Although you may prefer to wash your clothes in the washing machine, hand washing jeans is a better way of preserving their color and prolonging their lifespan. Washing your jeans by hand is a simple, cheap and convenient way of keeping them clean. As jeans and denim are very expensive, protecting them from wearing out is worth consideration.
Hand Washing Colored Jeans and Denim
If your old jeans still has the color, preventing is from fading will also prolong its wearable life. Once the color has faded away, you will need to wash more often. This will lead to speedy wearing. While the dye is still on, always remember to wash your jeans inside out. As with new jeans, reduce the washing time to the minimum possible.
If you are washing several jeans at once, don’t dip them in water at once. Also, don’t soak at all. These practices will accelerate fading. If you must use soap, go for the cheapest soap available, or bar soap. Such soaps are very unlikely to be fortified with brighteners. You can also ask at your grocery if they stock tailor-made soaps for jeans and denim.
How to Hand Wash White and Faded Jeans
Faded or light colored jeans don’t necessarily require special care. Since the color is already gone, they are bound to stain easily. To ensure that they shine as they should, wash them in water that has already washed other clothing. The saturated soap or detergent is usually stronger than fresh soap. A detergent with brightening agents will yield better results.
These types of jeans might not require turning inside out. However, your may turn them when hanging to dry. This prevents bird droppings from falling on the outside and badly staining your precious jeans. Pay special attention to the bottom inside leg. This area is bound to get stained by your shoes, especially with flare leg jeans.
Light-colored jeans may be washing using the rubbing method. To ease the work and also protect the material from unnecessary wear, soak them in the detergent for up to 2 hours. Then, rub gently between your hands, paying special attention to any stains. Always look for stains before dipping in the water. Foam may obscure stains and prevent you from attending to them. If you find any stubborn stains, don’t use a brush to clean your jeans. Using a brush is like a death sentence to your clothes. The best option is to use home bleach.
After Washing Your Jeans
After you are done washing, squeeze gently to remove excess water. Then wring to get rid of creases. Wringing once or twice is enough. Too much wringing will damage the fabric and also wears the front pockets. Then hang in the shade to dry.
If for any reason you decide to bleach your jeans, soak in a basin or sink with home bleach. Read the instructions about diluting. A strong solution of bleach might produce undesired consequences. If bleaching is not complete, allow to dry and then repeat.
For most jeans, ironing is not necessary. If your trouser or skirt jean is creased around the hip or knee, folding after drying can do the trick. Iron is best done when slightly damp. This aids in preventing stretching out.
Drying in the clothes dryer is not recommended. When the air too cold and you must use the dryer, don’t allow it to dry completely. Remove when still slightly damp and hang out in open air.
Lastly, select good quality jeans when doing your jeans. Buying cheap is not always economical. Once you’ve selected the best, you can be sure that it will last for a long time. But, taking good care of your jeans will also ensure an extended lifespan, the reason why I recommend hand washing your jeans.
Additional Tips:
- Do not scrub jeans with a brush
- Always use cold or lukewarm water
- Avoid using soap when washing new jeans
- Always turn inside out before dipping, unless they are faded
- Avoid fabric softeners as they speed up wear
