How to Wash Jeans and Keep Them From Fading

Have you been thinking that maybe it’s time to shop for a new pair of denim blue jeans? Sure, you probably love your new jeans, at least until you’ve worn them a few times and need to wash them. Then it’s the same old problem: getting them clean without sacrificing the color. Denim notoriously fades, and while there are those for whom fading denim is somewhere between an art form and an obsession, a lot of us like our blue jeans to retain their blue color. With that in mind, let’s review how to care for denim.

Turn denim inside out. Reduce rubbing on the surface of the fabric by turning jeans inside out before washing. Don’t forget to close the zipper, too.

Use the Delicate cycle. With less agitation and lower spin speeds then regular or permanent press cycles, the delicate cycle reduces the rubbing and creasing of the fabric that contributes to color loss. Front-loading washers have more gentle agitation than standard top-loading washers, so use a front-loader if available. You can also hand wash your denim jeans; just be sure to rinse them thoroughly, and roll in a towel to squeeze out excess moisture instead of wringing the water out, which will crease the fabric.

Select the appropriate wash temperature. If the care label recommends warm water, then select the warm/cold wash and rinse option. Otherwise, go with a cold wash and rinse.

Use the right detergent and laundry additives. Lower agitation and cooler wash temperatures reduce cleaning, making the chemistry of your wash water all the more important if you want your blue jeans to actually get clean. Use a good detergent and add Clorox 2® for Colors Stain Remover and Laundry Additive.

Air dry. Hang your jeans to air dry instead of putting them in a hot dryer. The heat from the dryer can contribute to fading, so air drying is the way to go to preserve the color.