Everyone’s got their favorite pair of jeans, and we want them to last as long as possible, right? Jeans require special care and attention when it comes to laundry time, but it’s worth the effort to prevent fading, stretching or shrinking, and overall wear.

Follow these quick and easy steps to ensure your jeans are in it for the long run.

Step 1

Check the fabric care label. This is your first step, always. Some jeans may have specific instructions so it’s always best to read this first.

Step 2

If you haven’t worn the jeans yet, or you’re on your first couple washes of them, make sure to wash them separately from other clothing. Because of denim’s makeup, you want to avoid dye transfer onto other clothing.

Step 3

Turn your jeans inside out. This should be done for a multitude of reasons. Here’s a few:

  • Prevents fasteners, buttons and zippers from snagging on the jeans and other clothing
  • Preserves the color of the denim – depending on what type of jeans you have. Raw denim isn’t washed before purchasing, so you want to make sure you keep the integrity of the jeans by turning them inside out. Washed denim has been washed prior but is still at risk of fading. Turning your favorite jeans inside out will prevent fading either way.
  • Eliminates bleeding colors from either your jeans or other clothing in the load
  • Prevents detergent stains – your jeans can be prone to pulling in stains, so avoid any unsightly issues by washing inside out
  • Encourages longer lasting lifespan. Your jeans can degrade in the wash, as stress is put on them during the spin cycle, so turning them inside out will help hold the integrity of the jeans.

Step 4

Wash your jeans in cold water. This, too, will lengthen the life of your jeans. You can use the detergent of your choice (remember to turn the jeans inside out), but make sure to turn your washing machine to cool water during its cycle.

Step 5

There are many ways you can dry jeans, depending on convenience, time, and preference. If you don’t want to dry them in the dryer, you can take them out of the washer and hang dry them, to prevent shrinking. Otherwise, it’s recommended to take the jeans out of the dryer when they’re still slightly damp and let them finish drying on a flat surface or by hangers.

And there you have it. Follow these steps and rock your favorite jeans for years to come.