How to Wash Ripped Jeans

The average person owns seven pairs of jeans. How does your closet compare? If you're a denim lover, you might have more than that — and you probably have them in a variety of cuts, washes, and styles, too.

Perhaps you've got a pair of ripped jeans in your wardrobe. They're certainly trendy at the moment, but they may cause you to scratch your head when it's time to wash them.

You may find yourself wondering how to wash ripped jeans, anyway.

The truth is, you should do so with a bit more care than your regular pairs. Here's how to do so properly:

Machine Wash, If You Must

Your ripped jeans — whether they're light wash ripped jeans, dark blue ones, or even black slacks — shouldn't go in the washing machine. The automatic cycle can be a bit rough on them, opening up the fashionable slashes and shreds even further. This will ruin the look of your ripped jeans and shrink their lifespan.

However, time gets the best of all of us, and not everyone has the time to hand-wash their denim. So, you can use your washing machine, so long as you take a few precautionary steps to keep your jeans intact.

Start by investing in some sock clips or safety pins. Before you throw your jeans in the washing machine, use them to clip together both sides of the rips. Skipping this step is one of the biggest mistakes that people make when washing jeans.

Alternatively, you can invest in a mesh laundry bag, like the kind you use to wash lingerie and throw your ripped jeans in there. This will protect them during the wash, too.

Then, be sure to set the machine to the right temperature and cycle. A delicate cycle — complete with cold water — will best protect your denim. Then, lay your jeans to air dry so they don't tear in the dryer, either.

Hand-Washing is How to Wash Ripped Jeans Best

Grab a laundry basin or other empty plastic container you have laying around. You might also fill an extra-large sink with cold water, too. Then, squirt in some simple laundry detergent and swirl it around with your hand.

Next, you'll place your jeans into the water and swirl them around to make sure they get plenty of detergent on them. Scrub away any stains or debris on your jeans as well. Then, leave them to soak for a half-hour to 45 minutes.

Your final step is rinsing out the soap, and this can be a long process. Dump out the soapy water, then pour cold, clean water over top and swish the jeans around to release the soap. Do this over and over again until you stop seeing bubbles in the water.

You'll squeeze the jeans to remove any excess water, then lay them out to dry. That's the gentlest way to wash your ripped jeans.

Love Your Jeans, No Matter What

You love wearing denim, and that's why you want to know how to wash ripped jeans. You want your favorite pairs to last as long as possible. These tips will help you do just that.

Of course, if you ever need to add new denim styles to your wardrobe, we've got you covered. Click here to see all of our denim — jeans included.