How Many Times Can You Wear Jeans Before Washing Them?

How Many Times Can You Wear Jeans Before Washing Them?

Some clothing items clearly need a wash after every wear (think underwear and gym gear), but others spark endless debate. At the top of that list? Denim jeans. We all love a great pair of jeans, but no one seems to agree on how often they should—or shouldn’t—hit the wash cycle.

The truth is, washing your denim less often—and doing it the right way—helps preserve color, shape, and softness. Lindsey Boyd, cofounder of The Laundress, recommends turning jeans inside out and washing them in cold water with a high-quality detergent to prevent fading and stiffness.

So, do jeans really get better with age, like a fine wine? And if so, how long can you go between washes? We asked cleaning pros, laundry experts, and fashion stylists for their best denim-care advice. Here’s what they had to say.

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 washes, 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 house cleaner, 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 it 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.