How Often Should You Wash Jeans? Experts Share Tips For Maintaining Your Denim

When it comes to easy style, there’s really nothing like a great pair of jeans. While jeans started out in the world of rodeos and rugged workwear, they have become a timeless staple loved for their versatility, durability, and classic appeal. 

As denim has evolved, the price tag has increased. To protect that investment, stretch the lifespan of the jeans, and maintain the balance between worn-in comfort and pristine appearance, properly caring for your jeans is important. 

While most of our mamas taught us to wash our clothes regularly, when it comes to preserving the look, fit, and feel of jeans (particularly the expensive ones) that rule might not apply. Levis, who knows a thing or two about denim, notes that “washing denim too frequently can cause them to lose their shape and fit.” That is far from ideal, but still begs the question: how often should you wash your jeans? 

To find out exactly how to care for denim, we reached out to three experts to settle the matter once and for all. 

How Often Should You Wash Your Jeans?

According to the experts, in this one case, your mother may be wrong (don’t tell her we said that). “Our motto is ‘wear often, wash not so often’,” says Goldklang from Southern denim company, Imogene + Willie. “The more you wash them, the more rigid denim will fade, soften up, and show wear patterns.”

While some folks don’t mind a softer, worn-in look for their jeans, others may want to preserve the crisp lines, sharp creases, and stiff feel as long as possible. “Most folks are drawn to raw denim so they can break them in and over time create fades unique to the wearer,” says Matz, the shop manager at Richmond, VA’s Shockoe Atelier. “True denim heads won't wash their jeans for at least six months to a year and some never!” 

While those so-called denim heads may hold off, the experts we polled all agree that jeans should be washed on occasion.  “We recommend washing them at some point as the dirt and grime build up will eventually weaken the fibers,” says Matz.

When To First Wash Your Jeans

When you first get a pair of jeans, our experts recommend holding off on washing them as long as possible. “For best results wear first time as long as possible to break in and shape the jeans,” says Pizzurro. This is particularly true for jeans made from so-called raw or selvedge denim, which is denim that has not been washed, shrunk, or treated in any way.

When To Wash Jeans For Regular Wear

Exactly how often you should launder your jeans is a matter of personal preference and depends greatly on how often you use them. “Wash frequency depends on how often they are worn,” says Pizzurro of Brooklyn Denim Co., which has made and sold denim for 14 years. “If you are wearing your jeans daily you should probably wash at least every six to eight weeks, but if you wear only once in awhile you can go quite a bit longer.” Additionally, if your jeans have visible dirt or stains or you’ve been sweating in them, you will want to throw them in the wash. 

The rules are slightly different if you are wearing washed denim as opposed to raw denim. “You can wash them as often as you'd depending on how quickly they become dirty,” explains Matz. “Washed denim has typically been preshrunk and is softer to begin with so you can wash them as soon as you get them or as soon as they become dirty.”

How To Wash Your Jeans To Maximize Their Lifespan

When it comes time to wash your denim, don’t panic. As Raleigh Denim notes on their site, “don’t be scared to wash your jeans….they’re just jeans and need to be washed.”

As far as washing goes, the experts do have opinions. “We recommend a cold water wash on the gentle cycle, with mild detergent,” says Goldklang. “Lay flat to dry. We don't recommend putting them in the dryer.” 

Additionally, washing denim inside out can help preserve the color. “Turning them inside out means the color will fade less because the indigo isn’t rubbing up against other colors, just itself,” Pizzurro told us. “So if you want the color to last, it will stay darker longer, if you wash them inside out.”

To dry them effectively, Levi’s suggests “roll[ing] them up gently starting from the hem, and squeez[ing] out excess water. Line dry.” Be aware that even with line drying jeans, they may shrink a little. “Rigid denim will shrink up about 1/2" in length and will also shrink in the waistband as well,” says Goldklang, “It will stretch back out with wear.”

That Freezer Thing

There’s a long-standing rumor in the denim community that freezing your jeans is a good alternative to washing them as it allegedly preserves the denim and kills any bacteria that might be lingering on them. “The freezer thing does not work, it’s a myth,” says Pizzurro. “Some student did his thesis on it and found that it didn’t help it just makes them cold and smelly.” 

The Cleveland Clinic even asked a doctor to dispel the rumor. “To kill bacteria, you typically have to reach 80 degrees below freezing,” Dr. Alok Vij told them. “Since freezers sit around 0 to 4 degrees, they’re nowhere near cold enough.” Instead, wash your jeans following the instructions above.