Washing clothes made out of denim, especially denim jackets and jeans, is always surrounded by some mystery. Thankfully, we’re here to answer questions, debunk myths, and show you how it’s done. Read on to find out more about how to wash your denim clothes.
5 steps on how to wash denim jackets and jeans in a washing machine
To make sure your denim clothing lasts as long as possible, follow this step-by-step guide to wash them in a washing machine:
1
Read instructions
Check your denim garment’s fabric care label to see if it can be washed in a machine or if it needs to be washed by hand.
2
Turn inside out
Turn your denim clothing inside out, and zip it up if it has a zipper, so it won’t get stuck in other items.
3
Sort
Always wash your denim garments with similar colours to avoid possible dye transfer accidents, especially if you’re washing a brand new pair of jeans for the first time.
4
Wash
Use Ariel Colour Washing Powder if you have a semi-automatic washing machine or Ariel Matic Liquid if you have a fully automatic washing machine at home. Choose the gentlest cycle you can, or simply use cold water with a low-speed spinning cycle.
5
Unload and dry
As soon as the cycle is finished, unload your garments immediately, unzip all zippers, and unbutton all buttons, and air-dry them. You can either lay them on a flat surface or hang them out in a place with good airflow.
How to hand wash denim jackets and jeans
Hand washing your denim jackets and jeans is certainly the most gentle way to get them clean. If you opt to hand wash your denim garments, all you have to do is follow these steps for the best laundry results:
1
Turn inside out
Similarly to how you wash denim in a machine, turn your clothes inside out.
2
Use lukewarm water
Fill up a bucket or your sink with lukewarm water, and make sure the temperature doesn’t exceed the recommendation on the garment’s fabric care label.
3
Add detergent
Add Ariel Matic Liquid Detergent to the water, and use your hand to mix it up well.
4
Wash
Add your garments to the solution, carefully agitate them to remove all the dirt, then let them soak for at least an hour.
5
Rinse
When the one hour is up, rinse your garments under clean running water to wash out the remaining laundry detergent.
6
Dry
Gently wring your clothes to get rid of the excess water, then hang them out to dry.
How to wash black and coloured jeans without fading
Turning your jeans inside out before tossing them into the washer is the best thing you can do to keep your black and coloured jeans from fading. This way, the detergent won’t affect the dye so harshly, and your garments can maintain their beautiful colour better. Use the Ariel Matic Liquid for washing black and coloured jeans.
How to wash jeans for the first time
Denim, especially dark-coloured denim, is known to sometimes bleed during the first wash, causing discolouration on other garments in the same wash. To avoid any dye transfer stains, make sure to wash your jeans and other denim items on their own for the first time, and in a cold wash.
How to clean jeans without washing
If you have a dirty spot on your jeans, but they don’t need a full wash yet, you can always turn to spot cleaning. If you follow these steps, you’ll have clean jeans in no time:
1
Prepare
Place your jeans or other denim item that needs spot cleaning on a flat surface, like an ironing board or a table.
2
Use detergent
Pour a very small amount of Ariel Liquid Detergent directly onto the stain.
3
Blot
Use a damp washcloth and start blotting the stain with it. Avoid scrubbing, as it can push the stain deeper into the fabric, while blotting will pull it out.
4
Rinse
Rinse the affected area under running water, then hang your garment out to dry.
How to dry jeans without shrinking
Always read your denim garment’s fabric care label so you can treat your jeans or denim jacket with the care they deserve. The label will tell you if your garment can be washed in a machine, or if you’ll need to wash it by hand. Turn your garment inside out to further protect it, and wash it on a delicate, cold cycle to make sure it won’t shrink. When the cycle is finished, hang it out to air-dry.
How to dry clean jeans
First, check your fabric care label to see if your jeans should be washed in a machine or dry cleaned. If dry cleaning is the best option, look for additional symbols that advise you on what kind of solvents professionals can use when cleaning your jeans. If you have this information, all you need to do is to take your garments to a dry cleaner and inform them about the instructions.
How often should you wash denim jacket and jeans?
The rule of thumb is that you should only wash your denim jacket, jeans, and other denim garments when they really need a wash due to stains or smells. Washing them too frequently can wear down the fabric more easily and shorten the lifespan of your clothes.
Myths about denim jeans
There are some myths surrounding denim garments, so we thought it’s worth mentioning a few of them to debunk any misconceptions about this amazing fabric.
Myth 1 – If you freeze your jeans, you can get rid of bacteria. Although some germs do die in the freezer due to the low temperature, this isn’t true for all of them. Unfortunately, as soon as you put on your defrosted jeans, those germs will come back when your body temperature warms up the fabric.
Myth 2 – Wearing wet jeans will ensure a better fit. Sitting in the bathtub with your jeans on, then waiting for them to dry on your body to get a better fit is, unfortunately, a waste of time.
Myth 3 –If you wash your denim jeans or jacket, they will become stiff. Not necessarily. If you use fabric conditioner with your laundry detergent, you can easily prevent this from happening.