Jeans are an essential garment that every man and woman should own. Regardless of your personal style and fashion preference, there’s no better choice of pants than jeans. They can be worn for casual and semi-formal occasions alike, offering an unmatched level of versatility. However, you can improve the versatility of jeans even further by using the following hacks.
Stretch Out Jeans with a Hair Dryer
Denim retains its shape and integrity more so than other fabrics, which is one of the reasons why it’s the perfect material for use in the construction of jeans and pants. However, it’s not uncommon for certain types of jeans, such as skinny and straight-leg, to become loose after being washed in the washing machine. Before you go tossing your now-oversized skinny jeans in the trash, though, you should first try to stretch them back out using a hair dryer. Simply place the hair dryer up against the surface of your jeans, making slow and steady passes on the medium-heat setting. Going back to the basics of high school physics 101, heat causes things to expand; therefore, it will make your jeans expand and stretch out as well. Assuming all goes well, your jeans should fit a little better after receiving the hair dryer treatment.
Using Vinegar to Keep Jeans from Fading
Wouldn’t it be great if your jeans retained their bold colors for months or even years? Well, like all clothes and apparel items, jeans are susceptible to fading. This isn’t something that happens overnight, rather it usually takes a dozen or so washes before this phenomenon occurs. But when jeans do fade, they typically lose their luster, making them less than desirable for many men and women. One hack that can protect your jeans from fading is to turn them inside out when washing. If you really want to protect your jeans from fading, however, you should try washing them with vinegar. Simply pour 1/2 cup of distilled white vinegar in the washing machine and let it works its magic. The vinegar will protect denim from fading, preserving the original color of your jeans.
Make Jeans Softer
Want to know the secret to making denim jeans softer? It’s actually easier than you may realize: wear them. The more you wear jeans, the softer they become; it’s just that simple. According to some denim experts, washing also helps to break down the denim fabric, further enhancing their softness. This can be good or bad, however. Washing your jeans too frequently may break down the denim fabric to the point where it becomes damaged. But if you wash them just enough, you’ll make them softer while still protecting them from wear and tear. The trick is to find the happy medium that results in soft, yet not damaged, jeans.
Protect Distressed Denim from Fraying
Distressed denim has become a popular choice of jeans for many men and women. Characterized by areas of worn fabric, which is often discolored as well, they possess a unique appearance that’s simply not available in other styles of jeans. But many people dislike distressed denim jeans because of their susceptibility to fraying. If the knees are worn, for instance, there’s a greater chance of the fabric here becoming frayed. So, how to you prevent this from happening with your distressed denim jeans? Basically, you want to iron a patch on to the backside of jeans at the seams. This patch reinforces the seams, protecting them from fraying. It’s not a fool-proof means to prevent fraying, but it will certainly reduce the chance of it happening. And for the price, this is an inexpensive way to safeguard your distressed denim jeans from fraying.
Turn Jeans Indigo Color
There’s no denying the fact that indigo is one of the most popular colors for denim jeans. The dark blue color possesses a unique style that’s perfect for semi-casual/formal wear. While you can always purchase jeans in this color, another idea is to dye your existing jeans using indigo dye. Most grocery stores and general goods retail stores sell dye that can be used for this purpose. For indigo, though, it’s recommended that you use 2 bottles of blue dye and 1 bottle of black dye. Follow the instructions by dyeing your jeans in either the bathtub or washing machine and you’ll be well on your way to making them indigo-colored.
Keep in mind that it’s best to wash newly dyed jeans by themselves to protect your other clothes and garments from bleeding colors. While most of the dye will seep into the fabric, some may linger on the surface, which can bleed into other clothes and garments if washed together. So, separate your clothes before washing, washing your newly dyed jeans in a separate load.
Order Custom-Made
It’s frustrating when you buy a new pair of jeans in your correct size, only to realize later that they don’t fit. Just because you wear a 32×32 in one brand doesn’t necessarily mean that you’ll wear a 32×32 in a different brand. Companies size their jeans, as well as garments, differently according to their target demographic. This leads to confusion among shoppers when trying to find their correct size. The good news is that you can eliminate the otherwise confusing and tedious process of trying to find the perfect pair of jeans by ordering custom-made. Here at MakeYourOwnJeans, you can specify your exact waist and length measurements, ensuring you receive the perfect fit. This is in stark contrast to most retail and department stores, which sell “off-the-rack” jeans that are pre-made in a particular size. Unless you’re willing to take the chance of buying a pair of jeans that don’t fit, it’s recommended that you custom order yours from the denim experts here at MakeYourOwnJeans.
These are just a few fun hacks for denim jeans. Don’t be afraid to experiment with other ideas that aren’t listed here. Because after all, you never know if something works unless you try it for yourself. So, what kind of hacks do you use on your denim jeans?
