It feels like a universal experience having your jeans fade in color, since owning a pair of jeans is a bit of a closet essential. Yet it somehow feels inevitable that after a few washes, you'll be left with a slightly less vibrant color than you started with.
The chemicals from our washing detergent, mixed with vigorous spin cycles and hot water, are big culprits. But, it turns out it doesn't have to be an inevitability at all, according to style expert Leanna Spektor, co-founder and style expert at Brand House Direct.
"Most people think fading is just part of owning jeans," says Spektor, "but it doesn't have to be. There's one trick that changes everything, and it uses something you probably already have in your kitchen cupboard.”
Why jeans lose their color
There's a few different reasons that jeans lose their color, but it's mainly down to how you wash them.
“The problem is that most people treat jeans like any other piece of clothing," says Spektor. "They throw them in with everything else, use hot water, and wonder why their $80 pair of designer jeans looks tired after a month.
“The problem is that most people treat jeans like any other piece of clothing. They throw them in with everything else, use hot water, and wonder why their $80 pair of designer jeans looks tired after a month.”
Leanna Spektor, co-founder and style expert at Brand House Direct
And that hot water, alongside harsh detergents and overzealous spin cycles, will tear away the indigo dye that makes your jeans the rich color that they are — or were, before you started washing them.
Unfortunately, you have to wash your jeans to keep them clean. But, in doing so, you're making them fade and eventually, over time, you're also breaking down the cotton fibers that give them structure and fit.
Hence, spending more money on jeans time and time again. But, wait, Spektor has a solution.
How to prevent your jeans fading
It turns out the hack to stop your jeans from fading is actually really simple. All you have to do is turn your jeans inside out and wash them in cold water with a cup of white vinegar during your first wash.
As Spektor explains, “White vinegar is a natural dye fixative. It helps set the color into the fabric, so the dye doesn't run out with every wash. Plus, it removes any detergent residue that might be clinging to the fibers.”
And while white vinegar gives your jeans longevity, washing them inside out and in cold water is a bit of a no-brainer, when you think about it. Firstly, turning them inside out protects them from the friction on those aggressive spin cycles, and the cold water isn't as damaging to the indigo dye as hot water is.
Why white vinegar works
When I first heard about using white vinegar, I was worried it would just make my jeans smell. But, I found it was actually totally worth it. While there's 7 things you should never clean with white vinegar, jeans isn't one of them.
Instead, the mild acidity of the white vinegar helps the dye bond to the cotton fibers. So, putting it into your first wash gives your jeans the best chance at staying locked in for good.
Spektor says: "Think of it like a protective coating. The vinegar creates a barrier that keeps the dye from bleeding out. It's the same principle textile manufacturers use in factories, just scaled down for home use."
And now, I'm wondering why manufacturers don't give all jeans a little white vinegar wash before they sell them. Maybe they're worried clothing stores will end up smelling like a salad dressing, or sales will take a hit!
How to dry
The way you wash your jeans isn't the only thing making your jeans fade though, it's also important to consider how you dry them. For this, Spektor says it's best to stick to air drying them rather than throwing them in the tumble dryer.
Why? Well, the same reason you wouldn't use hot water, it'll fade colors. And even worse, it'll shrink the fabric. Sticking to hanging them up to dry will not only help retain their color, but it will make them hold their fit a lot longer too.
“I tell people to wash their jeans as little as possible. Spot clean when you can. Air them out between wears. Only put them in the machine when they really need it.”
Leanna Spektor, co-founder and style expert at Brand House Direct
At the end of the day, you don't actually need to wash your jeans that much at all. In fact, Spektor suggests you avoid it for as long as possible: “I tell people to wash their jeans as little as possible. Spot clean when you can. Air them out between wears. Only put them in the machine when they really need it.”
And when they do need a wash you need to avoid three things if you want to avoid ruining the fibers and color of your jeans; harsh detergents, bleach and fabric softener.
Instead, for your best chance at keeping your desired shade, use a gentle detergent designed specifically for dark colors.
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