Studies have shown that the average woman owns seven pairs of denim jeans. When asked for reasons why they purchased this type of pants, 56% said it was for their durability and 71% said it was for their flattering look. So, understandably, we want these qualities to last. Wear and tear is often inevitable but there are ways to maintain the colour and care for your designer denim. Trilogy Stores, fashion experts and premium designer retailers, has provided us with some handy tips.
Wearing and storage
Jeans are a good staple piece of clothing to have in the wardrobe — they’re wearable all year round. We definitely get our wear out of them and want them to last as long as possible. There are some things that you can do to help maintain their flattering shape and fit.
One of the first tips is to avoid washing for as long as possible! This will help the denim conform to your body and help preserve them in the shape that you need them. Instead of washing after every time you wear them as you might with other clothing, denim experts recommend that you wash your jeans as seldom as possible. Washing too frequently has been known to fade the colour and damage the denim material. Instead, spot clean with a damp sponge or soft toothbrush to remove smaller stains. Or, if you feel as though your jeans need a freshen up, hang them outside to air or spray them with a fabric freshener.
Keep clipped hangers away from your denim. These can dig into your jeans and create impressions in the waistband or in the knees that can be hard to get rid of. Instead, fold jeans and place on shelves, or buy S hooks which you can attach to the belt loops and hang on a regular coat hanger.
Washing tips
Washing in an incorrect way can cause premature fading and wear and tear.
Always turn your jeans inside out. It reduces fading and prevents as much colour from running onto other garments. This method also stops buttons hitting the drum in the washing machine and avoids damage to zips or press studs.
Select a cool cycle (preferably less than 30 degrees). The heat can destroy the elastane and ruin the fitting shape of your jeans. You can buy a denim wash that has been designed to care for the colour and fibers in denim, it is non-biological and suitable for washing your favourite pair of jeans.
Don’t pile all of your jeans into the washing machine at once. It is recommended that you wash a maximum of four jeans at one time. You could also try hand-washing. Although it can be time-consuming, it’s a good way to avoid damage that could occur in the washer. Simply soak for 20 minutes in detergent and then air dry.
Follow the same rule as washing ordinary clothes — keep colours separate when washing. Don’t put an indigo pair of denim jeans in with a pastel pair as the colour may run onto the lighter jean. When it comes to coated denim, these jeans should avoid the washing machine completely — opt for a dry clean instead.
There are some unconventional cleaning tips you could try too… Some suggest freezing jeans when they need freshening up. Simply make sure that pockets are empty, fold up and place in a plastic bag. Keep them in the freezer until you’re ready to wear them next. Another recommendation is adding salt and vinegar to a hand wash. This is meant to prevent colour bleeding and keep the fabric colour set for longer.
Drying advice
Be extra careful when drying your denim. You don’t want to distort the shape or fade the colour of your favourite pair of designer skinny jeans!
Avoid wring drying! This can cause the shape of the jeans to change and cause wrinkles and creases that you’ll soon want to get rid of. Instead, roll up the jean and press firmly to release excess water. You could hang the jeans up outside and allow to air dry, however, some people are against this as the sunlight can cause fading. Alternatively, you could dry on a flat surface indoors or use a clothes rack.
It’s suggested that you don’t dry on a radiator or tumble dry, either. The heat from these can damage denim. For the same reason, avoid ironing your jeans — simply put them on and the creases will fall out on their own.
Start by reading the washing instructions on the garment tag. The manufacturer knows the material the best and how to care for it without causing damage. Follow this advice for long-lasting jeans that will continue to flatter you.
