Denim stretches perfectly if it's washed correctly.
Denim -- especially raw or selvage denim -- should be maintained in certain ways to preserve fit and color. Denim should be stretched to fit the wearer -- but not to stretch out of shape. Unlike regular chinos or relaxed jeans that are just washed and thrown in the dryer, denim care is more procedural. Taking care of denim the right way ensures that years later, the jean maintains a look that is affected by life and wear, not laundering cycles.
Initial Break-In
Wait as long as you can before the first wash. This helps ensure the fading conforms to your physique, making the jeans uniquely yours. Wear the jeans as often as you like, but washing them too quickly after buying them reduces the natural fade or contrasting that defines the pair as yours. A solid tip is to wait until the seat or the area behind the knees begins to sag or loosens. Once this happens, it's time to bathe the denim.
Give 'Em a Bath
Fill up your tub, kitchen sink or washing machine with tepid water. If you're trying to lock in the indigo color and prevent fading, add a cup of salt to the water and turn the jeans inside out before putting them in the water. Let the jeans soak in the mixture, moving them around gently. If they're in the washing machine, use the gentle cycle or the one that provides the least agitation. Add a cap of detergent designed for dark clothing if you wish. Rinse them free of the salt and detergent.
The Drying Cycle
Tossing jeans in the dryer is a good way to fade, shrink or lose some desirable stiffness. Denim jeans should be air-dried on a drying rack or clothesline. Don't hang them in the sun, as this might cause premature fading. Monitor the drying process. Just before they're completely dry, pull them on. Although they'll feel abnormally tight at first, they will relax and stretch to your body. Wear them for a few minutes, pull them off and hand them back up until they're completely dry.
Maintenance and Tips
Some jean aficionados refuse to wash their denim jeans for months on end. Let your nose do the thinking here. If these jeans begin to get ripe, wash them as you did the first time. To keep them fresher in the interim, place dryer sheets in the pockets. Alternately, placing them in a sealed freezer bag and in the freezer itself for a few hours should eliminate any odors. Dab off any mild stains that might pop up here and there with a damp cloth and cold water.
Tags: washing, denim, jeans, cause, stretch, pull them, they completely, washing machine
