Denim is an incredibly versatile clothing item you can wear all year round. It goes with any color; you can wear different fashion tops with it, and best of all–it comes in different styles!
If you love denim, whether it takes the form of a maxi skirt, shorts, a denim jacket, or jeans, one common question is: how do I make my denim last longer?
To keep your denim finds around longer than a bouquet lasts, there are a few things you need to know before they hit the very first wash. With denim items like skirts being the most sought-after, especially maxi and tiered skirts, it’s a great time to learn how to protect their longevity.
If you’re here, that means you’ve already experienced the quality of your denim fade as time went by. However, there’s always a little trick to maintaining anything, especially your denim clothing.
So before you make your purchase on some must-have trends, here are 3 tips to keep in mind.
Preserving the Quality
Denim clothing is generally among the most expensive items, depending on where you choose to purchase it. As with most things in life, we love to get our money's worth from what we buy, so it’s only natural to learn how best to look after something we spend a lot of money on.
The very first denim hack is to wash it sparingly. The more you expose it to rigorous machine cycles, the more your item's quality will deteriorate.
Generally, jeans can be worn at least five to ten times before it requires a wash. Unless, of course, there is an odour in the jeans or if there’s an unmissable mark on your item.
Maintaining The Color
To maintain the colour of your denim, soak it in cold water with a cup of white vinegar to lock in the colour and prevent bleeding when it’s time to freshen it up.
Why vinegar?
For best results, turn your denim item inside out so that the outside of your denim can maintain its fresh look. The acetic acid in vinegar helps to stabilize the fabric dye, giving your clothing an opportunity to keep it as new as possible.
The Ideal Soak Time
In order for the process to take full effect, it is recommended that you soak your item for about 30 to 60 minutes.
Ditch The Fabric Softener
We all love having our clothes smell great, and there’s nothing wrong with that. However, there is a small price to pay when we use fabric softeners. It sounds silly, but here’s the real deal.
Fabric softeners generally contain chemicals that lessen the lifespan of denim clothing in particular. If you want your denim to last a long while, it may be time to let go of the fabric softeners.
So, now that you know the secrets to keeping your favorite denim around, put it into action and make sure you tell a friend! Remember, small stains can be addressed with a damp cloth instead of exposing your denim to constant washing.