There’s no arguing that a good pair of denim is a wardrobe staple. Whether you dress them up with heels and a blouse or dress them down with sneakers and a T-shirt, jeans are perfect for those days when you aren’t sure what to wear (just look at all the different ways Ree Drummond styles denim!) Not to mention, they’re a year-round essential: Pair them with a cable-knit sweater and boots in the winter or a tank top and flip-flips in the summer, and you’ve got a comfortable outfit for any season.
If you wear them a lot, you probably wash your jeans just as often. But if you toss your denim in the washing machine after every wear, you’re cleaning them far too much. “Over-washing can cause unnecessary fading and wear and shorten the garment's life,” says Young Park, the head of denim design at R13, a luxury denim and clothing brand in New York City.
To protect the fabric, color, and fit of your jeans, cleaning them more sparingly than frequently is key. While the right frequency depends on the type of denim you own and your activity levels, the ideal washing schedule is more spread out than you’d think. Wondering how often to wash your jeans? We asked Park to reveal the best timeline and share all his must-know tips to preserve your pair for as long as possible.
How Often Should You Wash Your Jeans?
As a general rule of thumb, you should wash your jeans every 10 wears. By cleaning your pants more sparingly, you’ll help maintain their fit, protect their color, minimize sagging, and prevent rips and tears. That said, for the first six months of owning raw denim, Park recommends delaying the first wash until you hit the six-month mark. “This allows the denim to mold to your body and develop unique wear patterns,” he explains. If your jeans are made of stretchy fabrics like Lycra or elastane, you can wash your jeans a bit more often: every three to five wears.
Of course, there are some instances in which you’ll need to wash your jeans more frequently—like an accidental spill or hours of sweating. “I usually recommend washing jeans only when they're too dirty or have big noticeable stains,” Park says.
Expert Care Tips to Preserve Your Jeans
Aside from holding off on washing them, there are a few other ways to protect your pants. Read on for some expert tips that’ll help maintain the look and feel of your denim, according to Park.
Air Them Out
If you’ve been wearing your jeans consistently, instead of running them through the washing machine or stuffing them in your closet, banish bad smells by airing them out. If you’re dealing with light odors, simply turn your jeans inside out before hanging them in direct sunlight. For stronger, more persistent odors, spraying your jeans with a fabric refresher should do the trick.
Spot-Clean Stains
When the occasional stain emerges, Park encourages you to spot-clean the mark before resorting to your washing machine. With an old toothbrush and some mild soap, you can scrub away the stain without running a full load.
Machine-Wash Safely
Once the time has come to wash your jeans, handle your pair with care. Park recommends turning your pants inside out before putting them in the washing machine with mild detergent and washing them in cold water. “It's the best way to preserve the color, fit, and overall look of the jeans,” he says.
Avoid the Dryer
After you’ve washed your jeans, be sure to skip the dryer. Why? The high heat from your appliance can damage the fabric fibers and cause shrinkage or fading. Instead, leave them to air-dry in a well-ventilated place.
Lilly Blomquist is the associate editor at The Pioneer Woman, where she writes lifestyle stories across a wide range of topics—including news, entertainment, holidays, food, and more.
