Washing jeans: a guide

My kingdom for a pair of jeans! Yep, we'd do a lot for our favourite jeans. So it only makes sense to wash them the right way. Wash better, enjoy longer...

The rule for washing your jeans is simple: as little and as gently as possible! A few tips for fresh jeans:

Before washing:

- Turn your jeans inside out before putting them in the washing machine.
- Give your jeans some room. No more than 3 per load to avoid streaks.
- Empty the pockets. :-)

In the wash:

- Wash at 30°C. Cold water shocks your jeans just as much as hot water.
- A denim or wool programme is the way to go.
- Fabric softener breaks down the fibres faster, so it's best to skip it.

After washing:

- Dry your jeans on a rack or a washing line, not in the tumble dryer.
- Give them a good shake, smooth them flat by hand and hang them up. That's all it takes. Best not to use an iron.
- Put them back on as soon as possible. :-)