You’re not supposed to wash jeans after every wear. Here’s what to do instead

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At a 2014 event, Chip Bergh, the previous CEO of Levi’s, revealed his jeans had by no means seen the within of a washer. He later shared what he referred to as the “Dirty Jeans Manifesto,” clarifying why he dedicated to spot treating and cling drying his years-old Levi’s.

The gist of his assertion was that he wasn’t simply not washing his jeans due to an odd private quirk. Rather, he was targeted on carrying out two issues: preserving the lifetime of his denim and, most significantly, making a decided effort to cut back his water consumption. According to a 2018 research report, Levi’s discovered that “consumer care habits” accounted for almost 1 / 4 (23%) of the water used within the life cycle of a pair of the model’s 501 jeans. It’s knowledge like this that makes Bergh’s resolution to put on soiled jeans much more comprehensible.

Now, I love my blue jeans. Always have, all the time will. I’ve hand-me-downs from my mom, ones I’ve embroidered with flowers and traditional cuts I put on to work. High-waisted or low-rise, denim is a trend staple with over 150 years of history. But it’s not possible to ignore the trade’s environmental affect when discussing its evolution. If there’s one factor I’ve discovered about sustainability, it’s that small actions could make a big distinction, so I made a decision to attempt a brand new strategy to laundry and undertake Bergh’s methodology.

To actually check this no-wash strategy, I wore a brand-new pair of 100% cotton Levi’s every day for 3 weeks with out machine washing. Not after work, a visit to the airport or perhaps a evening out at a very sticky native bar. Was this gross? Not actually. I used to be shocked by how little the jeans’ integrity modified all through my experiment. When they required a touch-up, I examined completely different wash-free cleaning products and strategies to maintain my jeans wanting (and smelling) contemporary.

After almost a month of testing, I’m a spot-treating professional and can proceed rewearing certain items of clothing, like my jeans, a number of instances earlier than including them to a laundry pile. Here’s why I feel you need to give this strategy a attempt too.

These are the versatile pair of jeans I wore every day for 3 weeks straight. They did get a bit baggier, however fortunately, they did not retain any disagreeable odors all through my experiment. They’re snug and really feel elevated in contrast to different denim pants in my closet, thanks to the wide-leg, high-waisted match. I didn’t thoughts carrying these jeans on repeat, even after I wanted to pull out a belt to maintain them in place, and I look ahead to discovering extra methods to type them.

Like breaking in a pair of recent boots, denim turns into extra forgiving the extra you progress in it. Machine-washing jeans is sort of a manufacturing facility reset to your pants, reactivating their former stiffness.

According to Lindey Davidson-Paley, founding father of classic denim model Lenny, that is precisely why she washes her denim after every put on. “I prefer how it resets the fabric, allowing it to mold back to its original shape, especially with a more fitted pair,” she mentioned. Though this instantly contradicts my experiment, it’s value declaring, as a result of everybody’s type preferences differ.

But if you happen to do select to forgo an everyday wash, know that your jeans will typically match much more loosely by the tenth put on. For occasion, I began to want a belt round my fourth no-wash put on, and the pants’ huge legs had been noticeably baggier in direction of the tip of my experiment. This wasn’t the tip of the world, nevertheless it’s one thing to consider if you happen to undertake this sustainable strategy to your denim. The good match may shift over time.

In phrases of texture, I felt no important distinction between my first and final wears. My jeans have the identical sturdy but clean really feel after carrying them day by day — a testomony to the fabric’s sturdiness. My major concern earlier than I began was the chance of my jeans changing into odorous, however I used to be, fortunately, spared any discomfort or embarrassment as a result of they did not choose up any disagreeable smells. It’s not like I used to be staying at dwelling or not breaking a sweat in these pants, both. I went on lengthy walks, took a three-hour flight and even went to the seaside in these jeans. However, I took correct care to air them out after every put on and discovered a couple of hacks that stored the unhealthy fragrances at bay.

