How to care for Denim
We know the perfect pair of denim is hard to come by, so if you're lucky enough to seek them out, nurture them and prolong their lifespan with this handy denim care guide. Once you have found your perfect Joules jeans, never lose love for them, (or that rare-to-come by ‘just right’ feeling), by taking care of them from the moment you bring them home. Discover tips and tricks from how to wash denim to denim repair and even how to freeze jeans - this is everything you need to know about taking care of your denim.
How to Washdenim
If you live in your jeans, like we all do at Joules, it can be hard to avoid everyday dirt and those ‘just saying hello’ muddy pawprints.
So, should you, or shouldn’t you wash your denim?
If you are wondering how often you should wash jeans, we recommend as infrequently as possible. There is no set rule on how often to wash jeans, but a useful rule of thumb is to give them a wash only when they become marked or odorous. The longer you leave your denim, the more time it has to soften and mould to your body shape – it is actually possible to leave denim for around six months between washes.
We recommend washing after four or five wears, but we’re always thinking about the world around us, so make sure you read our other ways of washing denim that will keep them looking their best, and the planet happy too.
How To Freeze
Clean Denim
Jeans, peas and ice cream – two things you’ll find in your freezer, and one perhaps not… but believe it or not, freeze cleaning is an effective, and more environmentally friendly way of refreshing your denim between washes.
1Fold your denim items, whether it’s your favourite pair of jeans, comfiest jackets or most flattering dress and place them into a tightly sealed plastic bag.
2Place them into the freezer and leave them there for 24 hours.
3Unlike machine washing, freeze cleaning doesn’t remove dirt or stains, but it does kill the germs that build up after each wear and cause denim to smell.
How To Machine
Wash Denim
When you’ve worn your denim for the advised amount of time – or when you walked through that muddy puddle that the children promised ‘wasn’t that deep’ – machine washing is the most effective way of removing dirt and stains. Before you throw them in the machine, willynilly, follow our tips for keeping that colour you love and your denim looking great.
- Take note of the label on your denim, as some items will need to be washed solo, to avoid dye running. All of our denim care labels are now wash at 30 only, for a gentler and cooler cycle that is safer for the environment too.
- Before grabbing them from the wash basket and bundling into the machine, spend time closing any zips, emptying pockets, fastening buttons and turning the denim inside out.
When you just need to get a wash done, because everyone in the house needs something clean for yesterday, it is easy to over load the washing machine. But when it comes to denim, it’s important that you don’t do that as it can cause stubborn creases on the clothing and stop each item getting a thorough wash.
Only use a gentle washing detergent with no bleach, or one specially designed for dark colours, to help stop that beautiful colour fading.
TOP TIP:
If you are washing multiple denim items in one load, include some older, more faded items in with your new ones as a way of re-distributing colour.
TOP TIP:
If you are washing multiple denim items in one load, include some older, more faded items in with your new ones as a way of re-distributing colour.
How To Hand
Wash Denim
Take your denim washing into your own hands by using the handwashing method. It means getting a little more hands-on, but it’s worth it for keeping your items fresh as a daisy!
1Fill a bath with cool water and mix in a gentle, fabric-friendly washing detergent.
2Place your jeans into the bath, ensuring they are submerged under the water and stretched out flat.
3Go and make yourself a cup of tea (and treat yourself to a biscuit, or two) and leave them to soak for 30 minutes. Once the time is up and the biscuits are gone, remove the denim from the bath, squeeze tight to remove as much water as you can – you might need to repeat this a few times – then hang to dry.
How To
Dry Denim
Once your denim is fresh and the stains gone, so begins the drying process. There are several ways in which you can dry your denim while keeping the colour of your jeans (and avoiding any shrinking mishaps).
Turn your denim the right way out and re-shape them while they’re still damp by ensuring the seams are straight, the cuffs are turned down and the pockets aren’t bunched up inside.
Line drying is the best way of drying denim quickly (well, quicker) and to keep the colour and fit looking like new. But we all know that the British weather might have other ideas. So, if rain has temporarily stopped play, hang your items somewhere near, but not on, a radiator.
When it rains it pours, so the lure of the tumble dryer will probably tempt you, but this can wreak havoc on your jeans at any stage of their life whether it be shrinking, wear and tear or damaging the spandex or elastane that gives the fabric its comfy stretch.
TOP TIP:
Dry your denim flat to reduce the need for ironing, so you can get back to wearing your favourite denim quicker.
TOP TIP:
Dry your denim flat to reduce the need for ironing, so you can get back to wearing your favourite denim quicker.
How To
Iron Denim
Set your iron to a high heat such as is used for cotton, using steam and place a soft cotton pressing cloth between your iron and the denim – your care label will tell you otherwise if your item is not made from 100% cotton. We recommend ironing the pocket bags first and then laying one leg at a time flat on the ironing board so that your seams are side to side.
Repairing &
Recycling Denim
Our denim is built to last, but every denim has its day, so why not give it a new lease of life?
Get your sewing kit out and get creative by mending or altering your denim to extend their life – whether that’s keeping them as a jean or transforming them into a unique pair of shorts. If you don’t have that natural flair for sewing, there’s plenty of seamstresses and tailors who specialise in denim.
If the structure of your denim still fits you perfectly, but it’s just the colour that has seen better days, re-dye them at home. There are many colours available on the high street and online
Recycling Denim
If your denim really can’t be worn any more, don’t just chuck them in the bin. Pop into one of our stores and be part of our Oxfam recycling scheme where we will recycle all of your old denim (and other fabrics too).
Be Nice To Your Jeans
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
HOW DO YOU SHRINK JEANS?
To shrink a pair of jeans simply give them a wash and then dry them using the tumble dryer. The heat from the tumble dryer will cause the jeans to shrink so keep a close eye on them and be sure you don’t over shrink them!
Read More