How Often Should You Wash Your Jeans? Experts Weigh In

Some articles of clothing obviously need a good wash after one use (say, underwear and workout clothes), but others not so much. Not surprisingly, denim jeans are probably at the top of the laundry schedule debate. Most of us love a good pair of jeans, but we can never seem to agree as to how often you should—or shouldn't—wash them.

Simply put, spreading out your denim washes—and cleaning them properly—will keep jeans looking newer longer. Lindsey Boyd, cofounder of The Laundress recommends turning them inside out and washing them in cold water with a high-quality detergent to prevent fading and stiffness.

So, is it true that like fine wine, jeans improve with age? And if so, how often do you really need to wash them? We spoke with cleaning connoisseurs, laundry experts, and fashion stylists to get the lowdown on denim care. Read on for their expert advice.

How Often to Wash Jeans

How often you wash jeans can depend on several factors such as how frequently you wear them (daily versus a few times a month) or where you wear them (will they be covered in dirt or smell like food?).

"Denim is a thick fabric (unlike your average T-shirt) so you can get away with more wears between washes. We recommend washing after 10 or so wears—or whenever jeans smell stale or unpleasant. In between wears, remove odors and add a clean laundry scent to jeans with a fabric freshener," says Gwen Whiting, co-founder of The Laundress.

"If you're trying to preserve the appearance of denim, you should only wash jeans—and I know this sounds gross—when they start to smell," adds Lana Blanc, personal fashion stylist in New York City. "The fact is that microbes found on jeans after you wear them (skin cells, natural oils, etc.) are harmless, making frequent washing unnecessary."

Gladys K. Connelly a home organization blogger and former professional housecleaner says, "You should wash jeans every six weeks." Connelly also recommends knowing your body and its scent. "If your body chemistry makes your jeans stink after two days, fold them up and put them in the freezer overnight," she says of the method used to give jeans a quick refresh.

Is It Bad to Wash Your Jeans Too Often?

According to Nicole Russo, private stylist and founder of NYC-based Let's Get You, the less you wash jeans, the better. "When you wash your denim, you're putting it through a beating, and each cycle breaks down the fabric," she says.

Frequent washing can also ruin the type of denim, as they will look more worn with each wash. Additionally, fabric content determines how the jeans have to be washed, so pay attention to the care tag. "The number of times you wash denim depends on the type of denim it is," says Venk Modur, celebrity fashion stylist in Los Angeles. Modur lists the different types of denim below:

• Classic denim: For classic denim, including stonewashed or acid-washed, Modur recommends washing with cold water and air-drying after approximately five wears.
• Blended denim: Since these jeans are generally mixed with Spandex, Lycra, or poly-cotton fibers, Modur suggests washing them "as soon as they start to lose their shape."
• Raw denim and sanforized denim: "[This is] cloth that has been stretched, fixed and shrunk at the mill; it is dry clean only," says Modur. "I recommend three to four months of wear before the first dry clean."
  

Tips to Make Your Jeans Last Longer

There are several ways to preserve the life of outstanding jeans before tossing them in the wash:

• Wash as seldom as possible to preserve their shape, quality, and color: "This is especially true when it comes to dry denim, which gets its good looks and personality by wearing—not washing," says Rinske Fris, fashion stylist and founder of The Male Report. "Wash jeans only after 12 or so wears (turned inside out). This removes huddled bacteria, but brings the least harm to the fabric as possible."
• Remove stains and odors: In between washes, Fris recommends removing stains by spot cleaning with a warm, wet cloth. Unwanted odors can be removed by hanging your jeans outside to air," she says of removing smells naturally. You can also give jeans a spritz of Febreze to refresh them quickly.
• Don't wash in hot water: Heat destroys denim so never wash jeans—especially stretchy jeans—in hot water or put them in the dryer. "While you may think you're tightening them back to their skinny glory, what you're actually doing is destroying the fabrication and giving them an early grave. This is also why jeans lose their stretch and you get that sagging butt or need to pull them up constantly," says Russo.
  
• Store them properly: First and foremost, "let them breathe," says Emily Underhill, a clothing guide and personal stylist in New York City. "Instead of storing them rolled up or folded in an overpacked drawer, hang them by their belt loops in your closet. This opens up the jeans so they can air out."

The Bottom Line

If you want your jeans to stay good-looking and form-fitting, don't wash them very often. Do wash them if they're stained (say you spill red wine on them) or they smell. There's no hard-and-fast rule that says when to toss them in the laundry, because only you know how often they get truly dirty.