A Guide to Preserving the Black Color on Your Jeans

Avoid fade and ruining your women's jeans by washing them correctly every time and making sure you aren’t over washing them. Washing jeans too often not only uses up a tremendous amount of water, but it will also lead to earlier fading of the black color. Unlike most articles of clothing, jeans can be worn several times before they need to be washed, provided you aren’t wearing them when you’re out on an ATV mudding adventure; then we’d suggest washing your jeans directly after.

However, if you are wearing jeans in normal, everyday circumstances, they won’t need to be washed every time you wear them. In fact, there are alternatives to throwing them in the washer which inevitably will lead to the wearing out of the jean dye thanks both to water and soap. We'll take a look at a few ways to clean and preserve your jeans without ruining the black color. As a bonus, these tips apply to denim of all colors, so consider this information for all of your jeans.

Freeze Your Jeans

This sounds strange but it is effective. This is an especially helpful tip for anyone who owns a raw pair of jeans (jeans that are unwashed and untreated after being dyed). Most jeans today are washed and distressed to create that worn-out look before being sold. Raw jeans are left untouched and designed to become more appealing in appearance over time. If you own a raw pair of jeans, the recommendation is to leave them unwashed for about six months. So how do you clean them in the meantime? You throw them in the freezer! Doing this for a few hours will get rid of any orders and have them looking, feeling, and smelling fresh before you have to wear them again. Over time, continually wearing raw jeans will give them a naturally worn-out look.

Steam Your Jeans

Avoid washing your skinny jeans, straight leg jeans, or any kind of jeans in hot and warm water at all costs as doing this will not only cause the black dye to fade, it will shrink your jeans! Most people use a steamer to smooth out any wrinkles in the fabric, but a steamer can also be used on jeans to give them a lighten freshening up without destroying the quality and color of the material. If you don’t have a steamer, hang your jeans up in the bathroom while you take a hot shower to expose it to the steam. Afterward, your jeans will be fresh and new and sufficiently cleaned without ruining the color and the small amount of water vapor they’re exposed to won't lead to any shrinkage.

Air Dry Your Jeans Outside

Like washing machines, dryers often do more harm than good to your jeans. Tumbling your jeans in high temperatures will not only lead to shrinkage, but it will also wear out the material more quickly. Instead of a dryer, hang your jeans out to dry outside. They will have a pleasant, clean scent after being in the fresh air and won’t be subjected to damage caused by dryers. Keep in mind that the jeans shouldn’t be placed directly under the sun since the sun can end up bleaching your jeans.

Soak Your Black Color Jeans in Vinegar

Soaking your jeans in vinegar is not only a great way to keep them clean and preserve the black dye, but it will also save you a trip to the laundromat if you don’t have a washer in your own home. Fill up your bathtub with cold water and add one cup of distilled white vinegar. Let the jeans soak in the tub for an hour before hanging them out to dry. It may sound odd to wash your jeans in vinegar since vinegar is a notoriously stinking solution.

But once your jeans air out, the strong odor will completely disappear and you won’t have to worry about wearing jeans that smell like vinegar. If you still plan to wash your jeans in a machine, avoid detergent which will wreak havoc on your jeans and speed up the fading process. Laundry detergent is no friend to your jeans. Instead, throw them in the washer with a cup of distilled white vinegar, avoiding any other harsh cleaning solution. Your jeans will get thoroughly cleaned and the color will remain safe.

Don’t Wear Your Black Jeans in Situations Where You Know You’ll Have to Wash Them