It’s no secret that machine washing can take a toll on denim, wearing down the fabric while fading its color in the process. This typically doesn’t happen after a single wash, but rather months or years of machine washing your jeans will eventually affect its appearance. This has prompted many people to seek alternative methods for washing their jeans, including freezing them.
So, does freezing really kill germs and make denim clean? The belief behind this idea is that extreme cold temperatures will destroy bacteria and other potentially harmful germs lingering on the surface of the jeans. But going back to the basics of high-school biology, freezing typically only disables germs for a short period of time. When they “thaw” and warm, the germs are active once again; thus, rendering this method virtually useless.
As noted by CNN, jean freezing has become a craze in recent years, with many people publishing their own video tutorials on YouTube.
“Jean freezing has become quite the craze in the past few years. It even comes with its own video tutorials and folding techniques posted online by bloggers around the country,” wrote CNN in an article about this new phenomenon.
Rather than freezing your jeans, a more effective solution is to bake them in the oven at 250 degrees Fahrenheit. Science has debunked the theory that freezing jeans will kill odor-causing germs. However, studies have shown that baking jeans at 250 degrees Fahrenheit or higher will kill these germs. With that said, you should use caution anytime you bake fabric, as setting the heat too high could spark a fire.
Ultimately, the safest way to clean a pair of dirty jeans is to wash them in the washing machine. Yes, doing so may degrade the fabric over time, but there are several steps you can to preserve the integrity of your jeans, one of which is to turn them inside out before washing them. Doing so will protect the exterior of your jeans, which is the part that most people see when you wear them. You can preserve your jeans and protect them from damage by washing them in cold water instead of hot water. Some people assume that hot water is more effective at washing away stains and dirt, but in reality cold water is just as effective. Furthermore, cold water is gentler on fabric, reducing the risk of damage and color fading.
