Do You Machine Wash or Dry Clean Your Jeans?

May 9, 2007

69 Comments

This is what I learned today:You can do either, but if you do wash them at home, DO NOT DRY THEM. apparently the fibers in jeans dissinigrate in the dryer. The typical thought is that putting them in the washer makes them shrink, which is what happens at first, but in the long run, makes them looser. I know this is kind of a scrambled explination, but I just learned it from the girl at the boutique I went to. Apparently she learned it from the woman who started Paige Jeans.anyways.

jazzyema 5 years

This is what I learned today: You can do either, but if you do wash them at home, DO NOT DRY THEM. apparently the fibers in jeans dissinigrate in the dryer. The typical thought is that putting them in the washer makes them shrink, which is what happens at first, but in the long run, makes them looser. I know this is kind of a scrambled explination, but I just learned it from the girl at the boutique I went to. Apparently she learned it from the woman who started Paige Jeans. anyways.

onesong 5 years

washer and dryer for me here, and i wear trues. you never get that super relaxed "old jeans" feeling if you dry clean. I do, however, have one pair of trouser jeans that i wear to work and I periodically send those out with the dry cleaning to get that sharp crease back in them. funny...those are my inexpensive express jeans :-D

liz26111 6 years

Machine wash. If they are new they are done separately and on cold but older ones are washed with my regular wash. I always air dry them no matter how I wash them.

sugar_me_sweet 6 years

dry cleaning is too expensive. i will not dry clean jeans unless it is made out of gold.

JKe895 6 years

I've never heard of anyone dry cleaning your jeans, but who knows!

Rosemary Cross 6 years

etab - what is it that you are *doing* in your jeans???....just kidding ;)

Rosemary Cross 6 years

Well perhaps it's an acquired taste! I just don't find that any of my clothes get *that* dirty on a daily basis - I don't really wash them unless I smell an odor (happens when I cook sometimes) or can visibly SEE a stain, otherwise it just wears your clothing out...My husband and Kids on the other hand wash their clothes with every single wearing (sigh) ;) The joke in our household is when we all fold clothes everyone has a huge pile and I have undies socks and workout gear!

wildfire 6 years

Rosemary you're right about that lycra part...if you get them too big buy the end of the day the knees and butt sag...and yeah Renees3 I wash my True Religions and they're OK too...it's not about if the jeans are expensive or not...I think what the real issue is..is what wash the jeans are...if jeans are faded or a lighter wash when you buy them it's because the factory prewashed them to get them that color so if you wash them at home the shrinkage and fade of the jean will be kept to a minimum...if the jeans are a dark wash like ol school 501's this means the denim has not been treated yet (which is also why the color on new one's sometimes rubs off on things)...if the denim has not been treated yet if you wash them in the wash they will fade and shrink...so if you don't want them to fade or shrink don't wash them...

etab 6 years

Sorry to keep hounding, rosemary, but just because the jeans don't stink doesn't mean they're not dirty- right? I dunno, it just seems strange...

Renees3 6 years

I'm from CA and I've never even HEARD of dry cleaning your jeans. Throw them in the wash inside out and air dry. My Paige's, 1921's, Rock n Republics are all lasting me just fine!!

Rosemary Cross 6 years

Oh! another thing I wanted to add about fit is that I read in ANOTHER article that any jean that has more lycra in them should be purchased a size smaller in order to account for the 'bagging' issue. I actually tried this (a little skeptical at first) and I tend to agree with it - I don't care for the look of a bagged out jean - it makes you look heavier!

Rosemary Cross 6 years

Obviously I just stink a lot because I don't wash my jeans that often ;) Just kidding! Actually I read about freezing my jeans in a great article about premium denim in GQ a couple of months back and it really does eliminate odors and freshen them up! I do wash occasionally, especially those jeans I own with MORE stretch in them that tend to bag out - not washing a lot really helps jeans maintain their shape and color though.

Rosemary Cross 6 years

etab 6 years

I am also curious about how some of you get away with not EVER or hardly ever washing your jeans? I am not trying to judge, but it seems a little icky to me. And, I like to wash my jeans just for the simple fact that they fit better after being in the dryer. I find after a few wearings, they lose their elasticity and don't fit nearly as well.

pollypo 6 years

I machine wash them but don't put them in the dryer except for a few minutes to soften them up. The heat of the dryer gradually deteriorates the stretchiness in good jeans. Not to mention I don't want them to get shorter.

wildfire 6 years

It must be a CA thing rocman21 because I do the same thing you do... I wash some jeans but some premium jeans go to the cleaners...Jeans shrink and fade when you wash them and dry them so you can't just toss dark jeans in the wash...I have a lot of Evisu's which are really dark like the original 501's and I would never think to wash them...oh yeah and I NEVER EVER dry jeans in the dryer...I wash them in cold and hang them out to dry...and I do agree with ashmaria but denim is so strong that it doesn't matter if you dryclean it...

Melissa Rae 6 years

I only wear premium denim so they get washed in cold and then are put in the dryer for about 15 minutes and then are hung up to finish air drying.

dancediva0924 6 years

i dont have any real fancy jeans,so i machine wash....

TANGY 6 years

I was them myself. Most of my jeans are pretty dark so I soak them in some salt water before actually washing them. I never use a dryer to dry my jeans. I let them air dry :)

alissafrances 6 years

I machine wash (cold) and air-dry. They end up a bit stiff after they dry, but fabric softener helps with that (when I remember to buy it). I try to wait as long as possible between washes. The Citizens pair I wear the most has held up brilliantly after a year and a half, so I'm not worried.

mommie 6 years

Jee, never considered dry cleaning jeans but I must agree that very dark ones do fade.

Elsa 6 years

oups, wash, not watch :)

Elsa 6 years

oups, wash, not watch :)

Elsa 6 years

I usually watch them in delicate mode, cold water, using Zero, and no dryer of course. But, as ktownpolarbear, i'm curious about the advantages of dry cleaning ? Is it really worth it ? I want to buy a really dark denim and I really want the color to stay this time, no matter what's the cost.

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