Denim is a prolific closet panacea. It can associate with garment princes and paupers without requiring even the application of a warm iron for perfect presence. But how to get your most popular clothing choice to last a few seasons longer?
one. Recycle
Your jeans should not be laundered following every wear. Unless they are stained, wear them at least two or three times between laundry soaks. Denim & rivets were combined to serve miners who occasionally bathed their trousers in the creek. It can stand up to your afternoon at the park as well.
two. Hem
Unlike Princess of Monaco's train this idea will only look shabby. Make sure your denim is hemmed to the break of our shoe, so you don't trample your hem.
three. Zip & Button
Close all the openings before washing your jeans. Exposed fasteners, rivets, and zippers can rub and weaken your indigo threads.
four. Inside Out
Turn jeans inside out before bathing them in the washer. This strategy allows the fading dyes to settle back into the fabric. And if possible wash a family of denim together. Your 6-year-old grandpa's can be rejuvenated by the dyes escaping from your 2-week-old newborns.
five. Wash Cold
If you can't see visible dirt or stains, dial to cold. You'll see a reduction in your denim fade and your utility bill. Reserve hot water washing for jeans for heavily soiled or oily occasions.
six. Wash Delicate
Apply the most tender wash cycle available to your jeans. While sturdy, delicate care will extend your time together. Very lightly soiled jeans may even be washed on a delicate cycle, but will need an extra spin cycle on regular to remove the excess water.
seven. Air Dry
Save your denim from the spinning jaws of your dryer. Air drying your jeans with only a short fluffing in the dryer.
eight. Reinforce
Surgery may be required to save failing denim knees. Patch them before they wear through by applying fabric glue or fusible web to the inside of the knee. You can also cut up an old, unwearable pair of jeans for patches to reinforce stress points like pocket corners.
nine. Storage
Folded not hung, store your jeans with zippers and buttons inside the fold, stacking the pairs in alternating directions to make a level pile. Hangers will crease, and clips will distress the cuffs or waistband.
ten. Dye
If you wish, you can dye your denim new. Rit Fabric Dye can flash your jeans back to a fabulous inky black. But Dylon Machine Dye for Blue Denim will resurrect them back to a perfect shade of deep, rich blue.
Please add your denim saving tips in the comments.
I will vow to take better care of my J Brands. But they stretch out when I wear them more than once - hence making them too long on the pants that I have hemmed 4 times and they still seem to long. Oh well. You can check em out in Newport.
ReplyDeletePass on the ones that shrink to your shorter friends! (That's my denim-saving tip for the day.)
ReplyDeleteI'm a new reader/follower to your blog, and I am loving your writing style, creative topics, and especially this series!
Great tips. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteExcellent tips! My jeans always wear out sooo fast...I'll have to try these.
ReplyDeleteThese are such great tips. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteFantastic tips! Thank you!
ReplyDeleteNow would you please lead us all to the ever elusive perfect pair of jeans?
One more suggestion, if I may add it:
When hemming your jeans, have your tailor preserve the original hem so the stitching and any distressing on them will match the rest of the jeans.
Pour salt in the washer after you've added the soap and turned on the water, and before you add the jeans. Let it dissolve a little and let the soap bubble before putting the jeans in. The salt helps them keep their color. :)
ReplyDeleteGood tips!
ReplyDeleteThanks.
-FringeGirl
For your super dark midnight wash denim you can add white vinegar to your wash cycle which, like salt, will set the dye (think of easter eggs) but is a little less abrasive than salt can sometimes be. Add it like you would add bleach. WOrks like a charm.
ReplyDeleteI forgot to say you only need to add the vinegar the first few times you wash them so the dye doesn't rub off on your shoes and car seats and couch and hands and dog...you get the idea
ReplyDeleteBuy jeans that fit! One of the best money saving tips. I've convinced myself to purchase adorable jeans that look really good...on someone else! Only to realize 6 months later after the 40th time taking them on and off, trying to convince myself that someday soon they will make my butt look perky. This is the biggest waste of my jean money!
ReplyDeleteReachal, have you are any of the readers actually re-dyed your denim? My favorite DARK blue pair of J Brands are getting very faded at the knees. I want to re-dye them, but dont' want to mess up! I have been reading online about it, but keep reading horror stories. Anyone have any advice?
ReplyDeleteMelissa,
ReplyDeleteI have not tried it yet personally, but What I Wore 2 Day has: http://whatiwore2day.blogspot.com/2007/10/over-dyeing-denim.html
And I've heard several other positive experiences on the web. From what I understand, you just need to realize that the wash will be flat and singular, no shading, distressing, or whiskering.
If you try it, let me know how it goes!