Black jeans are a versatile item of clothing. They are worn to school, to work, and to meet friends. The dirt on them is hardly noticeable, but you still need to wash them periodically.
The main problem that faces the owner of black jeans is the washing out of their color.
In order to preserve the pigment inside the fibers of the fabric and not get a faded product after the first wash, you need to know some rules for caring for black things.
We will tell you in this article whether and how to properly wash black jeans in a washing machine and by hand so that they do not lose color.
Is it possible?
You can wash black jeans, but you shouldn't do it too often. The less often they come into contact with water, the better . This will preserve their original color and shape.
Denim fabric is made from cotton fibers. Initially, all pants are white. They are painted in production to give the desired color.
If the leaching of pigment from light jeans is unnoticeable, then faded black pants look pale.
To prevent the item from “aging” ahead of time, you need to wash it at low temperatures and as rarely as possible. Hand washing is considered more gentle than automatic processing .
The correct selection of the program and detergent is important. You shouldn't skimp on buying black jeans. From low-quality products, the pigment will leak into the water after the first wash.
At what temperature
Denim fabric is made up of cotton fibers. If you expose them to high temperatures, they will shrink. The hotter the water, the greater the degree of shrinkage .
At what degrees should jeans be washed? To avoid becoming the owner of small pants that have shrunk 1-2 sizes, you need to wash them at a temperature of 30-40 degrees. If you make it lower, you will not be able to get rid of stubborn dirt.
Also, you should not allow significant fluctuations in the temperature of the water when soaking. It must remain within the specified range.
Hand washing rules
To prevent black jeans from losing their color saturation, it is recommended to wash them by hand. This will allow you to control the process at every stage.
Step-by-step algorithm of actions:
Prepare the pants: remove all items from the pockets, shake them out, fasten the zippers and turn the item inside out.- Fill the bath with warm water (up to 30 degrees) and dissolve the detergent in it.
- Immerse the jeans in the prepared solution.
- If they are very dirty, they are soaked for 30-60 minutes.
- Rub existing stains with a soft sponge.
- Drain the dirty water and rinse the product under running water.
The pants are not wrung out after washing. When the water has drained, the product is shaken and hung out to dry. Read more about hand washing jeans here.
Black jeans and wash
Dark jeans are washed the least often, because the color quickly loses its saturation and brightness. For minor stains, the best option is to use a clothes brush and carefully remove the dirt.
You don't need to rub too hard to avoid leaving a light stain. At the beginning of the first wash, soak the pants in cold water with vinegar and salt to set the color. Use a detergent that preserves the brightness of the color or dry clean.
Denim items should be ironed slightly damp so that they do not shrink and soften. During one wash, load four pairs of trousers into the drum; wet denim ones become noticeably heavier.
How to put them in the washing machine correctly so that they do not lose color?
Machine washing involves more intensive processing of the product . Active friction of the item against the drum helps wash out the pigment.
If you turn on the spin cycle, your pants will wring. This will result in white streaks that will be difficult to get rid of.
To avoid color loss, you must strictly follow the suggested instructions:
- turn the pants inside out, after removing all items from the pockets;
place the product in a washing bag - this will reduce the friction force on the drum;- pour detergent into the washing machine compartment;
- turn on the selected washing mode by turning off the spin cycle;
- wait for the loop to complete;
- let the pants drain over the bathtub and hang them to dry.
You can load other things into the machine, but only if they are black. Even the most heavily dyed pants will fade, so white items will take on an “earthy” tint when washed together.
Optimal temperature
The recommended washing temperature for black jeans is 20-30 degrees. Under such conditions, the pigment is washed out in minimal quantities. Therefore, after drying, the pants will have a bright color.
If the item is heavily soiled, you can set the toggle switch to 40 degrees. This is a maximum threshold that should not be exceeded. Otherwise, the paint will transfer to water, and the pants themselves will shrink by 1-2 sizes.
Mode selection
You can wash black pants using one of the following modes:
Gentle or delicate wash . It involves processing in cool water at minimum speed.- Quick wash or Express 15 . Depending on the type of washing machine, the program name will differ. This treatment is applicable when you only need to refresh the item.
- "Jeans". Modern washing machines are equipped with a program for washing denim.
Before starting the wash cycle, you need to make sure that the spin is turned off and the water temperature does not exceed 30 degrees.
