Washing jeans should be as simple as jeans are practical - but that isn’t really the case, sadly. There’s lots of advice ranging never washing them (ever) and treating them just like any other item of clothing. It turns out, though, that washing jeans can be really simple if you know what you’re doing. We’ll show you how to wash jeans, how often to wash jeans, and take you through the steps of the laundry process.
Absolutely! This is really the best way to wash jeans. Simply turn the jeans inside out, as this will help get the inside of your jeans clean, removing skin cells and the like. During the washing process, laundry constantly touches the drum. If you turn your jeans inside out before washing, their outer surface is protected from the rough surface of the washing machine drum and the jeans will stay looking fresh for years to come.
It is important to really commit to doing a load of laundry and not only putting in a few items at a time – this wastes water and energy. However, if you load the machine to the brim, items like jeans won’t get properly cleaned. A machine that has some space left at the top before you close the machine door will be the most effective at cleaning.
The higher the water temperature during washing, the greater the risk of shrinkage. High temperatures are not necessary for your detergent to work its best. For this reason, it is best to wash your jeans at a medium temperature, or even cold, preferably with Cold Power Dual Caps. By the way, if you want to iron your jeans, turn them inside out first - this protects their colour and your black jeans won’t fade to grey too fast.
Of course, the higher the spin speed, the drier the laundry comes out of the machine. However, if the spin is too vigorous, the laundry will crease. High spin cycles can also be harder on your textiles. A lower spin speed will mean that you’re less likely to have to iron your jeans – saving time and energy! There are also many alternatives to ironing if you would rather try something else.
We’re as likely to wear our jeans to a garden party as we are to the pub so the number of stains that our jeans can pick up can at times be overwhelming. Especially if we’ve been unlucky enough to spill a glass of wine or we’ve picked up some grass stains that won’t come out in a low temperature wash. Not to fear, help is at hand with stain removing products like Sard Wonder. Spray or rub the stick into the stain and leave for 60 seconds before you throw your jeans into the wash. You’ll be amazed at the results. We’d recommend just testing out the heavier duty stain removal detergents in an inconspicuous place first though, better safe than sorry.
Not designer labels – we mean the care labels (sorry, a bit less glamorous!) Jeans are not always made only of cotton, they often contain other fabrics – so relying on your knowledge of how to wash cotton might not be enough. A look at the care label is a wise move, because it means you won’t accidentally ruin your favourite pair. The care label symbols will tell you everything you need to know about your favourite pair specifically – if you’re in want of a few extra laundry tips in general, take a look at our article on the best way to do laundry.
In spite of some advice suggesting not to wash jeans unless they’re truly filthy, we’re fans of a middle ground and think washing jeans is important for good hygiene. But you shouldn't wash them too often either if you want them to stay with you for a long time. And how often? It's simple: wash your jeans when they're dirty. You can wear them for a few days before giving them a bath.
At Ask Team Clean, we want you to enjoy your favourite jeans for a long time to come, so we hope these tips have helped you! If you want more laundry tips for other items of clothing, check out the laundry section on our website.