Care for Your Denim and Keep it Looking New!

Jeans are an everyday staple for most of us. We live in them. Work in them. Play in them. And when you think about how much you might pay for a good pair of jeans these days, it makes good sense to take good care of them. If you want to help your favorite pair of jeans last longer and look great doing it, here’s how.

1. Washing

When it comes to washing your jeans, it’s important to wash them the right way, with the right frequency. Wash them too often and they’ll wear out faster. Don’t wash them often enough and well…they’ll start looking (and smelling) bad. Denim is pretty rugged, and simply doesn’t need to be washed every time it’s worn. For jeans that have a good bit of lycra in them, they’ll probably keep their shape for 3 to 5 days of wear before they need to be washed. Jeans that are 100 precent cotton can go longer…even 8 to 10 wears between laundering. Some even say just to wash them when they stink.

While a few true-blue denim lovers like to hand wash their jeans, there’s really not much benefit to outweigh the hassle. For a good happy medium, turn your jeans inside out and wash on your gentle cycle in cold water.

2. Detergents

Some detergents can make your jeans fade faster. So try using a more mild detergent to help the deep blue last. Detergents formulated for dark colors (such as Woolite Dark) can also help maintain the color, as can adding a cup of vinegar to the cycle.

Laundry bluing, such as Mrs. Stewart’s, is a laundry additive that can help maintain the color of your jeans, too.

You can’t miss these other laundry tips and tricks:

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Make Your Laundry Smell Seriously Incredible