I’m like most people in the fact that I have always assumed my jeans, like all other articles of clothing I wear on a regular basis, should make a weekly visit to the washing machine. After all, after a few wears they tend to get a little stinky and accumulate, you know, dirt and stuff. Not washing my jeans in the laundry would be disgusting, right?
Apparently not.
Before we go any further, let me make a full disclosure: This is not a “hippie” type post about why you should go “all natural”, similar to the kinds you see about why you shouldn’t wash your hair because your scalp’s natural oils are enough and you should avoid the “toxic chemicals” in shampoos/conditioners at all costs. This is totally different.
According to Hiut Denim, raw denim is best if you give it a good six months before washing. Yes, you read that right: six months.
Vogue‘s Denim Editor, Kelly Connor, told writer Marjon Carlos, “I basically don’t wash my jeans. If it’s vintage Levi’s and raw denim, I never wash them. And I haven’t gotten to the gross point—or maybe I have and I’m just not that clean in general . . .”
Hell, even Tommy Hilfiger has said “it’s crazy” to put your jeans in the wash, especially if you want to “maintain the integrity of the denim.” And Levi’s CEO, Chip Bergh, has admitted he doesn’t regularly wash his jeans.
Why not?
The reason you shouldn’t wash your jeans is because doing so breaks down the denim’s fibers. Jeans are meant to be worn, and last, over time,naturally breaking down through normal wear and tear– ultimately resulting in that ‘broken-in’ feel.
When you don’t wash them, eventually they are supposed to mould to you. But when you put them through the washer and dryer, the machines deteriorate the dye as well the patterns that make them form-fitting.
Basically, you get more out of your jeans (in terms of longevity and comfort) when you don’t wash them the ‘regular’ way.
So how are you supposed to wash jeans?
I mean, again, obviously they might get a little gross from time to time.
The solution is the freezer. And it’s actually pretty simple (even if it does sound really, really strange).
All you have to do is put your pair of jeans (inside out and folded) in a plastic bag, tie it as tightly shut as possible, and stick them in your freezer overnight.
If you absolutely have to warm them up before putting them on (because, let’s be real, who wants cold fabric on their skin as they’re about to leave the house?) stick them in the dryer for a few minutes.
The only obvious problem with this method is that the freezer won’t magically remove any stains you have on your favorite pair of jeans, even if it will do an adequate job at ridding odor, germs and bacteria. While you could always hand-wash/treat a stain you have before sticking your jeans in the freezer, I’m going to go out on a limb here and say one wash won’t kill them.
[Lead image via Shutterstock]
