How Long Do Jeans Last? (How To Make Them Last Longer) (2024)

FAQs

How long should a pair of jeans last me? ›

The average lifespan for a pair of jeans, according to the International Fabric Institute Fair Claims Guide, is 2-3 years. But there are a few factors that can either make jeans fall short of that standard or outlast it by years.

Can jeans go in the dryer? The key to maintaining your jeans is avoiding the dryer, though it may not be for the reason you think. Kozen tells us that the process of drying them is actually more damaging than the heat itself. “If you don't put your jeans in the dryer, you reduce wear on them a little bit,” she says.

It's made from cotton, but it's not just any cotton—it's very tightly woven to give it strength and durability so it can withstand the wear and tear of everyday life. The tighter the weave, the stronger and more durable the fabric will be. It's worth investing in high-quality jeans to make them last longer.

Why do my black jeans fade so quickly? If you wash your black jeans frequently, in warm or hot water, dry them in direct sunlight, or pack your washing machine tightly, you might be speeding up the fading process. Black jeans require a lot of dye to achieve their dark appearance.

"You should wash jeans every six weeks. Washing them more than that will wear them out faster, and you'll have to buy a new pair within a year. If your body chemistry makes your jeans stink after two days, fold them up and put them in the freezer overnight.

Wash rarely

The trick is to immediately spot treat any spills or stains, then launder them much less frequently. Levi's CEO Chip Bergh says that a good pair of jeans worn regularly doesn't really need to be washed in the washing machine, except for infrequently—once every six months.

Jeans can typically be worn 3 times before washing. Leggings and tights should be washed after every wear to get rid of the baggy knees. Suits typically can be worn several times during normal use before dry cleaning (3-4 times for wool and 4-5 times for synthetics).

You should aim for 4 to 5 pairs of denim jeans, excluding shorts. It is a good number to meet your everyday needs, even though a woman own 7 pairs on average, and men 6. The number of jeans you should own is much lower than you think.

The point of not washing them for as long as possible is to avoid breaking down the fibres of the denim, to preserve the deep indigos and the stiff (you might say, uncomfortable) feel of the fabric that makes them so appealing to start with.

Levi's CEO Chip Bergh has some tips for jeans owners: Don't freeze your jeans. And don't put them in the washing machine.

How many times should you wear your jeans before washing them Levis? ›

The more specific guideline is to wash them once every 10 wears at most to keep them fitting correctly and make sure you minimize sagging. We're not saying you can go even longer between washes—but we are saying some people wait until their jeans start to smell before they wash them.

It really depends on how often you wear them and how you use them. If you wear them every day and wash them often they will wear out in a couple of years. If you're willing to repair your Levi's I think the average pair would go for 5–10 years with 1–2 repair jobs.

I discovered the reason I've always preferred jeans made before the mid–seventies: Simply because they fade better. The old-school method of spinning yarn makes them softer, more durable, and gives them their significantly higher quality.

Use a detergent designed to preserve colors like Woolite Darks Liquid Laundry Detergent or Tide Studio Darks and Colors. They contain ingredients to help fabrics hold onto dyes and to deactivate the chlorine in the water that can fade colors. Finally, it's best to wash jeans in cold water on a short, delicate cycle.

Over time, it's normal for the cotton fibers in denim fabric to lose their structure. Frequent washing and constant wear can cause the material to loosen, but the good news is that the baggy shape doesn't have to be permanent.

In general, expect up to 3–4% shrinkage, which on a pair of jeans with a 32″ inseam would mean shrinking about 1″–1¼” in the length. The width is much less prone to shrinkage because there is less applied tension in that direction during fabric construction. This can vary from brand to brand and style to style.

First things first: Generally speaking, you shouldn't wash your jeans after every wear. It's not necessary, and it can actually cause them to break down faster. Instead, a good guideline is to wash them between every three to ten wears.

Much less than you probably do. A clothes-care guru suggests washing your denim once a month – and you shouldn't launder your T-shirts after every wear either.

If you need to use a dryer, select a low or no heat cycle and use dryer balls to keep your jeans tumbling. The best way to dry jeans is by hanging them up to air dry: Remove the jeans while they're still slightly damp, then stretch the seams and hang them up to finish drying.

Wash by hand in cold water.

It's best to use a tiny amount of gentle detergent (Woolite is available almost everywhere), or simply plain water. Remember to turn jeans inside out. Another trick is to use baby shampoo, but we prefer Woolite when specifically washing denim.

How do you rejuvenate old jeans? ›

Hand-washing old jeans are the best way to clean them because it is gentler on the fabric than a washing machine. The jeans should be hand-washed in cold water with mild detergent. Tumbling or hanging the jeans to dry after washing them is also another good way to ensure that the jeans maintain their fit.

Back in the day—the mid-1800s to be exact—dungarees a.k.a. "waist overalls" were all the rage. And not because they were stylish, but rather, practical.

Is it bad to wear the same pants 2 days in a row? Unless your pants are covered in mud than it is completely fine to wear your pants as many days in a row as you would like.

Unlike zippers, garments with buttons should be left open before bouncing around in your machine. They're more delicate, so leaving buttons undone will put less stress on the threads and help them last longer.

