Jeans are popular around the world, they are practical, beautiful, and rarely go out of fashion. Here are ways to wash them correctly so they last longer.
Even though denim looks durable, it can also lose its appeal.
For the denim/jeans to maintain their original appearance for a long time, it is very important to properly care for them.
This guide will help you understand how to wash jeans by hand and in your portable washing machine.
Follow through!
Washing Jeans by Hand
Washing your jeans by hand preserves the colors and also decreases wear and tear. Wash your jeans in a basin or sink.
- Fill the pan or sink with water.
- Add a mild detergent that preserves the color.
- Flip your denim then spread it in the basin and let them soak for 45 minutes.
- Agitate gently with your hands for 5 to 10 minutes. Avoid hard scrubs or brushes and also do not wrinkle them when washing.
- Rinse with tap water and hang them in a shade to dry. Be sure not to wring the jeans to prevent wrinkling.
Washing jeans is only recommended when it gets dirty. Experts say that jeans are clothes that do not require washing now and then. Frequent washing harms the fabric.
So, when your denim is not heavily stained you can just spot clean it.
Washing Jeans in the Washing Machine
Preparing Jeans for Washing
Can I wash denim in my portable washing machine?
The answer is yes, but to achieve a result that will not disappoint you, you need to properly prepare for the process.
With the technological progress in the world today, you can completely do some of your house chores using household appliances. The same applies to wash jeans. After all, what could be simpler than this: put them in the machine, chose the desired mode, and after a while, the jeans are already clean.
Here are some important rules:
- Fasten all locks, zips or buttons
- Check pockets for small items (coins, hairpins, scarves, etc
- If there are leather inserts, then grease them with glycerin, which will prevent cracking of the skin
- Turn the denim inside out. This will protect the jeans from excessive deformation, and the drum of the machine from contact with locks and buttons
- Put jeans in the laundry bag. This is especially true for those genes that have stripes of beads and buttons
For denim with designer jewellery and embroidery, we recommend washing by hand, so as not to spoil the decor. Most regular cotton and denim jeans are machines washable.
Set the Washing Mode
Now you need to choose the correct washing mode for jeans. Even though denim itself is very dense and durable, to wash it you must choose only the washing regime for delicate fabrics.
If there is a manual mode, you can select it. Some models of washing machines have a mode for washing jeans. Read the information on the label to determine the washing mode.
Set the Temperature.
At what temperature should jeans be washed so that they don’t shrink after washing? The optimum temperature for washing jeans should not exceed 40 0С though the ideal temperature should be 30 0С.
Choose the Detergent
Having chosen the mode and temperature, you need to choose the right detergent. Liquid detergents are best suited as they are better rinsed from the fabric.
Pour a soft detergent for colored fabrics into the compartment. Do not add bleach or powders that have bleach in their composition, you will get heavily faded jeans that will be difficult to wear except for housework. Turn on the machine and let the washing continue with a minimum revolution speed.
Drying Your Jeans
After the rinsing process is complete, remove your jeans from the portable washing machine just before the spinning begins. Put the jeans on a clothesline to dry. Do not dry them in the dryer. Stretch the seams before hanging your jeans to avoid shrinking.
Fold your denim at knee length and put them on a hanger or clothing line to dry. If you fold them too much while they dry, they could get wrinkles and creases.
Freeze Your Jeans.
After long use, your denim may start to emit a foul odor. One of the main causes of the foul smell is the bacteria that pass from the body to the fabric during use. If you want to prolong your jeans’ life the trick is to put them in a freezer when they develop a bad smell.
Freezing the jeans kills a large percentage of those bacteria thus reducing the smell. Put your denim in a cloth bag when doing it. Spraying vinegar on the smelly parts also helps to eliminate the odor.
General Washing Tips
The first washing of jeans after purchase is best done manually. At the first-hand wash, you can do it without powder. Here are some washing tips:
- Hot water removes the dye from the fabric and may cause your jeans to shrink, so do not wash your jeans in it.
- As a fixative for dye, a little table vinegar while rinsing.
- Do not soak the jeans before washing as it causes it to fade and metal parts can leave a rusty mark on your denim.
- It is best to iron the jeans a little damp. Also, your jeans will shrink less and will be softer.
- If it’s the first time to wash your denim, wash them alone or with another garment of dark colors. The blue tint of the jeans usually fades with the first wash.
- If you are washing a load of jeans only, do not put more than 5 pairs at a time. The jeans are very heavy and if there are too many in a single wash; it could slow down the operation of the portable washing machine and not clean them well.
- Never use bleach when washing your jeans. In addition to bleaching them dramatically, the material could be damaged.
- Wash your jeans in a less vigorous cycle.
- Clean stains separately. Remove stains with water and cloth instead of putting the jeans directly in the portable washing machine.
Important! Do not wash dark and light jeans together. But you can wash them with other clothes that are suitable in colour.