Suitable detergent
When choosing a detergent for washing black jeans, you need to pay attention to its composition. It should not contain bleaching components: chlorine, acids, alkalis or active oxygen. Such powders can only be used for washing white or light-colored items.
It is recommended to give preference to gel capsules or liquid concentrates. They dissolve well in cool water, effectively remove existing dirt and are quickly rinsed.
It is strictly forbidden to put hand washing powder into the washing machine compartment. It foams strongly, and its particles are retained in the fibers of the fabric.
There are detergents on sale intended for the care of black clothes, including:
- Gel Laska 3D black restoration effect. The cost of 2 liters of detergent is 220 rubles.
- Liquid Burti Noir . Its price is 470 rubles.
- Sarma Active gel for black clothes. The cost of the product is 160 rubles.
Such compositions prevent the washing out of the dye pigment and take care of the fabric, preventing lint from forming on it. Therefore, jeans retain their attractive appearance longer.
How to fix dye on jeans
There is an easy way to fix dye on jeans. This should be done immediately after purchase so as not to be damaged by staining.
To do this, the following manipulations are performed:
- In a basin, dissolve a tablespoon of table salt per 1 liter of water at room temperature. You need to take pure rock salt or “Extra” and dissolve it completely, without any residue, otherwise its crystals will leave whitish traces on the dark surface of the material.
- Buttoned jeans turned inside out are immersed in water for 30 minutes. Do not overexpose as this may affect the strength of the fabric in the future.
- Drain the water.
- Take out the jeans without wringing them out and let them drain.
- The water after soaking may be intensely colored, this should not frighten you, as this is a normal condition - excess paint comes out, which would stain your feet and underwear.
- Then the jeans should be washed with a small amount of mild detergent and a couple of spoons of salt on the basin.
- There is no need to rub or twist the fabric when washing.
- Rinse the product thoroughly until the soap is completely removed.
- During the last rinse, add 9% table vinegar to the water at the rate of 3 - 4 tablespoons. The water should be cool.
- After a couple of minutes, wring out the item, but do not twist it.
- Hang to dry flat.
Fixing with vinegar makes it possible to preserve the color of the fabric, avoid washing out the pigment and its uneven distribution. As a result, the jeans look like new for a long time and fit perfectly on the figure.
What things together?
You can wash black jeans with dark clothes. Pigment that gets into the water will not harm the products. However, you should not load more than 3 pairs of pants into the washing machine drum.
Many housewives are interested in whether it is possible to wash blue and black jeans together. Their simultaneous loading is possible, but only on the condition that the black fabric does not fade.
You can check this in the following way:
- wet a light cloth;
- apply it to black jeans, leave for 2-3 minutes;
- lightly go over the cloth with an iron.
If black stains remain on the white fabric, then washing the pants together is unacceptable. This simple test does not take much time, but allows you to avoid damage to the product. The risk that the fabric will fade is lower if the jeans are not new and have been washed many times.
This article will tell you about what things you can wash jeans with and what you shouldn’t wash them with.
Washing black and blue trousers
It is recommended to wash jeans separately from other items to avoid contamination of clothing. The exception is black items: they cannot spoil trousers of the same color.
When it comes to washing light and dark jeans at the same time, the general rule for preparing laundry is: sort by color. Putting black pants and light blue ones into the drum together will lead to damage to the entire batch put into washing.
If the color of the second jeans is dark blue, the possibility of color loss remains. There is only one conclusion - wash black pants individually.
How to dry?
The process of properly drying black jeans is just as important as washing them. There are several tips that should not be neglected:
Hang your pants so that they are level.- Do not expose the product to direct sunlight. This will cause the pigment to burn out.
- You cannot dry your pants on a heating radiator. This will cause white spots and streaks to appear.
- The drier and warmer the room, the faster the pants will dry. It’s good if they are blown by a cool wind.
Throughout the entire drying period, the product must be turned inside out. You can’t put on wet pants; you need to wait until they dry completely. Dust will settle on the damp fabric and the wash will have to be repeated.
You can learn about ways to dry jeans here.
The best remedy
To wash jeans, you can use regular washing powder labeled “automatic”. However, it is better to give preference to liquid detergent compositions.
There are several reasons for this:
- gels remove stains more effectively;
- they dissolve better in cool water;
- Liquid concentrates are rinsed out faster from thick fabric.
