How to Care for Your Jeans, According to Cleaning Experts

The discussion around how—and how not to—wash jeans is a fascinating aspect of denim head culture.

In online competitions, raw denim enthusiasts often challenge themselves to avoid washing their jeans for an entire year. Meanwhile, brands are embracing innovative technologies like moisture-wicking and antimicrobial fabrics to keep jeans fresh between washes. Denim manufacturers are also developing long-lasting dye techniques to prevent fading.

Additionally, there are some quirky denim tales that encourage creative care. One popular tip suggests storing jeans in the freezer to eliminate bacteria and odors, while another proposes washing them in the ocean to achieve unique, naturally worn effects.

To help you care for your jeans while preserving their shape and color, SJ Denim consulted textile and cleaning experts for their best washing and drying tips. Here’s their advice.

Wash cycle

“Denim jeans hold up very well between washes and can be worn for a long time,” said Toby Schulz, CEO and co-founder of Maid2Match. “You can get away with washing your jeans every 4-10 wears, or whenever they start to smell a bit funky. Of course, for any spills and stains, get them into the laundry ASAP.”

Speaking from his own experience and research, Scott Liebenberg, CEO of Tapered Menswear, said it’s crucial not to wash jeans often to keep them looking their best. “Everyone’s lifestyle and preferences are different, but a good rule of thumb is to wash your jeans after about 5-10 wears. This approach helps preserve the fabric’s integrity while staying fresh. I personally find that this frequency works well to balance cleanliness with care,” he said.

When jeans do need a clean, Liebenberg says to turn them inside out to protect the color and always use cold water. “This helps prevent fading and shrinkage,” he said.

This is especially true for raw denim, said James Joun, co-founder and COO of Rinse, a laundry and dry-cleaning app. For most wearers who wear regular denim, however, machine washing is a perfectly acceptable process. “For blue denim, use cold water on the gentle cycle,” he said. “For white denim, use warm water on the same cycle and avoid bleach, which can cause your denim to turn yellow over time.”

Liebenberg suggests skipping the dryer all together. “Air drying your jeans naturally helps maintain their shape and quality over time,” he said.

The way jeans are dried can also affect their color. “While you’ll want to dry your blue denim away from sunlight, the reverse is preferred for your white jeans. Sunlight serves as a natural bleaching treatment, so air dry your white denim out in the open,” Joun said.

Maintaining fit

The advent of stretch denim has done wonders for the comfort, flexibility and style of jeans. One common gripe, however, is how the fabric can “bag out” and lose its retention after a wear or two.

“Like all fabrics, denim will wear out naturally over time, especially if you wear your jeans a lot. If you want to restore their shape or shrink their fit temporarily, heat is your best friend, but use it carefully and sparingly,” Schulz said.

Popping the jeans into a dryer for a quick, hot cycle will help reshape jeans, but Schulz warns that it’s risky. “This can shrink the jeans, [so] you’ll have to be mindful of the process as you could make them too small,” he said.

Alternatively, Joun said using a steamer or hanging jeans in a steamy bathroom can restore jeans to their original shape. “The denim fibers will absorb the water, causing the fibers to swell, then contract when water evaporates during drying. This works especially well around the knees and waist, where denim tends to stretch out the most,” he said.

There are some old-school methods to achieving the perfect fit.

“If your jeans haven’t gotten dirty but feel a bit stretched out, there’s no need for a full wash,” Liebenberg said. “Try hanging them in the bathroom while you take a hot shower. The steam can help the fibers tighten up again without the stress of washing.”

“Some people find that freezing damp jeans can help restore their shape. However, this method should be used with caution and only on denim that is not heavily soiled,” said Ross Pascale, founder of Neeet Cleaning Services. “[You can also] gently steam iron the jeans to help restore their shape. Avoid ironing directly onto the seams.”

“It’s weird, but one hack is to get in a warm to hot shower or bath and let the jeans get wet. Keep wearing them as they dry, and the heat will slowly shrink the denim to a better fit. It’ll be uncomfortable, but it could give great results,” Schulz said.

If you want jeans to have more structure, Schulz said to use spray-on starch or look up DIY recipes with cornstarch. “Spray it onto freshly washed jeans and iron the fabric. The starch will make them stiffer,” he said.

Preventing fading

Keeping black jeans can be a challenge but Liebenberg said it is possible. “I recommend using a detergent formulated for dark colors and washing in cold water to protect the dye,” he said.

Joun agreed that cold water temperature is the best to preserve the black dye in clothing. “Warm or hot water can agitate dyes and loosen them from the clothing fibers, which can result in color fading,” he said.

Turning black clothes inside out before washing them helps reduce the friction that can cause fading. By having the inside of the fabric take the brunt of the wash, you keep the outer surface looking fresh and vibrant. In general, reversing your clothes can help prevent wear and tear, and are particularly useful for clothing containing prints or denim jeans,” he said.

Pascale also recommended turning jeans inside out before washing and to avoid bleach and air dry. “Air drying is preferable to tumble drying for preserving color,” he said.

Reducing washes is the easiest way to prevent black jeans from turning gray, Schulz said. “Spot clean when you can, and only wash when necessary,” he said. “Try to hand wash them separately, but if you must use a washing machine, keep them with like colors and always wash them inside-out. Only use cold water and a detergent for dark fabrics.”

Old school solutions can also be found in the kitchen pantry. “An occasional rinse with brewed coffee or tea in your wash can also help maintain their rich color,” Liebenberg added.

Cleaning products

Specific detergents can help maintain jeans’ color and durability.

“Investing in a good denim detergent can make a big difference,” Liebenberg said. “These are specifically formulated to care for the indigo dyes and unique fabric characteristics of denim, helping extend the life and appearance of your jeans.”

Schulz suggests detergents made for dark fabrics, such as Woolite Darks Defense or OxiClean Dark Protect. “You can also use mild detergent products such as Castile soap,” he said.

Other detergents like The Laundress Denim Wash and Mr. Black’s Denim Wash are crafted specifically for cleaning and preserving denim.

“Even if you use denim-specific detergent, make sure to turn your jeans inside out during washing,” Joun said. “The mechanical action of the wash will fade your jeans, and the fading will be more noticeable for jeans that are darker in color.”