Our site uses cookies to give you the best experience. Manage your cookies here or continue shopping if you're happy.

Accept & close
Skip to main content
Basket

    Five common myths around washing your jeans

     Katy Roberts, AO's washing machine expert, debunks five common myths about washing your jeans.

    Finding that perfect pair of jeans — you know, the ones that fit just right — can be a long process. So, it’s important to know just how to care for your dearest denim to keep it in top condition. Unfortunately, there are some common misconceptions about what-to and what-not-to do when giving them a wash.

    Don’t fall for any fibs, we’ve fact-checked 5 often-believed myths when it comes to washing jeans.

    Myths

    You should never wash your jeans

    It’s a debate that’s raged on for years: should you wash your jeans? The answer is yes. But not as often as trousers, shirts, and tops. Washing less frequently helps to keep the colour and shape you love, but never washing them isn’t hygienic. You should wash jeans occasionally, especially if they start to smell or get noticeably dirty to get rid of any bacteria sticking around. 

    Freezing your jeans kills bacteria and removes odours

    Freezing jeans can stop them smelling temporarily, but what it won’t do is kill bacteria or do away with oils and grime. The best way is to wash them with water and detergent to do away with any nasty germs hanging around in your denim.

    Hand washing is gentler on jeans than machine washing

    It’s commonly believed that hand washing is kinder to your jeans — and it’s completely false. Most washing machines on the market have gentle cycles that are specially designed to care for denim. These programmes give jeans a much deeper clean than is possible by hand without causing any signs of wear and tear. 

    Using hot water helps shrink jeans to fit better

    While hot water can shrink cotton fibres, you’ll want to avoid this one as it’ll cause your jeans to fade and lose their shape. Pop your denims on a cold wash and when it comes to drying, try air drying them instead. This is a much better way to make that perfect fit and colour stick around for the long-haul.

    Adding vinegar to the wash keeps jeans dark and prevents fading

    Vinegar is sometimes praised as a miracle way to keep denim dark, but we wouldn’t recommend this method as it can weaken the jeans’ fabric, and they won’t last as long. Pick up a detergent specifically formulated for dark colours and wash your jeans inside out for way better results. So, that stylish black-on-black look won’t end up more “faded grey”.

    Shop all washing machine