When To Do Your First Wash Of Raw Denim?

Raw denim is a popular choice for its beautiful inner qualities, but it can also experience fades. To maintain the appearance of raw denim, it is essential to follow proper care and washing methods. This guide will provide four easy steps to wash, clean, and treat raw denim, explained by denim specialists.

To wash raw denim, start by cleaning your bathtub and filling it with cold water. Add a tablespoon of mild detergent and soak the jeans for 30 minutes. Rinse thoroughly to remove any remaining detergent. To achieve the best fit, wear jeans for at least 3 to 6 months before washing them. If you feel compelled to wash them earlier, aim for a full week of consistent wear.

You can wash jeans weekly, bi-weekly, monthly, bi-monthly, every six months, every year, or never. The first wash should be done after about four months of daily wear, then continue washing every couple of months. For softer, more even fading, wash as often as every few months. For more striking fades, wash as little as possible.

When it’s time to wash, turn jeans inside out, wash alone in cold or lukewarm water, add a mild detergent, and let them air dry. If jeans are frequently worn, the time to wash is usually around the 6 month mark. If jeans are given their first wash after 6-7 months of regular use and consecutive washes only once in a while, they may not last as long as they should.

In summary, the world of raw denim is a complex and ever-changing landscape, and proper care and washing methods are crucial for maintaining their beauty and longevity.

Should you wash raw denim hot or cold?

To maintain the quality of your jeans, it’s recommended to fill your bath with cold or lukewarm water. Hand washing is the best method to reduce wear and tear, as it’s gentler on the fibers. Additionally, your hands act as thermometers, preventing water from getting too hot. This method also helps prevent bleeding and ensures an even fade. However, it exposes the dirtiest parts of the jeans to more water and detergent, which are closer to the skin. Washing jeans alone can be a mistake, as denim bleeds blue blood and can ruin lighter-colored items. Therefore, it’s best to hand wash your jeans to avoid this issue.

How many wears before first wash denim?

It is recommended that denim jeans be washed with caution, as excessive washing can result in damage to their distinctive features, such as creases and fades. As a general guideline, jeans should be washed after approximately ten uses, unless they become visibly soiled or malodorous.

How long does raw denim take to break in?

Breaking in raw denim jeans can take weeks to months, depending on how much you wear them and your daily routine. The best way to break in raw denim is to wear them frequently, move and stretch, and teach them about your daily routine. The body’s oils and sweat break down the fibers gradually, causing the “breaking in” period. However, the denim may start to smell. Personally riding a commuter bike is the quickest way to “pack out” the denim in the waist, thighs, and knees, where you want more give and space.

What happens if you wash raw denim right away?

When washing jeans, it is crucial to consider shrinkage factors. All sanforized raw denim shrinks between 0-3 post-first wash, while unsanforized denim can shrink up to 10. To achieve the best fit, it is recommended to wear jeans for at least 3 to 6 months before washing. If you need to wash them earlier, it is recommended to wear them for a full week of consistent wear, or two to three weeks before the first soak or wash. This allows the jeans to stretch out to their maximum capacity, allowing them to shrink back to their original pre-wash size when washed.

Raw selvedge denim offers a unique fit manipulation advantage over regular, pre-washed denim. To get an almost custom fit, air dry the jeans until damp, then put them on, and let them dry on your body. This allows the jeans to conform to your body shape as they are drying, creating an almost custom fit pair of jeans.

By following these guidelines, you can ensure that your jeans will last longer and look better after each wash. Additionally, it is important to avoid soaking or washing your jeans before wearing them, as this can lead to shrinkage and unwearability.

Does raw denim shrink on first wash?

Raw denim jeans may shrink a full size smaller after the first wash, but they will never grow as large as they were when raw and stretched-out. After washing and wearing for two days, the jeans show growth in areas that get pulled and stretched. The hardest working area, the rise, has grown a combined total of 1 1/8″ due to leg movement and sitting. The rear side bearing much of the burden has grown a full 1″. The tight after stretching, shrinking, and stretching again has settled back into its original size.

The waistband, stretched every time you sit, has gained ½” back but still ½” smaller than when the jeans were new. The inseam, which receives minimal stress, has lost about an inch and will never grow back. Customers who plan to hem should leave room for the inch that will be lost during washing.

How soon to wash raw denim?

To maintain the quality of your jeans, avoid soaking or washing them before wearing them. Instead, wear them for at least a week, preferably two to three weeks before the first soak or wash. Air dry them until damp, then put them on and let them dry on your body. If the jeans are too big and long enough in the inseam, wash them in a different method. There is no hard and fast rule, and you can find helpful tips on raw denim forums and websites.

Is it OK to wear unwashed new jeans?

New in-store stores and online clothing stores pose similar risks to walk-in stores, as they expose customers to hazardous chemicals during manufacturing and can sometimes harbor even more. Contaminants from skin, hair, or other clothes can accumulate over time and cause allergic reactions and illness if not washed away. Online clothes, on the other hand, are exposed to hazardous chemicals during manufacturing and can contain even more. A study found that low-cost, fast-fashion outlets contained hazardous chemicals in children’s and babies’ clothes, with concentrations deemed unsafe by North American governments.

Additionally, online clothing retailers often have return policies, exposing the fabric to microbes, fungi, and flora from the initial purchaser’s home. If customers don’t wash their returned clothes, they can pick up contaminants from the previous wearer if they don’t first wash them.

When should I wash my raw denim jeans?

Raw jeans should be washed once or twice a year to maintain good fading. The stiffness of raw denim creates sharp creases when you sit or move, which are where fades appear. When you wash the jean, the starch-like substance washes out, softening the denim and making the creases less sharp. Daily wear causes abrasion on the top blue yarns, allowing the bottom white yarns to show through. Each time a jean is washed, it loses some color and reduces the contrast between dark and white areas. Therefore, it’s better to buy dark wash jeans instead.

Will raw denim fade after wash?

Washing raw denim often does not accelerate fades, as each wash will lose some indigo. However, the indigo loss will be uniform. For sharper honeycombs and whiskers, frequent washing is not recommended. For vintage fades, washing frequently is necessary. Striking a balance between crisp fade patterns and clean jeans is crucial. If you prioritize keeping jeans dark and fades crisp, you may sacrifice cleanliness and longevity. A good rule of thumb is to wash jeans once every two months, especially in the summer when hands and jeans get dirty.

How to wash raw denim jeans for the first time?

Raw denim can be easily washed, but it can change its appearance and fit. To minimize indigo bleed and help the dye set, soak jeans in cool water. If oil and grime buildup is present, use a gentle cleaner and submerge them in lukewarm water. Allow the jeans to soak for at least an hour, agitate gently every fifteen minutes, then rinse them repeatedly until no trace of cleaner remains.

Selvedge denim is more forgiving and less susceptible to shrinkage, but best practices for softer, more even fading include washing every few months for a more even fading and as little as possible for more striking fades. Machine washing according to care tags is also recommended, but hand washing in lukewarm water with a gentle cleaner is recommended for more indigo.

There are myths about washing jeans without washing, such as keeping them in the freezer. The idea is that low temperatures will kill odor-causing bacteria, but many bacteria can survive freezing temperatures and repopulate the garment. To avoid this, remove jeans from the freezer and allow more room for steak.

Should I wash my newly bought jeans?

It is recommended that new denim be washed prior to wear to prevent dye transfer. It is recommended that the care label be consulted and the instructions followed in order to ensure proper care and to prevent dye transfer during the initial wear.