How to Keep Jeans from Bleeding and Fading

Backstory (Skip if you don't care): One time I was on a business trip in Atlanta, Georgia. I had just bought my first pair of Paige Jeans and was so excited to show them off on a night out. I quickly noticed my dream jeans dyed my hands blue just from touching them. I had a very important meeting with a prominent publicist the next morning, it was stressful. I told my friend what had happen and she introduced me to setting denim jean color with water and vinegar.

Step 1 - Fill Sink or Bucket with COLD Water

Whenever you "wash" jeans it should always be in COLD water. Hot water will make the color of your jeans fade and decrease the overall quality. 

Step 2 - Pour 1 Cup of Distilled White Vinegar into Cold Water

Yep, pour one cup of distilled white vinegar into your cold bath. Turn your pair of jeans inside out and put them in the mixture for 1-8 hours.  ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS turn your pair of jeans inside out whenever you are washing them. With my OCD and uncertainty, I flipped them in the middle of our experiment to make sure both sides were treated. 

The picture shows the jeans aren't submerged but they were throughout the experiment. Our experiment was done with two pairs of jeans.

Why vinegar? Vinegar "locks" the Indigo dye into place. My chemical engineer husband tried to explain it to me...he said the indigo dye isn't soluble in water unless it is acidic. When you put acid (vinegar) in the water it removes the excess dye that would stain your legs, undergarments and hands.

Kinda nervous? Weak acid would take years to damage your jeans. Acid washed jeans are done with something entirely different. Straight up acid. Don't worry about the light green color that may show up in your water. It's only the excess acid that would naturally rub off on your couch.

Step 3 - Lay Flat to Dry

Never, ever, ever dry your jeans. Never. Buy a drying rack or hang them up as soon as they are done. I was worried my jeans would smell like vinegar, but once they dry they did not. Experts tell you not to wash your jeans with detergent to ensure a long lifetime. I'm guilty of doing this anyway because I like the smell. Google options and decide what's best for you. Rules of thumb: Turn your jeans inside out, wash with like colors and don't dry them.

Alternate Methods

1. Throw your jeans in the washer on cold, low spin. When the washer has filled up with water add one cup of distilled white vinegar. Lay flat to dry.

2. Disclaimer: I've never done this. Put your jeans in the freezer. It supposedly kills most of the bacteria including odor...I want to try sometime. 

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