Jeans are among the most robust pieces of clothing: after all, they were originally produced as work clothing. However, the popular trousers have always been a bit difficult to wash. Some people even believe that jeans should never be washed. If that's a bit too unhygienic for you, we'll tell you how you can wash jeans without risking them shrinking or wearing out.
Denim is tough – but when temperatures get too hot it becomes completely different. The cotton fabric is secretly sensitive and can hardly withstand washing temperatures of over 40 degrees. The result: the clothes shrink. Although modern fabrics are more durable because they are usually enriched with a small amount of synthetic fibers, the top rule for jeans is: wash them as cool as possible.
If you choose the washing program unfavorably, you will be confronted with further consequences: faded color, heavy wrinkling, stretch fabrics that have lost their elasticity. But all of this can be avoided if you keep a few things in mind when cleaning your jeans.
Be it spilled coffee, toothpaste splashes or strong grass stains: there are some traces of everyday life that are best removed by the washing machine. Just follow our following washing tips for denim and you'll be able to enjoy the all-rounders in your wardrobe for a long time.
Before you wash a new item of clothing for the first time, you should always take a look at the sewn-in care label. The jeans may be made of a mixed fiber that requires special treatment.
Basically, you should choose a liquid color detergent like Dylon Liquid Colour Detergent for jeans. Heavy-duty detergents contain bleach, which removes the color from jeans. A fabric softener is also unnecessary - or can cause stretch fabrics to lose their elasticity.
When choosing the wash cycle, stick to the following formula: Short and cold. The washing temperature should not be more than 30 degrees and the wash cycle should be over as quickly as possible. You should specifically tackle strong stains before washing.
Then it's best to put four pairs of jeans together in the washing machine - inside out, of course. The machine should not be too full to avoid severe wrinkles - a moderate spin speed of 800 or 1000 revolutions is also helpful for this. Washing several pieces of jeans together prevents them from staining other textiles. Turning it inside out prevents damage to the fabric caused by zippers or buttons. This also serves to protect the color.
After washing, it's best to hang jeans on the clothesline or, even better, put them on a drying rack. Shaking them out vigorously will bring the trousers back into shape and remove the first wrinkles. You should not iron jeans after washing: the wrinkles disappear quickly when worn. If the smooth look is absolutely necessary, be sure to turn the fabric inside out to iron.
If possible, jeans should not be put in the dryer because there are high temperatures there too, which could cause the trousers to lose some of their size. If you really want to put your clothes in the dryer, choose the lowest temperature and take the jeans out while they are still slightly damp.
If you care for them properly, your denim jeans will reward you with longevity and an ideal fit. To save the fabric from unnecessary washing, you can remove odours by letting your jeans air out in the fresh air. Steam can also help to get rid of unpleasant smells: simply hang your jeans in the bathroom when you take a full bath or take a long shower.
If a single stain has spread, you can brush it out dry or treat just one spot with water and, if necessary, vinegar. In this way, you can save an entire wash cycle every now and then. But after wearing them for a long time or if large areas of dirt are dirty, only the washing machine can help: With our tips, your jeans will survive the spin cycle etc. completely undamaged.