When I did get my jeans soiled all through testing, as a result of spills occur, I attempted out a couple of completely different strategies (which I’ll clarify) of protecting them contemporary with out throwing them within the wash.

When I first began this experiment, it was simple to say I’ll simply cease washing my jeans, however as soon as I really began carrying the pants day by day, I used to be confronted by ideas of stains and smells.

Researching various washing strategies led me down some fascinating Reddit rabbit holes, reminiscent of whether or not freezing jeans is an effective cleaning hack. I puzzled what number of wears with out washing I may moderately go earlier than my pants grew to become a hazardous materials solely a correct machine wash may save.

I turned to the professionals for steering. Here’s what they mentioned.

Corinna Williams, co-founder of sustainable laundry service Celsious, recommends utilizing private discernment when taking stock of your laundry. “You can get away with washing jeans less frequently than, say, shirts,” Williams mentioned. “A good rule of thumb is after approximately 10 wears.”

The Laundry Evangelist, Patric Richardson, additionally goals for the 10-wear mark earlier than throwing his jeans into the washer. However, going longer between washes doesn’t imply you cease cleansing them altogether. A fantastic no-wash methodology to contact up your jeans is spot treating: Rather than tossing the pair within the machine, you tackle a selected space by hand.

Richardson defined his tried-and-true spot-treating methodology. Start by putting a towel contained in the jeans the place the spot is, “so that you don’t push the stain to the back.” You’ll want some sort of bristle brush, stain remover and one other towel for blotting. He prefers utilizing horsehair brushes and a laundry cleaning soap bar however would go for a chemical stain remover if coping with a very oily stain. “I wet the brush, run it across the bar, and build up the lather in the brush. Then I scrub the jeans and take a towel with water, and blot that out,” he mentioned. “Think of [blotting] like a rinse.”

I attempted this methodology on a contemporary soy sauce stain utilizing a toothbrush and a stain-remover wipe. A couple of minutes of scrubbing and dabbing made my jeans look model new. According to Richardson, you don’t have to deal with a stain instantly after it occurs, however will probably be simpler to take away if you happen to act rapidly. The longer you wait to deal with a stain, the longer it’s going to take to do away with it, and there’s a probability it’d not come out in any respect.

For a bigger managed experiment, I examined varied stain-removal wipes, pens and sprays on a separate pair of denim by eradicating espresso and salsa spills. I allow them to sit for round three minutes earlier than making use of the spot remedies. When coping with chunkier spills like salsa, I like to recommend first rinsing them rapidly below operating water to take away bigger items. Plus, as Richardson famous, caring for cloth is way simpler when it’s moist.

While stain remover sticks and wipes alone may not be as efficient as Richardson’s complete methodology, they’re particularly helpful while you’re on the go. The stain remover wipes had been the simplest after I wanted to rapidly deal with my jeans as a result of they offered extra leverage to rub out stains, and so they had been simple to toss into any bag.

When selecting stain remover, Williams recommends checking that the product does not include chlorine bleach. You also needs to verify whether or not the garment you’re treating is colorfast, that means the material’s coloration gained’t fade or bleed in water. Giving additional consideration to these particulars will assist protect your denim.

Shout Wipe & Go is my new favourite on-the-go stain remover. Its highly effective components labored effectively on each salsa and low, two fairly gnarly stains. One pack consists of 4 wipes, so I’d purchase two of them if you happen to’re inclined to spills. The components is efficient, however the skill to fold and press the fabric into the stain is what I actually appreciated throughout my testing.

Miss Mouth’s Stain Remover Pen is an EPA Safer Choice-certified product, making it an excellent family-friendly alternative. The components is perhaps light, nevertheless it works effectively towards even cussed stains. As a former Tide to Go-only sort of woman, I used to be shocked one other pen could possibly be as efficient, however Miss Mouth’s labored effectively on even probably the most cussed of espresso stains. After urgent down exhausting and scrubbing in a round movement, this little pen created visibly cleared up stains splattered on my jeans. Knowing this components is light makes me need to attain for it over different stain removers. If you want to clear up a stain bigger than a splatter, although, you’ll want to put in some elbow grease to get it out utterly.

