At Levi’s®, we take pride in creating durable jeans that last long. But taking care of your denim is a shared responsibility. Washing and caring for your jeans correctly can help extend their lifespan. With so much misinformation out there about denim care, we want to set the record straight. Our in-house denim experts have some advice to help you keep your Levi’s® looking and feeling right.
How to Wash Your Denim
You have three options for washing denim:
- A Washing Machine
- By Hand
- Dry Cleaners
Dry cleaning is unnecessary, and handwashing is not the most convenient. Washing machines are convenient if you follow a few simple steps.
- Turn your denim inside out to protect the color from fading.
- Make sure the zipper is closed to maintain the shape.
- Set the water temperature to cold to prevent the fabric from shrinking and the color from fading.
- Choose a gentle or delicate cycle to avoid unnecessary stress.
- Use a gentle detergent for darker colors, especially for dark blue or black washes.
How to Dry Your Denim
Dryers are the natural enemy of denim. Skip the dryer altogether to avoid clothing breaking down. Hang dry your denim or lay them flat. This method preserves the fit and helps you avoid possible shrinkage or fabric warping.
- Pro tip: turn your denim inside out and hang them in a shady space away from direct sunlight to prevent fading and avoid soggy pockets.
How to Wash New Denim
When washing new denim, turn them inside out and zip up the zipper, use cold water, select a gentle cycle, and air dry. Wash them alone for the first time. New denim, especially dark wash denim, can bleed dye during its first wash. Washing them with other light-colored clothing can result in unwanted dye transfer.
How Often You Should Wash Denim
Washing denim too frequently can cause them to lose their shape and fit. Wash them once every 10 wears at most to keep them fitting correctly and minimize sagging. Use a damp cloth or old toothbrush with mild soap to remove small stains between washes instead of a full cycle.
How to Wash Black Denim and Prevent Fading
Black denim is darker and easier to fade than traditional blue denim. To preserve their color, turn them inside out, use cold water, select a gentle cycle, and air dry. Use a specially formulated detergent made for treating dark colors. Wash them with darker colors to prevent bleeding onto lighter clothing.
How to Wash White Denim
White denim is bleached to be the color they are, so take care to avoid unwanted dye transfer. Turn them inside out before washing, and wash them with similar colors, such as other white or light-colored items. You can use bleach to keep them bright.
How to Wash Raw Denim Without Shrinking or Fading
Raw denim is denim that has not been pre-shrunk. It is meant to be shrunk for a custom fit. Hand wash with a gentle cleanser in cold water, and do not wring them out to preserve the custom fit. Instead, roll them up gently starting from the hem, and squeeze out excess water. Line dry. Click Here to Learn More About Raw Denim.
By following these simple steps, you can help extend the life of your Levi’s® jeans.
