.
- Oxygen agents – for colored and mixed materials.
- Color stabilizers – for dark-colored ones.
- Delicate products - for items with appliques, embroidery, leather, lace inserts.
The product packaging indicates the dosage that should be followed. Detergent requires thorough rinsing.
How to dry properly
The final stage of washing is proper drying. For most fabrics, natural drying is a priority, and denim is no exception.
All drying rules:
- Straighten out any creases.
- Hang your pants or place them on the dryer.
- Do not dry on a radiator or in a dryer. Over-drying harms the fibers and makes them brittle. For the same reason, ironing is harmful to jeans.
- To prevent your pants from fading in the sun, turn them inside out if you dry them outside in the summer.
Do I need to turn it inside out?
Jeans must be turned inside out before washing.
There are several reasons for this:
- Color preservation. The less the outer surface of the pants rubs against the drum, the brighter and more saturated the color of the jeans will be.
- Safety of zippers , fasteners and other accessories.
- Preservation of the product's shape. When turned inside out, jeans deform and shrink less.
There is no need to turn the product right side out while drying. This will prevent dust and other contaminants from settling on it. How to get rid of stains
If the stains are fresh, regular washing powder can handle them. To save an item from dirt deeply embedded in the fibers of the fabric, you can use salt and ammonia . These products are dissolved in warm water and then washed.
It has been noted that modern stain removers (like Vanish, Antipyatnin soap) deal with stains by pouring small quantities onto the contaminated area, washing it, and then putting the items in the washing machine.
Changing jeans size
We use all the tips in reverse to reduce stretched jeans. Tricks will also come in handy for those who have lost weight by 1-2 sizes, but do not yet have the opportunity to update their wardrobe.
Shrinkage
Wash your jeans in a machine at 60 or even 90 degrees. The more cotton in the composition, the higher the likelihood of shrinkage. A radical method is boiling in a saucepan, but this is only suitable for the most durable denim.
Stretching
To stretch pant legs, work with the fabric while it is wet. Simply secure the waistband and give the bottom a good tug. Leave to dry in this position, you can additionally secure the pant legs.
Another way is to steam your jeans well and put them on yourself.
Important Tips
To make washing your jeans as effective as possible, you must use the following recommendations:
- Do not ignore the manufacturer's advice. They are indicated on the product label. It is always on the wrong side of the jeans.
- Do not actively rub dirt on your jeans with a brush. This will cause stains.
- The fibers of the fabric will become fuzzy, which will affect the appearance of the product.
- The powder must be dosed strictly. Its excess will remain in the fibers of the fabric, which will require additional rinsing of the item.
If creases in the form of white stripes appear on your pants during drying, you need to moisten them with water and wait until they dry again.
If it is not possible to wash or washing is prohibited
It is worth listening to the opinion of famous denim designers, such as the creator of the Levi's brand, Levi Strauss: to make jeans last for several years, wash them once every 2 months. There is no point in taking this advice to the point of absurdity, because today the fabrics of jeans vary greatly in composition, and the thing is so comfortable that you want to wear it every day. But you can take note of some tricks that will reduce the number of washes.
Dry cleaning
Folk remedies for dry and wet cleaning are salt, soda, hydrogen peroxide, ammonia, vinegar solution and others. Can be used without water. To remove traces of the product, use a vacuum cleaner, an alcohol wipe, or simply wait until it dries.
Local wet cleaning
Stains can be treated with soapy water, dish soap (it effectively removes greasy marks), or soda slurry. Use a soft sponge or brush, be sure to rinse off the product with water.
Ventilation
An alternative to frequent washing is long-term airing. This method will help when there are no visible stains on the jeans, but body odor remains. The smell on the balcony will disappear within 24 hours.
General rules
The question of how to properly wash denim trousers interests many. The requirements for washing denim clothes are often not met, and things lose their original appearance: the fabric becomes thinner, pants can fade if the water is too hot (the correct temperature when washing is not maintained).
Every housewife must take into account the specifics of washing jeans so as not to spoil the product. Before you do this, you need to consider several important nuances:
- jeans “don’t like” dry cleaning (chemicals negatively affect the fabric, and it loses its original appearance);
- Jeans should be washed separately from other items so that they do not lose color as a result of shedding. If this happens, the item can be dyed with a special dye for denim;
- You should always turn your pant legs inside out ;
- Do not use bleaching agents when washing ;
- It is not recommended to wash denim trousers in hot water (more than +45 ℃);
- When drying, avoid direct sunlight to prevent the jeans from fading.
