Question on washing and breaking in?

[DJ_Flame]

Is it possible to continue breaking in a pair of raw denim after soaking them in ice-cold water (6 celsius) for 1 min to brush off stains, dirt etc?

I don't want the highly constrasted look of vintage jeans, but just the dark raw color with minimal whiskers on the thighs and knees.

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[Tarmac]

wash=fuzzy

know this.

[ringring]

wash=nothing to fear.

Know this.

You'll be fine. Don't worry too much about it.

[ringring]

Basically the thing to remember is that indigo is insoluble in water, so a minute's soak in cold water isn't going to remove any dye worth worrying about.

You'll lose indigo during washing due to abrasion (scrubbing) and certain chemicals. (bleaches & enzymes. Phosphates will make your jeans appear lighter too).

[ringring]

Yeah Dr Bonner's is fine. It's just a castille soap. Any simple soap, animal or vegetable will do. Just avoid any detergents with enzymes, bleaching agents and phosphates. (if you're being denimnerdy).

Extra nerdy people could try a specialist denim detergent. There are several available, like Sugarcane's 2 step detergent.

The greycast's may have turned a shade darker due to oxidation (if you leave a pair of jeans hanging, out of the sunlight, it will gradually darken), and shrinkage. Not caused by the cold, just the relaxing of the yarns after soaking in water.

[LA Guy]

Quote:

wash=fuzzy

know this.

--- Original message by Tarmac on Apr 7, 2006 11:59 PM

Depends on the quality of the denim. This happens only after many, many washes for good denim made from long, well combed yarns. Even then,

www.styleforum.net

[Geowu]

what's the effect of direct sun exposure in the color?

[Dangydang]

I'm looking at the Dr. Bronner's site and all I see is soap that appears to be body soap. Would something like this be okay?

http://www.drbronner.com/store/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=OLLA32EA&Category_Code=LAV&Store_Code=DBMS

[denimdestroyedmylife]

bronners is EVERYTHING soap

[TB]

It's hippie soap.

But good hippie soap.

[spitzbrg]

Full Count also makes a good detergent..

http://item.rakuten.co.jp/bears/fullcount-6318/

[TragicBliss]

I wish I could get this stuff easily in the States. I wonder what makes it "Denim Detergent" anyway?

http://www.tragicbliss.com

[ringring]

It's just a simple vegetable detergent, probably a palm oil soap. PH neutral, no enzymes, bleaches or phosphates. Low foaming - so requires less rinsing.

Bronner's will do a similar job.

There's also J-Washer detergent that's aimed at the denim lover. I heard that Sugarcane's 2 step wash claims to have some kind of indigo fixative in the second part of the sachet. I've got some, but not tried it out yet.

BTW - sunlight will bleach indigo. Although as natural dyes go (synthetic indigo being identical chemically to natural indigo), it's well known for it's colour fastness. If you see old garments, tapestries, carpets etc that have been dyed using all natural dyestuffs - it's usually the indigo that's kept it's colour long after the others have faded away.

[haptronic]

Quote: I heard that Sugarcane's 2 step wash claims to have some kind of indigo fixative in the second part of the sachet. I've got some, but not tried it out yet.

i used the sugercane, 2 step for the first wash of my apc cure, they have had 3 washes since then in a simple kawakawa [native NZ plant] soap, and remain fairly dark [in the low lights], don't know how much it has to do with the sugarcane fixitive.

[tweeds]

on a related note, what about alternatives to febreeze? i reckon i need some sort of spray like that and i'm not sure febreeze is available here.

[horriblyjollyjinx]

Quote:

Quote: I heard that Sugarcane's 2 step wash claims to have some kind of indigo fixative in the second part of the sachet. I've got some, but not tried it out yet.

i used the sugercane, 2 step for the first wash of my apc cure, they have had 3 washes since then in a simple kawakawa [native NZ plant] soap, and remain fairly dark [in the low lights], don't know how much it has to do with the sugarcane fixitive.

--- Original message by haptronic on Apr 9, 2006 02:07 AM

yeah, thats the catch - you dont know if it actually makes any difference until you've worn 2 pairs of the exact same jeans for the same amount of time and then washed them the exact same way, bar the special detergent for one pair.

våran panel tycker att man ska koka pastan i två år

[sneakeraddict]

everyone wants to get 'authentic wear'....

Pretty sure coal miners / farm workers in the 1900s would have just washed them as with whatever detergent was to hand?

[ringring]

Quote:

everyone wants to get 'authentic wear'....

Pretty sure coal miners / farm workers in the 1900s would have just washed them as with whatever detergent was to hand?

--- Original message by sneakeraddict on Apr 9, 2006 03:37 AM

ie. a simple soap. More than likely tallow derived.

