It’s frustrating when you purchase a new pair of dark, indigo-colored jeans, only to discover they’ve faded just several weeks later. Like all fabrics, denim will naturally fade over time. The compounds it contains that give it color will wash out or dry out; thus, causing the jeans to fade. While some fading is to be expected, there are ways to preserve the original color of your jeans.
Wash With Similar Colors
I know this probably sounds like common sense, but it’s still worth mentioning that you should only wash your jeans with garments of similar color. Washing a pair of blue jeans with a bunch of whites, for instance, may encourage fading. Furthermore, the blue coloring of your jeans could bleed onto the whites, making them discolored as well. Try to get into the habit of separating your laundry, washing loads based on their color. This alone will go a long ways in preserving the color of your jeans.
Turn ‘Em Inside Out
Another helpful tip to protect your denim jeans from fading is turn them inside out when washing them. How does this help? Well, the colored fabric in denim is found on the outside, so by turning them inside out you’ll protect this area from the wear and tear of a washing machine. It only takes a minute or to so turn your jeans inside out, but doing so can mean the difference between preserving their original color or having them fade into a lighter tone.
Line-Dry
Using the clothes dryer to dry your jeans might be faster, but it can also wear down the fabric while speeding up the fading process. If you are trying to preserve the original color of your jeans, try line-drying them instead. Hanging your jeans out to dry on a clothes line will prevent discoloration and fading while also protecting them from damage caused by clothes dryers.
Use Color-Guard Detergent
You might be surprised to learn that there are laundry detergents designed specifically for preserving colors. Known as “color-guard” detergent, it contains certain ingredients that protect garments from fading. You can expect to pay a little more for this type of laundry detergent, but most people will agree that it’s well worth the investment, especially when used on premium denim jeans.
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