Expert shares how often we should be washing denim to avoid ‘damage’

It is something that we all have in our wardrobe so it is no wonder denim is a clothes staple. Not only has denim been around for decades but it is something you can wear day in and day out.

Whether you’re an owner of a denim skirt, dress or a good old pair of jeans that you can’t bear to part with then you will want to make the item last for as long as possible.

The search term ‘How to wash jeans in the washing machine’ has a staggering 41.9 million views on TikTok.

But how often do you wash the item?

Well, we’ve spoken to fashion experts at Gap who have revealed how often we should be washing denim.

Avoid washing too often

The experts said: “Over-washing can damage embellishments like sequins and beads, so we recommend only washing clothing with these details when an item is truly dirty.

“In most cases, giving clothing a small spot wash, or a good airing out by hanging on a washing line for a few hours, will give clothing the boost it needs to be worn again.

“Despite denim being a hard-wearing fabric, it’s also recommended to wash this fabric as little as possible, even as little as every 10 wears.”

They added spot treatments are recommended as the first point of call, rather than a full wash but only if they simply need a freshen-up.

The experts continued: “We stand by the jeans in the freezer trick to kill any bacteria and eliminate any odours.”

Handwashing is preferred

While we know handwashing clothing can be laborious, if you want it to look its best, it seems like handwashing is the answer.

Gap said: “This is the only way to protect any delicate details and embellishments from damage. Cold hand washing helps to prevent damage to any adhesives and can reduce chances of shrinkage, not to mention it’s a much gentler option on embellishments that could loosen or shed in a washing machine cycle.

“The process is as simple as submerging your outfit in cool water with detergent but keep your soaking time to a minimum to prevent damage to beading and embellishments. If there’s a specific stain to get out, gently massage the area but be mindful of more delicate fabrics and avoid ‘scrubbing’ motions.”

Meanwhile, when it comes to denim, it is best washed by hand, as this method gives the best chance of retaining both “the colour and the shape of your denim”. This will help prolong the overall life of your garment.

Washing machine guidance

Certain embellished and delicate fabric clothing will be labelled as being washing machine safe.

The experts explained: “In this instance, it’s always best to be safe rather than sorry and place your clothing inside a clothing wash bag or a pillowcase works just as well. This allows for an additional layer of protection for any sequins or beading and can prevent fabrics with a sheen from losing their shine.”

However, if you haven’t got much time, or if your denim is really in need of a wash and a hand wash won’t cut it, a cooler wash cycle in the machine will also do the trick.

They added: “If you are going to machine wash, the best thing to do is turn your denim inside out, wash alone and remove from the wash straight after the cycle is finished – all of these things will reduce creasing, and help to prevent colour fading.

“When putting your denim in the wash, zips and buttons should be closed on denim when washing to avoid any snagging on other clothing or any damage to the zips and buttons themselves.”

Meanwhile, the rules for more delicate fabrics are slightly different though, zips should be done up but buttons should remain open to avoid “causing potential strain on the delicate fabrics” which could cause buttons to become loose.

Avoid fabric softener

Whether it’s a custom denim number or a delicate sequin design, the rules are the same when it comes to fabric softener – do not add it to your wash if you’re washing custom-made designs.

Gap advised: “Fabric softener can change the texture of denim and damage the surface of velvets and satin, so best to avoid this in your washes.”

Never tumble dry

You should never tumble dry your denim, it could cause shrinkage and loss of shape.

The pros said: “The best method is to lay your denim flat or air dry outside. Peg your jeans upside down at the bottom of each leg, so the water runs down to the waistband, helping them dry quicker and reducing wrinkles.

“Avoiding the tumble dryer is also true for more delicate fabrics as well as embellished clothing. The fast spin of a tumble dryer is just asking for embellishments to become loose and damaged, plus the heat can cause shrinkage and fading.”