Tips for washing prewashed denim?

[sriracha hot sauce]

Any tips for prewashed denim? Hot, wash, cold water? Machine,Hand, Dry Clean? I just want to aviod losing the effects like whiskers, fading, etc when washing..Also, I want prevent them to shrink? Thanks a lot.

Edited by sriracha hot sauce on Aug 18, 2005 at 08:52 PM

[ringring]

I'd just stick them in the washing machine inside out on a warm wash, but then I rarely try and maintain a 'factory fresh' look to pre-washed jeans.

If you're really concerned with preserving the colours, then cold-to-tepid soak, inside out, using a PH neutral pure vegetable soap (no enzymes, no phosphates) - just like how you'd wash your drys.

Dry clean is OK, unless you have real leather patches.

[sriracha hot sauce]

Thanks...Anyone else? Any tips to prevent the denim to shrink at all?

Edited by sriracha hot sauce on Aug 18, 2005 at 08:53 PM

[tangerine]

I turn mine inside out, button the top button and machine wash cold. I use regular laundry detergent. Then hang dry, still inside out.

I have never noticed any shrinkage. Some washes are not very colorfast so ringring's advice on the non-enzyme detergent might be worth your while.

[russellh]

I think I just recently heard this on the board are somewhere... Put the denim in a freezer right side out (not on insides) and leave in there for about 30-40 minutes. You dont need soap or any special cleaner, just denim in the freezer. From what hear (heard) the cold air stimulates the denim and is known to take the smell away.

Another way to keep the denim in shape is giving it the classic hand-wash. I do this myself, with cold water (just cold water) inside out. It takes time, but is well worth the results.