Considering that the duration of the jeans washing cycle is minimal, gel capsules are the best choice. To make the product soft, you can use fabric conditioner.
How to restore rich color?
If during the washing process the pigment is washed out and the jeans become pale, you can correct the situation as follows:
- Wash your pants together with other faded black items.
- Use hair dye. It is prepared according to the instructions indicated on the package. Then the composition is dissolved in the amount of water that is enough to soak the jeans, and a little vinegar is added. The pants are left in the basin for an hour, turning them over periodically. All that remains is to rinse and dry them.
- Use special paint for things. You must act according to the existing instructions.
Having returned the color saturation to your pants, you need to be prepared for the fact that at first they will stain your skin and other clothes.
How to restore color to black jeans, video recipe:
What to do with dirt and stains
Have you put a stain on your favorite trousers? No problem, now we’ll choose a suitable life hack and remove the pollution. If your trousers are already very dirty, soak them in warm water with powder for 20-30 minutes. Next, carefully rub the stain, do not apply much force so that a smeared stain does not remain.
- Remove grease or lipstick stains using dishwashing detergent - rub the item with gel and soak for half an hour.
- Paint or oil stains are removed with kerosene. You need to soak a cotton pad in kerosene, rub the stain a little and rinse with cold water.
Be in style and seize every bright moment, and your jeans can be easily washed!
Important Tips
To wash black jeans without ruining them, you need to adhere to the following recommendations:
When using a powder product, you need to rinse the product twice. Its particles tend to accumulate in the fabric and lead to the appearance of white spots and streaks. As a result, the pants will have to be washed again.- Before you start washing, you need to read the information on the item's label.
- You can iron black pants only from the wrong side.
If your jeans become stiff after washing, you can iron them through gauze by turning on the steam function.
Ironing jeans
We figured out how to wash jeans by hand. What should you do if, after drying, there are creases left on the clothes? Do I need to iron? Of course yes.
I’ll tell you how to do this below:
Step by step ironing:
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Shrinkage methods
By putting into practice the ability of denim to shrink when exposed to hot water, you can quickly solve the problem of stretched trousers.
Depending on the type of denim, you can reduce your favorite jeans by one or two by hand washing, washing in a washing machine, boiling, or alternating cold and hot water.
In the washing machine
Washing in the washing machine at maximum degrees is the ideal way to quickly reduce your favorite jeans by several sizes.
Algorithm of actions:
- We set the maximum temperature (90C) on the washing machine display, add powder and fabric softener to the washing compartment.
- Place the trousers in the drum of the washing machine and start the washing cycle for cotton items.
- After washing the jeans, dry them in an automatic dryer at maximum temperature. If you don’t have a dryer, hang denim trousers on a line in bright sunlight.
The shrinking method using a washing machine is only applicable to durable denim, which contains at least 70% cotton.
Thin and stretch denim fabrics stretch even more when exposed to high temperatures, which ultimately ruins the item.
Hand wash
Hand washing in hot water will help reduce your jeans by one size. This method is most suitable for thin denim fabrics (such as shamri).
Algorithm of actions:
- dilute one tablespoon of powder in a bowl of hot water (temperature 60-70C);
- lower the jeans into the basin, first turning them inside out, and leave for thirty minutes;
- after washing the trousers as usual, they are moved to another basin with cold water for rinsing;
- Dry washed jeans on a horizontal plane in a well-ventilated area.
Ice from the freezer will help you achieve the lowest temperature possible for rinsing water.
You can learn more about hand washing jeans here.
Hot water bath
A bath with hot water will help to shrink denim trousers so that they fit perfectly on your figure.
Algorithm of actions:
- We fill the bathroom with hot water (the maximum temperature that can be tolerated);
- dressed in jeans, we dive into the bathroom (pants are buttoned, water completely covers clothes);
- lie in the bath for about twenty minutes (until the water cools down).
This method will help you quickly reduce jeans by one size.
Until the jeans are dry, they cannot be removed. A walk in the hot summer sun or rest near a heating device (in winter) will help speed up the drying process.
Unfortunately, this method is not very suitable for practice in the autumn-spring period (it can cause a cold). Also, this method of shrinking denim gives a short-term effect (with the next wash, the size of the trousers will increase again).