Miss Mouth’s components can be accessible in a wipe, which is one other fan-favorite stain-remover choice I attempted. I cherished this light but efficient components and most popular it in wipe type as a result of it gave me extra floor space to deal with spills. It lightened up each the espresso and salsa spills, although it took some severe scrubbing to get again to the deep blue of my jeans. I’d suggest this feature to buddies with young children, as we all know meals stains are sure to happen.

If you need a heavy-duty stain remover to use whereas hand-washing, I’d suggest the Stingray Spot Remover. This 32-ounce bottle is certain to final a very long time, and the components is pet-safe. It was additionally one in all Oprah’s Favorite Things in 2025. I used it in my managed spot-treatment testing, but in addition in my house bathtub time and again on the espresso and salsa stains I created. I utilized a beneficiant quantity to the pants, let it sit for a couple of minutes (three to 5 are beneficial), then started scrubbing. Spraying your garments and scrubbing it away is laborious, however watching the water drain away the stains is value it.

Tide to Go is the perfect stain remover pen while you’re out and about. I maintain one in my work purse and make-up bag. Using it on my denim was efficient, however the pen’s smaller tip meant I had to actually scrub to take care of the bigger floor space of the spill. I’d suggest this for smaller spots. If you pour scorching espresso in your pants, you’ll want one thing that’s simpler to use on larger spills.

If you’re utilizing Richardson’s spot-treatment methodology, Grandma’s Secret Spot Remover is a superb choice. Applying a couple of drops of this bleach-free components will work out the stain (with some severe scrubbing). It’s a smallish bottle, however you solely want somewhat to construct up a lather. I used a moist paper towel and noticed important outcomes, however pairing this remover with a bristle brush would make it much more efficient.

When it comes to eliminating odor from any garment (not simply denim), Richardson shared a easy cleansing hack. The secret is vodka. Specifically, low-cost vodka. “Put it in a spray bottle and spray it on. It will kill the odor,” he mentioned.

I attempted this in week two of testing, and it eradicated odor however left behind a sterile perfume. I didn’t scent like a vodka tonic, however the scent of my pants jogged my memory of a freshly cleaned physician’s workplace. I may need overdone the variety of instances I sprayed my pants. Take it from me, somewhat vodka goes a great distance (in additional methods than one).

Airing out my jeans and spraying them with my favourite physique spray additionally helped me eradicate any undesirable smells. Williams additionally recommends steaming denim or utilizing a homemade linen spray (a combination of rubbing alcohol, important oils and water) as efficient methods to refresh your jeans.

Christopher Ohanian owns Public Estrellas, a Los Angeles-based thrift retailer with every kind of jeans and classic finds. While denim is extra sturdy than most materials, he cautions towards throwing it within the dryer as a result of it’s going to alter the match and might degrade the fabric over time. “You have to air dry [jeans] and make sure both legs are fully flattened out,” he mentioned. “Even the tiniest wrinkles can leave a trace behind.”

Williams echoed this and added, “Air drying not only saves energy but also helps extend the life of your denim.” This goes for each spot treating and machine washing.

You need to keep away from the dryer as a result of it weakens your denim’s fibers, particularly if spandex or Lycra is within the materials. Tumble drying decreases the elasticity of spandex-infused cloth, so it’s going to lose the cuddling impact. Plus, air-drying your jeans conserves vitality, but another excuse why it’s a good suggestion.

Richardson had a really robust response after I requested if freezing jeans is an efficient cleansing methodology. “The [area in the] freezer is a sacred space because it’s next to the ice cream,” he mentioned. “Why would you put dirty jeans next to the ice cream?”

He did add that the “hack” in the end does not work as a result of the temperatures of a consumer-grade fridge are not chilly sufficient to create a sterile atmosphere and eradicate odor. Studies have backed up Richard’s feelings about the freezer method. While lowering the temperature might kill the micro organism accumulating in your pants, many will survive frigid temperatures, rendering the method wasted effort.

