How Long Can You Go Without Washing Jeans? 

Jeans are comfortable, everyday clothing items that nearly everyone can find in their closet. These common clothing items have been around since the 1800s and can be found in most retail stores today. But, how long can you go without washing jeans?

Since they were created to be durable and long-lasting, they don’t have to be washed as often as other clothes. However, this has left people wondering if they need to be cleaned at all, and how long they can go between washings.

How long can you go without washing jeans?

Most clothes are considered dirty after one day of wearing them, but jeans aren’t the same. However, you can’t just completely keep from washing them.

Jeans can actually go several months between washes, as long as they are properly taken care of. When it comes down to how long you can go without washing jeans, that depends on you.

Some studies have found that jeans can last for 15 months before being considered dirty. In general, most people wear jeans 3-10 times before washing them.

When to clean your jeans

People have different preferences for cleaning their jeans. Some people may clean them after each wear, and some just don’t wash them at all. However, both these ends of the spectrum aren’t technically right.

A majority of people wash their jeans after wearing them 3+ times. Over 20% will wear their jeans five times or more before tossing them in the washer, according to a 2015 Mashable report.

A study conducted by the University of Alabama found the bacteria found on work jeans didn’t differ between 13 days and fifteen months. This means they pretty much didn’t get any dirtier for over a year.

The general consensus is that odor plays a big role when you wash your jeans. Once they start to smell, you should definitely throw them into the wash. Many people will wear their jeans between 3 and 10 times before cleaning them.

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Washing your jeans to make them last

The less that you wash your jeans the longer they will last, but you do have to wash them eventually. When you clean them, doing so the right way will go a long way in making them last.

You can certainly do so in a washing machine, but hand washing is considered the best option. It’s the most gentle way to clean your jeans and shouldn’t take longer than 30 minutes. You can hand wash them in an old-fashioned tub with a soft bristle brush, and hang dry them for the best results.

Using a washing machine is certainly a great way to wash your jeans as long as you keep a few things in mind. Make sure to always use cold water and gentle or delicate settings on your machine.

You should wash new jeans alone the first time, and always turn them inside out. They can be thrown in with dark clothing after the first wash. Just like with hand washing, hang drying is always recommended.

When you follow these washing methods, your jeans can last anywhere from five to ten years or longer.

1. How to dry your jeans

Drying your jeans is just as important as washing methods if you want to take good care of your jeans, and make sure they last for a while. Since most jeans are made of cotton fibers, it is recommended to always hang-dry them. Using heat can wear down your jeans, making them less durable.

However, certain jeans made with high-stretch are often made of fibers that can withstand low-heat settings. High-stretch jeans actually benefit from being dried with heat, so they can retain their shape.

2. How to care for jeans

Since you won’t be washing and drying your jeans too often, there are a number of other ways you should be taking care of them. This will ensure your jeans last as long as possible. There are also a few methods you can use in place of washing them.

These include:

• Hang them out in the sun, inside out. The rays from the sun are effective at killing bacteria, with natural air circulation can help with any odor. If you don’t turn them inside out, they could end up bleached.
• Steam them. A fabric steamer can freshen up your jeans in place of washing them. Another option is to hang them nearby in the bathroom while you shower.
• Put them in your freezer. Freezing jeans is an age-old method of keeping jeans fresh, though it’s proven to be less effective than other strategies. However, doing so once or twice can certainly help you extend times between washes.

3. How to make jeans last

If you want to make sure your jeans last, you just have to follow a few tips.

• Always use cold water to wash them.
• Hang them outside to dry, inside out.
• Only wash them every 3 to 10 wears.
• Use a very small amount of gentle detergent.
• Never dry them on high-heat settings.

These methods and tricks are the easiest ways to get the most from your jeans.