Alternating temperatures
A simple but very effective method to reduce jeans by several sizes is to alternate hot and cold water.
Algorithm of actions:
- Denim trousers are placed in a basin and filled with hot water (the maximum temperature for this type of fabric is from 60 to 90C).
- After five to ten minutes, the jeans are placed in a bowl of cold water.
To achieve the desired shrinkage result, the procedure of alternating hot and cold water is repeated at least five to seven times.
Boiling
The boiling method will help you quickly reduce your favorite jeans by several sizes.
Algorithm of actions:
- Prepare a tank or large saucepan.
- Fill the pan with water, add a little washing powder (a few tablespoons).
- Place the jeans in the pan and place the container on the stove.
- After the water boils, simmer the jeans over low heat for thirty minutes.
- At the end of boiling, remove the trousers from the water with tongs and rinse thoroughly in cold water.
During the boiling process, the jeans must be stirred periodically.
You should not use the boiling method for dark or stretch jeans (there is a high risk of final damage to the product).
Air conditioner
You can use fabric softener to quickly reduce your jeans by one size.
Algorithm of actions:
- mix one glass of fabric softener with three glasses of clean water;
- pour the resulting liquid into a spray bottle;
- thoroughly wet the jeans (so that the fabric gets wet through) with soapy water;
- Dry the jeans very quickly (with a hairdryer or iron).
How to wash jeans to make them shrink - video tips:
Why do jeans dye when they are worn, do they dye their legs and clothes?
Many well-known companies insist that jeans must be dyed after purchase. This is due to the use of natural dyes. Manufacturers say that after a few washes and the first few times you wear your jeans, you'll have to deal with the marks. Therefore, just the first time you go out in new jeans, wear underwear that you don’t mind and don’t undress in public. Blue legs and panties are often seen.
It is worth noting that a large amount of dye also causes jeans to stain and fade. But don't be upset. After two washes, your trousers will stop fading. Try to wear dark blouses and underwear at first. This will prevent staining.
Why do jeans dye when they are worn, do they dye their legs and clothes?
Washing steps: what you need to know when washing jeans
When it has become clear that water, in principle, is not something terrible for denim, as many imagine, you can begin the washing process.
- Before you start washing, always read and read the label carefully
.
- You should take it as a rule: always, before any washing of denim clothing - you need to turn it to the other side
.
- Try to buy clothes made from this fabric the most gentle means
.
- If you put your pants in the washing machine, try so that the water flows into it exclusively cold
. If for some reason this cannot be done, then let the water be at least warm or at room temperature. You should also know that it is best and preferable to wash denim products only by hand.
- If your jeans are dark in color, then it is not recommended to wash them at all, and in some cases only dry cleaning
.
- Pants made from this fabric should not be soaked for a long time
.
- Experts do not recommend
wringing out jeans
. - If this is your first time washing denim or any denim, you should keep in mind that This fabric can shrink easily
, especially if you use hot water when washing, or use a dryer.
Know that the more cotton there is in the product, the stronger and more intense it will shrink.
Causes
When purchasing a new item, it is almost impossible to find out about this. After all, every seller claims the ideal quality of clothes, that they will never fade and will shine even after the hundredth wash.
Having trusted the seller, many decide to buy, but after the first wear, it turns out that the jeans are dyed. The legs become blue or black.
The disappointment is even greater when they notice blue-dyed underwear or a brand new white blouse, the edges of which are rubbing against the waistband of their trousers.
So, why are denim products dyed?
- The first reason is that the paints used to make the item were of poor quality. The dye begins to transfer to other fabrics during washing, or to the feet when in contact with sweat. The result is the disappearance of the previous shade.
- The synthetic paints used for some products are very high quality and durable. But they can also leave bluish marks on the legs. The excess dye is washed off after several washes, so you shouldn’t put on a new thing right away; first you need to wash it in the machine and fix the color.
If your jeans are faded, use home remedies or ready-made products.
If it is not possible to wash or washing is prohibited
It is worth listening to the opinion of famous denim designers, such as the creator of the Levi's brand, Levi Strauss: to make jeans last for several years, wash them once every 2 months. There is no point in taking this advice to the point of absurdity, because today the fabrics of jeans vary greatly in composition, and the thing is so comfortable that you want to wear it every day. But you can take note of some tricks that will reduce the number of washes.
