How Often Should You Wash Jeans?

How Often Should You Wash Jeans? - Experts in laundry and cleaning offer their opinions on the denim-washing dispute.

We're all guilty of it—we've gone days or more without washing our jeans (don't worry, we won't tell). Often, the lack of laundering is due to not wearing the pair often or wearing them so often that we cannot live without them for a day or two.

As with most cleaning routines, everyone has their own rules that they rarely skip. But despite what you may think is best practice, cleaning experts have an answer to how often you should wash your jeans.

Mary Gagliardi (aka "Dr. Laundry"), in-house scientist and cleaning expert at Clorox, Jennifer Kosko, founder of MomRemedy, and Jennifer Ahoni, chief scientist of fabric care at P&G, all give us their professional opinions on the semi-controversial topic. of jeans. How many wears to washes, along with some other expert laundry tips to help extend the life of your denim

The answer to the question of how often to wash jeans isn't clear-cut, like most things in life. Several factors pertaining to your lifestyle and personal preferences will determine this. Let's think about this.

Depending on how you like the color and fit of your jeans, Gagliardi recommends washing your denim frequently after one or two wears if your goal is to retain overall color. Wash them in cold water with the insides facing out to preserve the color even further.

For added fading or lightening, wash them directly and in hot water. Gagliardi says it's ideal for people who are tough on the exterior of their jeans and want them completely clean, but don't mind if they lose some color.

Body soil and environmental odors can make some clothes dirtier on the inside than on the outside, Ohni said. This is especially true of jeans because the parts of the body they cover include a lot of skin and our excreta and reproductive system.

"Wash after three wears to prevent odor build-up. Make sure to wash after a wear if you perspire a lot while wearing. If you spill on your favorite jeans, try to wipe off the food before it stains or stains. - On your jeans Do a spot treatment,” says Ohni.

To maintain the color and shape of your jeans, Cosco suggests washing them every four to six wears. However, he says it's important to consider personal preference. If you prefer a more comfortable fit and a faded look, you can increase the wash cycle to every two to three wears.

Although bacteria can live on unwashed jeans, it's not the only thing that causes clothes to smell, says Ohni. He says an average adult produces 1 liter of sweat, 10 grams of salt, 40 grams of sebum and 10 grams or 2 billion skin cells a day.

If jeans are not routinely laundered, they may retain dead skin, sebum, and other bodily pollutants including urine, feces, semen, and vaginal discharge. They should be washed using a deep-cleansing detergent like Tide," says Ohni.

"Color fading and tearing of jeans can occur rapidly if they are washed after every wear. If you're aiming to maintain that fresh, just-bought look, it's a great idea to opt for spot cleaning when needed, and they need it when promoting your jeans," Recommend Cosco.

In cases where organic matter has built up on the surface of the jeans, Gagliardi said, washing the jeans doesn't do much more damage.

Because of the uneven surface of denim's twill weave, dirt is less noticeable on dark jeans; yet, it interacts with the fabric's dye, causing fading. Washing jeans frequently before soil builds up means less aggressive cleaning methods (eg (heat or (cold water instead of hot) will still clean them," says Gagliardi

For maximum color retention, Gagliardi recommends turning the pair of jeans inside out, unbuttoning the zipper or fly, and washing on a regular cycle in cold water. Use a good detergent and an additive for color if desired, she says. Wash with other dark-colored clothing to prevent troublesome dye transfer. Hang the jeans to air dry instead of putting them in the dryer.

If you want to lighten your jeans, increasing the wash water temperature and drying will create a faded look. Fading on the right side of jeans is caused by friction with the fabric surface as the jeans move against other items in the wash load.

Ahani recommends always reading the fabric care label for specific washing instructions. Do a second lot of laundry for the jeans if you're worried about them being too rough on delicate objects. To reduce shrinkage, you can wash the jeans on their own gentle cycle. If you want to protect jeans from fading, fuzzing and stretching, try using a fabric conditioner in addition to your detergent.

Some jeans should be hand washed. In this example, Ahani says to fill a tub or sink with cold or hot water and add detergent. Add ginseng, swirl in water for 1-2 minutes. Soak them for 15-30 minutes, then discard any dirty water, soak the jeans for another 5-10 minutes. To get rid of extra detergent or grime, move your hands around. Remove excess water and follow label directions for drying.

The sweet spot for washing jeans seems to be about three wears, but that depends on your preferred fit and color of jeans and how dirty you get in your daily life. The wear and tear of your daily routine, or frequent washing of your jeans can cause fading—so the right amount of wear between washes depends on your personal preference.