All clothes are susceptible to bleeding, and jeans are no exception. Even if you buy a pair of dark indigo-colored denim jeans, for instance, they may gradually fade to a lighter color. This typically doesn’t happen after just a single wash, but rather it takes dozens of wash-and-dry cycles before any visible fading occurs. The good news is that you don’t have to stop washing your jeans. There are ways to wash and dry your jeans and other denim garments while protecting the respective colors from bleeding.
Choose Premium Jeans
You may notice that cheap, low-quality jeans are more susceptible to bleeding color than their higher quality counterparts. This can be attributed to one or more factors, including watered-down dye, improper dyeing technique or low-quality denim. So, if you’re worried about your jeans bleeding color, consider investing in a pair of premium, high-quality jeans, such as those offered here at MakeYourOwnJeans. Being that are our jeans are made using only the very best materials and craftsmanship, you can rest assured knowing they are less likely to bleed and fade than lower quality jeans.
Line-Dry in Shaded Area
While using a clothes dryer is typically the easiest and fastest way to dry your jeans, it can also increase the risk of bleeding colors. Again, this usually isn’t a problem with premium jeans, but it’s still something that you should be aware of. When jeans bounce around inside of a dryer, it can knock loose the dye, causing them to bleed. Therefore, it’s recommended that you line-dry your jeans to protect them from this phenomenon.
Don’t just choose anywhere to line-dry your jeans. though. Instead, make sure it’s in a shaded location that’s not directed exposed to the sun. The sun’s powerful ultraviolet (UV) rays can penetrate through the denim material, causing them to bleach and fade.
Wash with Cold Water
In addition to line-drying your jeans, you can also protect against bleeding colors by washing them with cold water. Most washing machines allow you to adjust the temperature of the water. While warm water is typically more effective at removing stubborn stains, it also promotes bleeding colors. This is why most experts recommend washing your jeans on the cold water setting. Of course, this is only an issue if you are worried about your jeans bleeding and fading. Some people actually prefer the look of faded jeans, in which case there’s really no benefit of washing them with cold water.
Turn Them Inside Out
Another tip that’s helpful for protecting your jeans from bleeding color is to turn them inside out when washing them. Doing so reduces force and friction on the outside, which is where the dye is located. The water will still penetrate through, cleaning your jeans while protecting the colors from bleeding. Of course, washing jeans inside out doesn’t offer the same level of cleaning power. Nonetheless, as long as your jeans aren’t stained or otherwise particularly dirty, this should suffice.
Colorguard Detergent
The type of detergent you use can also affect whether or not your jeans bleed color onto other clothes. Some laundry detergent encounters bleeding, whereas others discourage it. Avoid using laundry detergents containing bleach or other strong stain-fighting chemicals. Instead, choose a colorguard detergent with ingredients to protect colors. Colorguard detergent is an excellent tool for protecting your jeans from bleeding color.
Spot Treat Stains
When possible, consider spot treating stains instead of washing your jeans. Some people assume that jeans must be washed every time they are worn, but this isn’t necessarily true. Levi CEO Charles Bergh recently said busted this myth by saying that jeans don’t need to be washed after each use. If you wash jeans every time you wear them, you’ll only degrade the fabric and shorten the garment’s overall lifespan. A better solution is to spot treat minor stains using a washcloth and color-safe laundry detergent.
Check the Tag
I know this probably sounds like common sense, but you should always check the tag on your jeans for more information on how to wash and care for them. Also known as the care label, it reveals specific instructions as per the manufacturer regarding washing, cleaning and maintaining the jeans. Being that different manufacturers use different fabrics and techniques to make their jeans, there’s no single universal method. Instead, different jeans require different approaches. And by checking the tag on your jeans, you’ll know the best way to care for them while protecting against bleeding colors.
Soak in Vinegar
A lesser known tactic that’s used to protect jeans and other garments from bleeding colors is a vinegar soak. Adding a cup of vinegar to your washing machine and placing your jeans inside helps to set the color while subsequently protecting against bleeding and fading. You can even wash your jeans with vinegar, though soaking them tends to offer the highest level of protection.
Help! My Jeans Have Already Bled Their Color
If you discover your favorite pair of jeans have already bled their color, try not to panic. With a little bit of work, you can restore the color back to its original appearance. This involves dyeing your jeans with the appropriate color dyes, which you can usually buy for less than $5 bucks at most fabric and crafts stores. If you’re looking to restore the color of indigo jeans, for instance, use two blue dyes and one black dye. As per the manufacturer’s instructions, submerge the jeans in cold water, add the dye, and wait for it to set. After about 20 to 30 minutes, your jeans should be finished dyeing, in which case you can run them through the washing machine to remove any lingering dye.
Following these tips should protect your jeans from bleeding. Most importantly, though, remember to choose premium, high-quality jeans. You might save a couple bucks by purchasing low-quality jeans, but they’ll ultimately bleed, fade and wear down more quickly, forcing you to buy new jeans.