Dry cleaning
Folk remedies for dry and wet cleaning are salt, soda, hydrogen peroxide, ammonia, vinegar solution and others. Can be used without water. To remove traces of the product, use a vacuum cleaner, an alcohol wipe, or simply wait until it dries.
Local wet cleaning
Stains can be treated with soapy water, dish soap (it effectively removes greasy marks), or soda slurry. Use a soft sponge or brush, be sure to rinse off the product with water.
Ventilation
An alternative to frequent washing is long-term airing. This method will help when there are no visible stains on the jeans, but body odor remains. The smell on the balcony will disappear within 24 hours.
Freezing
You can get rid of bacteria that transfer to jeans during wear by using cold. The smell of sweat is the result of the activity of these microorganisms. Place the jeans in a bag and place them in the freezer for 12 hours. Just pack your pants so they don't come into contact with food.
That's all the tricks for washing, drying and disinfecting your favorite jeans. Try to adopt these healthy habits as soon as possible.
What should you not do to prevent dyeing jeans, trousers, or trousers?
There are rules that you should follow if you don’t want your jeans to stain or fade.
Adviсe:
- Do not soak clothes in too hot water. This contributes to the deterioration of the dye's fastness.
- Do not use powder with bleach. To wash such items, use special detergents for jeans or colored clothes.
- You should not wash jeans with other things at first. This will cause them to stain. You risk ruining not only your jeans, but also your blouses.
- Before purchasing, you can check the degree of dyeing of the fabric. Just wet the match and run it across your panties. If it stains, your jeans will fade.
- A similar test can be done with a damp cloth. It is also carried out on the inside of the jeans.
- It is worth remembering that jeans should be washed only after soaking. Dry on a line in a vertical position. Do not dry near a radiator or fireplace.
What should you not do to prevent dyeing jeans, trousers, or trousers?
As you can see, the shedding of jeans is a completely normal process, which indicates the naturalness of the dye. So don’t worry, just wash your jeans properly.
Is it possible to return jeans back to the store if they are dyed?
By law, any item can be returned within 14 days. Very often there is a note on the labels of jeans that indicates that the jeans can be dyed. There is also a warning that such clothing should not be worn in the rain. Therefore, if there is such a mark, then it is unlikely that your product will be accepted back. If there is no mark, and the clothing certificate contains a note about dye fastness, then you can return the product. Just hurry, you only have 14 days from the date of purchase.
Even some well-known manufacturers make a note that jeans can stain and fade in the first few washes. This is due to the naturalness of the dye.
Is it possible to return jeans back to the store if they are dyed?
If all else fails, you can stitch it in!
If after washing, boiling, and quick drying it was not possible to reduce the size of denim trousers, there is only one thing left to do - sew in the jeans. The masters of sewing salons will quickly and efficiently sew from denim fabric. But such services cost a lot of money.
Therefore, having carefully studied the features of altering stretched jeans, you can safely get to work.
Algorithm of actions:
- We prepare the necessary tools: thread, sharp scissors, needles, sewing machine (preferably with an overlocker), chalk or pencil, iron.
- We rip the seams on the jeans in problem areas, remove old threads and carefully smooth the fabric.
- Focusing on the new parameters, we make markings with chalk.
- We sew the jeans along the new lines and try on the product in order to evaluate the quality of the fit of the product.
- After all changes have been corrected, we sew new seams on a sewing machine.
- We cut off the excess fabric, process the edges using an overlocker or sew it by hand.
Waist
The easiest way to change the width of a belt is to sew an elastic band into it. To do this, an incision is made on the back of the belt through which a wide elastic band is threaded. Fixed at the edges of the belt, it gathers it, thereby reducing the volume of the jeans at the waist.
Along the hips
In order to adjust the upper part of the jeans along the hip line, you need to do the following:
- Carefully remove the belt and rip the jeans along the hips. The experts also recommend ripping off the back pockets (their location on updated jeans most often changes)
- Using fitting, we fix the new hip line with pins, trying to make the transition from the factory line to the new line less noticeable.
- After the fitting is completed, we sew new lines on a sewing machine. Excess fabric is cut off only after the alteration of denim trousers is completed.
- Sew on the waistband and back pockets.
In order for the alteration of jeans to look as neat as possible, you need to very carefully select the shade of the thread for the external decorative seam.
This video will show you how to sew jeans: