washing instructions for dry denim

[obsessis]

i'd like to get a thread with really good, detailed directions on washing jeans. i've seen plenty of directions that are kind of general. i'd like to know how long you soak, what you soak them in, how you get the soap out after you soak, etc....

i imagine i'd soak them inside out in my bathtub....what kind of soap do you use? when do you put the jeans in? how long do you soak in what temperature water? what else have you soaked them in?

when it is time to take them out do you pull them out or let the water drain? how do you wash the soap out that is left in the jeans? i've heard of people soaking for a bit in woolite dark and a bit of bleach and then 'rinsing them'. how exactly do you rinse them clean? what temp water? in what?

do you roll the jeans up to get excess water out? do you let them completely drip dry? do you let them drip then roll them up in towels? set them on top of towels? in between towels?

[Ted DiBiase]

i dont think theres any one set of rules to washing denim. i'm sure everyone does it differently.

when i am doing a STF cold soak, i fill astandard washing machine with cold water at the largest capacity setting (on mine its Extra Large). i leave the lid up so the wash cycle doesnt start right away obviously. no soap or anything is added, just submerge the jeans (turned inside-out). leave em in there for about 4-6 hours. after the time is up, i turn the dial on the washing machine manually so that it goes immediately into the spin cycle (bypass both the wash and rinse cycles). this will automatically wring out all the excess water. i let it spin around for about 5 min or so, maybe less. then abort the washing machine. i take out the jeans which are still very damp, but notdripping water. flip them back so they arent inside out and put them on. i do a few squats and crunches so that the waist stretches back out if the shrinkage was too tight, and set a few creases while the starch is re-activated. then i carefully take them off, not to disturb the newly made creases and hang them up outside to air dry.

when i am doing a 1st wash on a pair of Raw Denim, i set the washing machine at the highest capacity (Extra Large load), warm water, and Handwash/Delicate setting. then after the water fills up i add Woolite Black (less then the amount you would normally put in despite the XLarge washer setting). Drop the jeans in inside-out and close the lid. i don't let the jeans soak for an extended amount of time, instead i do an 'extra rinse' on the washer option. set it and forget it. after the wash is done, i take it out and do the same thing. put them on damp, set some wrinkles and line dry them outside.

*if the stench didnt fully come out in the wash (wow), i spray anti-microbial Febreeze all over the jeans while they are still wet and hang them (both inside and out).

[Paul T]

You don't need any soap on your first soak. All you're trying to do is shrink the jeans to their 'final' size (and some people don't even do this). Simply leave them in a cold bath for 1-8 hours - a longer soak will shrink them slightly more. You might want to wear them for 15 minutes before you hang them up to dry as this will help the creases form in natural places. best place for them to dry is on a line outside.

Thereafter, if you want a high contrast fade, try and keep washing to when it's absolutely unavoidable, or dry clean the first couple of times.

[obsessis]

the purpose of this isn't for soaking them, it is for a first wash.

i was talking about soaking them in the bathtub because i would like to wash them by hand and figure that to be the best place to do it.

i would like to know how people hand wash them.

[smapty]

if i get my jeans cleaned for the 1st time at the dry cleaners do i tell them not to press them and will having them dry cleaned affect their ability to shrink?

[Paul T]

Sorry, it was the emphasis on soaking that fooled me - if you're washing them then soaking won't do a whole lot - washing relies on stirring, or agitation, or rubbing, so a simply soak won't lift out a lot of dirt. I suggest you use a specialised hand-washing soap to scrub the grubby areas, like the bottom of the hems, inside, particalarly the pockets etc, then a mild non-bio powder and follow the instructions for handwashing.

RE dry cleaning, no it's won't affect the denim's ability to shrink and yes, you will have to make sure they don't press them.

[djmanc5]

i've got an aching question: how cold is a "cold soak"?

[denimdestroyedmylife]

makes no difference whatsoever. if it is less than luke-warm, it is cold enough.

[ishboo]

i've got an aching question: how cold is a "cold soak"?

put your jeans in a bucket full of water. put the bucket in your freezer.

[cheapmuthafukr]

to wash mine, i fill a bathtub with the hottest water that comes out of the tap, enough to cover the jeans. then i put some dr bronners liquid soap and the jeans in the water. ill then walk on them to push the water thru the fabric,and rub the jeans on themselves to get out any dirt and sweat deposits. then i take a shower and rinse the jeans when i rinse myself. lay them flat on a towel, and roll up to get excess water out, then hang to dry.

[moykky]

I just turn them inside out and wash them in a machine with other dark clothes in 40C. If I wanted to preserve the original color then I would have them dry cleaned or use some of the "techniques" above.

[denimdestroyedmylife]

i wash mine by tying a noose around my neck and sitting on a block of ice. put on the film "stroszeck" and wait.

[cheapmuthafukr]

i wash mine by tying a noose around my neck and sitting on a block of ice. put on the film "stroszeck" and wait.

you would... freak.

[greentea]

sounds like fun.