Fabric Care – How to Wash a New Pair of Jeans
Retain Colour, Tint, and Indigo Dye in Consumer, Designer Denim
Jul 24, 2009
Denim jeans can be especially trying, given that one purchases these particular wardrobe items not only based upon fit and silhouette but also directly based upon their tint, wash, and colouration. Of utmost importance, then, is the fabric care process that will allow you to retain the colour of your jeans for a longer period of time than per usual.
The First Few Washes – Attention to Detail
One thing to keep in mind right off the bat is to always wash a new pair of denim jeans, particular those with indigo dyes (that is, a dark blue dye that originally was produced in the equatorial regions but today is primarily manmade) is to ensure that they are washed by themselves – at least for the first couple of washes. The reasoning behind this is simple – in the unlikely event one's designer jeans do colour bleed, at least the damage will be localized.
The next tip would be to turn the jeans inside out while washing them – not only does this reduce strain and abrasion of the facing material but it also covers metal portions of the pants such as the buttons or zippers.
Finally, an old helpful hint passed down from many experts in the fabric care industry would be to include a cup of white vinegar in your first two washes to seal the colour and dye within the fabric – minimizing fabric bleeding and helping to set the dye into the jeans, improving colour retention.
As always, cold water wash is the best, and is recommended for nearly all articles of clothing that do not need to be professionally laundered. A cold water wash ensures retention of size, and a reduced likelihood of colour bleeding.
Long Term Fabric Care – Ensuring your Designer or Casual Fashion Jeans Live Long and Prosper
Aside from being quite sure that one's clothing is always washed in cold water, a few other brief considerations can help increase the longevity of your jeans and dress denim.
- Never use bleach on clothing, period. Bleach not only washes the colour from clothing, but it also acts as a solvent, eating away at the very fabric that your clothing is composed of. This is a foolish practice and cannot be recommended in any way.
- Similarly, do not attempt to induce shrinkage of a garment for any reason whatsoever, unless it is purely a last ditch effort made on an inexpensive piece. This method is completely unpredictable, and will greatly reduce the elasticity of the fabric – meaning a significantly shorter life expectancy is in the cards for any garment treated thusly.
- Treat your clothing with the respect it deserves. Denim is rugged but should still be folded and placed in a drawer, or hung neatly, when not being worn or in the wash. Leaving your dirty jeans on the floor will promote degradation of the fabric. The climate may even be conducive to rot, adding a musty tinge that is undesirable.
By taking the time to follow a garment's tagged instructions in tandem with the information presented above, a gentleman can ensure that his clothing (an investment of both time and money) will find improved longevity as well as colour retention.
When investing time and money searching for an appropriate piece, whether it be for designer label jeans or not, it is important to try and make that investment last for as long as possible.
Keep those indigo dyes as strikingly blue as possible, and wear those well-fit jeans with pride and satisfaction – knowing that this particular pair is fated to be an old friend.
Other Articles Related to Clothing, Men's Fashion & Style
Looking for a few tips on dressing up, the smart casual way? How about a few ideas when it comes to matching some footwear or dress shoes with your new jeans? Those looking for a bit more excitement in their lives may want to read up on how to dress for a night out at the bar or nightclub!
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