Brittle, papery denim that tears easily is usually the result of too much hot washing and tumble drying, not age. Here's how to care for jeans so they stay strong and keep their colour.
How often should you wash jeans?
Less often than you think. For most people, every 5 to 10 wears is plenty, unless they're visibly dirty or smell. Between washes, hang them up to air. Frequent washing strips dye, weakens cotton fibres and wears out stretch.
The best way to wash jeans
- Turn them inside out to protect the colour and surface.
- Do up the zip and button so they don't snag.
- Wash cold (30°C or below) on a gentle cycle.
- Use a mild detergent, ideally one made for darks. Skip fabric softener, which coats fibres and breaks down elastane.
- Don't overload the drum.
Drying: the biggest mistake
Tumble drying ages jeans faster than anything. The heat shrinks cotton, makes stretch fibres brittle and speeds up wear at the crotch and knees. Line dry or hang them over a chair, out of direct sun if you want to keep a dark colour.
Raw and selvedge denim
Raw denim fans often wait months before the first wash so the jeans develop personal fades. If you do, remember that dirt and sweat sitting in the fibres weaken them too. A cold soak now and then is a good compromise. More in raw vs washed denim.
Spot-clean and freshen
- Dab small marks with a damp cloth and a little soap.
- Air jeans outside to freshen them.
- The freezer trick doesn't reliably kill bacteria, so don't count on it.
Care plus a little prevention
Even perfectly cared-for jeans eventually wear in the high-friction areas. Good washing habits plus early crotch reinforcement will get you years more from a favourite pair.