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DO YOU KNOW HOW TO MAKE YOUR JEANS LAST?

CATEGORY: FASHION

Happy first day of March, everyone! Since the weather has been warm and sunny in Switzerland, I feel like tackling some “light” fashion-related topics such as “how to make your jeans last.” Feel free to take these tips with a grain of salt since some of them are a bit unrealistic, even for me.

P.S. If you are looking for a new pair of jeans, though, check this article, where I share tips and tricks on how to choose sustainable jeans.

1. WASH THEM ONLY WHEN THEY’RE VISIBLY DIRTY

If you want to take care of your jeans as sustainably as possible, you should rarely wash them. Some brands recommend waiting several months before you put your new jeans in the washing machine. Not only will you save water, but you’ll also preserve their true blue color longer.

Although these tips sound very sustainable, I wear my jeans a maximum of four times before they end up in the washing machine for the reasons of hygiene. As I take public transport, it does not feel right to hang the jeans I wore on the train in my closet. Not to mention that the American Cleaning Institute recommends washing your jeans after you wore them three times anyway.

Secondly, we lose about 30,000 – 40,000 dead skin cells off the surface of our skin every hour. Does it seem too much? Turn your dirty clothes inside out. All the small white flakes that you will see are dead skin cells. P.S. They are the best visible on dark clothes. Do you still want to wait before you wash your favorite Levi’s until they’re visibly dirty?

2. WASH YOUR JEANS AT LOW TEMPERATURE

I wash my denim pants at 30°C, but it is even better if you prefer cold water—the colder the water, the smaller chance to fade.

When I started washing my jeans inside out, the color lasts longer. And I feel that they are also properly cleaned since all dead cells were washed away.

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4. DRY THEM FLAT

Hang your jeans using a laundry line or towel rack, but in some cases, the laundry line can leave marks on your jeans. To avoid this, dry them flat. You should avoid using a tumble drier as the heat impacts the longevity of clothes.

On the other hand, if you tumble dry stretch jeans for a short time at low temperatures, it is supposed to help them get back to shape.

5. FREEZE THEM

And last bat not least, have you tried to freeze your jeans?!

Some denim aficionados recommend putting them in a canvas or Ziploc bag and store them in the freezer overnight. It is supposed to kill the bacteria, but personally, I find this tip a bit crazy. But to each its own and if you want to try it, go for it. I remember how a mom of my friend from elementary school used to tell us stories from her childhood in Finland. They used to wear jeans that were cut so small that they had to pull them on while still wet. I was ten when she was sharing this, and after thirty years, I still wonder how she managed to walk outside without freezing in Finnish winter.

Did you find these tips on how to make your jeans last helpful? Which would you like to follow, and which would you ignore? Let me know in the comments below.