How to wash and dry jeans, is it worth it to iron, how to store them properly and why put them in the freezer - tips for caring for denim.
Recently, on April 1, Independent published Levi's recommendations for washing jeans. The representative of the brand, which once patented jeans, claims that it is not worth washing these pants more than once a month. “Denim is strong and durable, it doesn’t need to be washed as often as many people think,” the company spokesman said, noting that if, for example, a piece of pizza falls on jeans, this could be the reason for an “emergency wash”.
We decided to collect tips on washing jeans and caring for them - so that your favorite pants serve as long as possible, without losing their properties and dignity.
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How often to wash jeans?
There is a lot of debate about this: someone is ready to wash jeans after each wear, while others assure that they do not wash jeans more often than a couple of times a year. By the way, supporters of the most rare washing of jeans include Levi's CEO Chip Berg. Berg assures that he doesn’t wash his beloved jeans for years, as they lose their original appearance due to washing and wear out faster.
The truth, as usual, is somewhere in between: jeans should be washed when they obviously require washing. That is: they have noticeable dirt or stains that cannot be removed by other means. We would not call the exact timelines or the number of socks, after which it is necessary to wash the pants. Due to their versatility, jeans can be in a variety of situations, and the degree of accuracy is different for all of us.
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How to wash jeans?
* Examine the label on the jeans. Infrequently, but there are instances for which washing is not recommended. Then you have to use dry cleaning.
* Just in case, do not wash jeans, especially in deep or dark colors, along with things that can be dyed. For the first time, new jeans should be washed separately to understand how much they color the water, and for the test put a shred of white cotton fabric with them.
* Before washing, turn the jeans inside out, close the zipper and button.
* Leather inserts and labels can be wiped with glycerin for better preservation.
* Typically, jeans are washed at an average temperature of a maximum of 40 degrees. If you, like the head of Levi's, are worried about the safety of denim, use the delicate wash mode or wash your jeans by hand in a bathtub partially filled with water. Indeed, too frequent and intense washing can lead to a change in the properties of denim: it will become thinner, softer, it will be worse to keep in shape, most likely it will lose color.
* You should manually wash decorated jeans (with appliqués, embroidery, decorated with beads, beads, and so on). If you decide to wash these jeans in a car, use a laundry bag.
* Use detergent for colored fabrics, optimally liquid (gel). You can also find special means for washing denim, there are different products for jeans in different colors. Use an air conditioner if you wish. If you want the denim to soften a little, a couple of spoons of the conditioner can also be added to the detergent compartment.
* Press in the machine at minimum speed. If you wash jeans by hand, it is better to wring them out without twisting too much (especially if there is decor on the jeans). You can don’t wring out jeans at all, but hang them over the bathtub to make glass water, and then move them to the dryer.
* It is better not to dry the jeans in the dryer. Ideal - drying in the fresh air or in a room with good ventilation, without access to direct sunlight.
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Should I iron jeans?
There is no single answer to this question. If the jeans are objectively wrinkled and, in your opinion, require ironing - well, then you should do it. Manufacturers do not recommend ironing jeans too often: wrinkles may appear on them.
* Examine the label on the jeans: perhaps they cannot be ironed, or it can, but at a minimum temperature. Often this applies to denim stretch pants: high temperatures alter the properties of elastic fibers.
* It is better to iron a little wet jeans - you can not dry them or use a spray bottle with water.
* Iron jeans, especially dark ones, turning them inside out.
* As a rule, the optimum temperature for ironing jeans is about 150-200 degrees.
* You can also use a steamer.
* After ironing, don’t put on jeans immediately, let them cool down: a hot cloth can “remember” all the folds and wrinkle quickly again.
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How to store jeans?
* Do not store stained or wet jeans - clean or wash and dry them before putting them in the closet.
* Loosen the jeans from the belt and remove everything from the pockets.
* It is better not to keep the jeans folded too tight: they will appear wrinkles and creases, probably they will have to be ironed.
* You can store jeans on a hanger in various ways: throwing trouser legs over the lower bar; on a trouser hanger with pinches, as trousers are stored; hanging on the side loops on the hooks of the hanger.
* When stored on a shelf in a closet, you can stack jeans in a pile or fold them into rolls.
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Bonus: Why are jeans put in the freezer?
This life hack is used by apologists for rare washing of jeans. Even if the pants do not become polluted during long periods of wear, at some point they will still not be as fresh as we would like. Allegedly, the low temperatures in the freezer kill the bacteria that settled on jeans and deprived them of freshness. Lifehack recommends, among other things, Jill Gouenza, who is engaged in Levi's women's jeans line. According to Jill, jeans are enough to put in the freezer for one night to rid them of unnecessary smell and restore freshness. Of course, it is better that there is no food in the freezer, especially a strong smelling one. In extreme cases, freeze your pants in a breathable bag (such as paper).
Photo: thekentuckygent.com, likeaglove. me, levi.com, fr.jeanuine.com, blog.tortugabackpacks.com, maxglobal-appliancerepair.com