Modern laundry detergents have all sorts of additives; enzymes, optical whiteners (phosphates), bleaching agents, softeners, foaming agents....

[LIVENUDEGIRLS]

how effective is hand washing/soaking for actually cleaning the jeans. As much as I've tried to break in raw denim my germophobeness always overcomes my denimnerdness and I end up washing after a relatively short period of time. Will I lose any less dye by handwashing versus washing inside out on the gentle cycle?

honey, you're my religion

Even though you haven't yet expanded

To include a heaven after

Even though I have demanded it

[ringring]

I reckon handwashing is extremely effective at cleaning jeans. It just depends how good you are at it

The advantage of handwashing is that is gives you far better control than simply sticking it into a machine. You can work specifically on the most soiled areas, see the results, control the amount of agitation, rinse etc.

If you are being super-delicate about your jeans, you can just soak them repeatedly in lukewarm soapy water - much like you'd clean a handmade quilt. Then rinse. No scrubbing involved.

However, I don't think putting your jeans in a machine will necessarily be worse. Particularly as modern machines have quite sophisticated 'handwash' cycles these days.

I agree with you though, hygiene should come first. Jeans are workwear anyway. A good wash is nothing to fear.

[sfiction]

Quote:

on a related note, what about alternatives to febreeze? i reckon i need some sort of spray like that and i'm not sure febreeze is available here.

--- Original message by tweedlesinpink on Apr 9, 2006 02:09 AM

tweedles, you from singapore right? yeah we do have febreeze here... i've been using it on my dry denim for a while now. you can get them at most cold storage outlets.

[ringring]

Quote:

okay, i just spoke to someone at history preservation in the hopes of procuring a few packets of their fabled 2-step denim detergent. HOWEVER, he flatly informed me that the detergent is only available with a purchase of their dungarees.

is there another way to get sugar cane detergent? anyone have any extra?

if not, is anyone placing an order with his/pres soon that wouldn't mind me piggybacking an order of said detergent?

i'm fighting off the dark clouds but the outlook is bleak.

i hereby invoke the holy ringring oracle.

--- Original message by denimdestroyedmylife on Apr 10, 2006 10:16 AM

Well, if you're gonna invoke....I'll send you a couple. PM me your address. It may take awhile as I'm on the hoof for a bit.

*I don't work for Sugarcane

[mizanation]

Quote:

Quote:

okay, i just spoke to someone at history preservation in the hopes of procuring a few packets of their fabled 2-step denim detergent. HOWEVER, he flatly informed me that the detergent is only available with a purchase of their dungarees.

is there another way to get sugar cane detergent? anyone have any extra?

if not, is anyone placing an order with his/pres soon that wouldn't mind me piggybacking an order of said detergent?

i'm fighting off the dark clouds but the outlook is bleak.

i hereby invoke the holy ringring oracle.

--- Original message by denimdestroyedmylife on Apr 10, 2006 10:16 AM

Well, if you're gonna invoke....I'll send you a couple. PM me your address. It may take awhile as I'm on the hoof for a bit.

*I don't work for Sugarcane

--- Original message by ringring on Apr 25, 2006 09:58 PM

ringring, it's good to see you on the forums, man. don't be a stranger.

[ringring]

Don't mention it. Let me know how you get on.

Miz - thanks. Been busy as a bee that's all.

[homi29]

dope thread, i learned so much

but then i wondered why do i have to know so much about denim anyway... its unhealthy lol

[phr]

everyone wants to get 'authentic wear'....

Pretty sure coal miners / farm workers in the 1900s would have just washed them as with whatever detergent was to hand?

exactly. most times i feel all this talk of altering your jeans to make them look worn in is fun but also very silly. I dont know what any of you do for a living but working construction make 501's look and feel very nice. And to you guys paying crazy dough for a pair of pants I still cant fathom it.

[snugglepony]

sal suds is marketed as a hard surface cleaner... plain bronners soap is milder and will work just fine.

[ironskulls]

Dumb question here:

When you're actually hand-washing your jeans (i.e. not just soaking them in soapy or non-soapy water) what do you use to scrub them? Your hands? A Sponge? Something else?

[cielo]

Dumb question here:

When you're actually hand-washing your jeans (i.e. not just soaking them in soapy or non-soapy water) what do you use to scrub them? Your hands? A Sponge? Something else?

Whenever I handwash, in addition to my hands, I rub the garment against itself (i.e. fold it over and rub). I did this with my jeans, but some probably avoid this to due to indigo loss.

[cheapmuthafukr]

i soak the jeans in water and dr bronners, and squeeze the water thru the jeans. let them soak for about 30 min, then change the water and rinse them. if there are really dirty areas i will rub the fabric against itself, but usually its not needed.