By no means am I advocating to by no means machine-wash jeans, and neither are the laundry specialists I spoke to. “[A pair of jeans] may require less frequent laundering, but it can — and should — be washed when it’s actually dirty,” Williams mentioned.

When it’s time to throw your denim within the washer, specialists suggest a brief cycle. According to Richardson, a heat water, chilly rinse and quick spin components is secure for something. When it comes to classic denim, Paley recommends washing jeans inside out on both a heat or delicate cycle.

There are, in fact, exceptions to this rule. Williams famous that denim aficionados will seemingly keep away from washing raw denim till fade traces seem (which may take a few months) and may nonetheless select to hand-wash the fabric to finest protect it. The common shopper, nonetheless, does not want to take such drastic measures to protect their jeans. Keeping in thoughts the 10-wear framework, spot treating and air-drying your denim will assist protect the material’s integrity and save water.

As talked about, shopper care accounts for roughly 1 / 4 of the water used within the life cycle of a pair of Levi’s 501 jeans. That performs a major function within the local weather and vitality affect of a pair, and it’s instantly correlated with how we take care of them. But this implies shoppers can change their habits to cut back that affect. For occasion, another Levi’s study discovered washing jeans every 10 wears, fairly than every two, can cut back the vitality, water and local weather change affect by up to 80%.

While it’s nice that we are able to cut back water and vitality use on our finish, if you need your jeans to be as sustainable as potential, purchase from a model that focuses on limiting its affect too. Look for manufacturers which might be clear about their provide chain and that take motion to cut back their water waste and emissions. In addition to buying at sustainable denim brands, search for certifications like Cradle to Cradle, too.

Washing jeans much less often can be good for the denim, because it “helps preserve the fibers, which can extend their overall lifespan,” in accordance to Williams. Researchers from the University of Alberta performed a examine that discovered frequent laundering degrades jeans over time. The researchers hoped the findings would encourage shoppers to change their laundry habits, realizing that the environmental affect alone may not spark important motion.

According to textile scientist and professor Rachel McQueen, who coauthored the analysis examine, creating sustainable laundering habits requires shoppers to rethink their discovered practices. After you don a garment, McQueen recommends asking your self, “Do I actually need to wash this, or could it last another wear?”

Hanging on to your jeans for longer is inherently sustainable, too. Wearing them for a number of years instead of getting a brand new pair is a straightforward, sustainable apply to adapt. “Your favorite pair of jeans can last longer if you don’t wash them as often,” McQueen mentioned. “You could save a lot of resources by rethinking.”

Whatever your motivation, washing jeans much less typically is a straightforward means to incorporate extra sustainable behaviors into your routine. Keeping jeans out of your laundry pile gained’t negate the affect of washing the remainder of your load, however it’s going to unlock extra space for different clothes, and it could even take longer to attain a full load. That means, you find yourself operating your machine much less often. It’s the sort of trickle-down impact that may solely begin with a small change to your on a regular basis habits.

I encourage you to put on your jeans a couple of extra instances than your instincts recommend earlier than washing them. The atmosphere and your denim will certainly profit.

For this text, we consulted the next specialists for his or her skilled insights:

The following FAQs had been answered by laundry specialists Patric Richardson and Corrinna Williams. They additionally embody reporting from the author of this story, Gareen Puglia.

NCS Underscored has a staff of expert writers and editors with a few years of expertise testing, researching and recommending merchandise, and so they guarantee every article is fastidiously edited and that merchandise are correctly vetted. We discuss to high specialists when related to make sure we’re testing every product precisely, recommending solely one of the best merchandise and contemplating the professionals and cons of every merchandise.

NCS Underscored’s affiliate testing author Gareen Puglia was extraordinarily excited to write this text as a result of she loves jeans and is prepared to make extra sustainable decisions in her laundry practices. Puglia beforehand authored a sustainable coffee guide and continues to search for tales the place she will be able to use her experience to discover subjects on the intersection of sustainability and product testing.