As long as you maintain cleanliness and do not allow bacteria to grow, then it is okay to wear the same pair of jeans for one week. Make sure your pants properly dry after you clean them.

You can wear a pair of jeans a large number of times before you need to wash them. It's not a case of 5 or 6 times, you can wear your jeans every day for weeks before needed to wash them. The amount of times you can wear a pair of jeans will be determined by your lifestyle.

Depending on your laundry schedule, you might need more than 5 pairs of pants. But for most people, 4 to 5 pairs of casual pants, including denim jeans, are more than enough to meet everyday needs.

Turning the jeans inside out when washing them is recommended to protect the fibers on the outside from frictional wear and detergent exposure. Additionally, if the jeans are brand new, it is possible for them to bleed dye – so make sure to check the label for any special care instructions first.

A good rule of thumb is to wash your jeans after every 3-10 wears, or when they start to smell. If you're regularly active in your jeans (think: manual work, anything where you work up a sweat), wash them every 3 wears, but if you're working at a desk, you can probably go through multiple wears without washing.

Cowboys don't have time to get their clothes cleaned when they're on the road competing or working on a ranch. So as a result, they choose to starch their jeans, which makes them appear crisper and makes them more dirt-resistant.

Should you roll your jeans to store them? ›

Rolling is a good way to store jeans, pants, or soft leggings in a small amount of space, but never roll pants made of linen or gauzy fabrics. To roll a pair of pants, follow these simple steps: Lay your pants out flat and smooth away any wrinkles.

Wash jeans in warm water: Most of the time when you have something that you want to wash gently you wash it in cold water. But that's not the case when you are washing denim jeans. Warm water will help the color stay in the jeans and help keep the jeans from shrinking. Hot water is too hot and can destroy the fabric.

“Technically, yes,” said Slaven, an engineer and a textile chemist. “As the temperature drops, density increases. That means volume decreases. Things shrink.”

Since denim is heavy and holds water, avoid washing more than two pairs of jeans together.

Cheung and Levi Strauss offer this advice: Sun and Air: Hang them outside for a few hours. This will freshen them up. Spot Clean: A swift wipe with a napkin will remove most of a stain.

A pair of vintage Levi's jeans has sold at auction for more than $87,000 Michael Harris found the jeans from the 1880s in an abandoned mine. His title is denim archaeologist. According to one of the buyers, the Levi's are still in good enough condition to be worn.

Wrangler jeans pros

Wrangler jeans are rugged and durable. Strengthened elements include the double-stitched outer leg that features on most pairs, and the addition of two extra belt loops as compared to most other jeans.

Minji is the oldest of the group at 18 and a former trainee from JYP Entertainment (the agency behind groups such as Stray Kids and Twice). She was also in the BTS music video for Permission to Dance in 2021, along with Haerin, 16. Danielle, 17, is Korean-Australian, while Hanni, 18, is Vietnamese-Australian.

How old is the oldest pair of jeans? ›

The white pants were found in a sunken trunk in a shipwreck in 1857 near the coast of North Carolina. They feature a five-button fly and are believed to have belonged to a miner. The jeans were among 270 Gold Rush-era memorabilia that sold for nearly $1m total, according to Holabird Western Americana Collections.

A pair of Levi's jeans from the 1880s has sold at an auction in a small town in New Mexico for more than $87,000. The jeans -- found in an abandoned mine by a "denim archaeologist" -- were bought by 23-year-old Kyle Hautner and Zip Stevenson, a veteran of the vintage denim market.

Many fashion trends contain baggy clothes with baggy jeans. They say it feels more comfortable and looks better. People also say wearing baggy clothes makes them feel less insecure about their bodies due to the fact it doesn't present your body structure as much as skinny jeans would.”

Single stitching on the coin pocket and extra stitching on back pockets can round a pair of jeans off to within a year or two. If there are numbers or letters on the inside of the top fly button, look them up—they correspond to mills or factories, which helps date the pant.

Reduce shrinkage using cold water

Adjusting your laundry habits can help limit or prevent shrinkage that is otherwise considered normal. Select a lower wash temperature. Washing in hot water can increase fabric shrinkage, so switch to cold water to help preserve fabric length.

Jeans can typically be worn 3 times before washing. Leggings and tights should be washed after every wear to get rid of the baggy knees. Suits typically can be worn several times during normal use before dry cleaning (3-4 times for wool and 4-5 times for synthetics).

Jeans always shrink the first time they are washed but won't shrink significantly after the first wash. While they shrink a little after washing, they will then stretch out again as you wear them.

First, to get technical, that tightening phenomenon is called "consolidation shrinkage." Think of denim fibers as a long chain. When fabric is agitated during the wash and heat cycles, it causes fibers to break their bonds so the cloth gets smaller.

Jeans only shrink if they are washed in hot water, which means you can choose to shrink your jeans or not. Wash your jeans in hot water to shrink them, and washing them in cold water to not shrink them.

For a thorough and effective washing routine, it is important to turn your jeans inside out before putting them in the washing machine. This simple action can help protect against potential damage caused by fasteners snagging on other pieces of clothing or the jeans themselves.