Throwing our clothes in the wash after we wear them is usually pretty habitual. But there is at least one item of clothing we shouldn't toss in the laundry right away, according to experts — our jeans.
While Levi Strauss CEO Chip Bergh has previously suggested going as far as never washing your denim, some of us may not be as into that, especially after the last couple of years.
However, there is a balance you can strike between the two extremes. We spoke to three experts on how you should be treating your denim. Read on below to get the skinny on all things jeans.
How often should you wash your jeans | Is it gross to not wash your jeans | Expert-recommend and editor-tested jeans | How we chose | Meet the experts
How often should you wash your jeans?
Jeans should really be washed "as little as possible, if at all," denim atelier Benjamin Talley Smith tells Shop TODAY.
Patric Richardson, laundry expert and host of "The Laundry Guy" on Discovery+, tells us, "The perfect number is after nine or 10 wearings, like to me, that is the ideal." At that point, they likely have acquired a few stains and "they're probably a little sweaty by that point, so you need to wash 'em," Richardson says.
When it comes time to wash them, Richardson recommends using a warm setting on a short cycle. "Warm will activate your detergent, it will make everything work really well, but that short cycle just keeps them from tumbling too much, because the abrasiveness is the worst thing," Richardson says.
Though keeping the number of washes at a minimum is mainly for sustainable reasons, to no surprise, the more you wash your jeans, the faster they'll fade — and the weaker the jean becomes, Smith says. Jeans with a darker wash will lose the most color since the indigo is "supersaturated," while jeans with a lighter wash have less of a chance of fading.
Smith recommends washing your jeans in cold water and hanging them outside to dry, or letting them tumble dry on a low-temperature setting.
Is it gross to not wash your jeans?
While not washing your jeans too often can benefit their longevity, for sanitary reasons, you may want to reconsider.
"Do you need to wash your jeans after every causal wear, likely not," Director of Global Health at SUNY Upstate Medical University Dr. Stephen Thomas, tells Shop TODAY via email. "I think three wears is a good threshold to trigger a wash."
However, exercising good hygiene can never steer you wrong. If your clothes are visibly dirty or putting off a "foul odor," wash them. "If clothes are not visibly dirty, gauge how often you wash them based on how often you wear them," Thomas says.
If the idea of waiting that long to wash them doesn't sit right with you, there are a few hacks you can try to keep them clean — just don't put them in the freezer; Smith says this is a myth and your jeans will only end up smelling like frozen food.
Smith and Richardson both recommend spot-treating your jeans with soap and water as needed.
Jeans that will stand multiple washes, according to experts and editors
Editor favorite: AE Stretch Mom Jean
- Very comfortable
- Stylish
- May run a bit long
Colorways: Three | Size: 000-24
American Eagle claimed to be “home of the world’s best jeans,” so Shop TODAY editors put one of the retailer’s bestselling pairs to the test — and they passed with flying colors. If there’s one thing all seven of them agreed on the most, it’s that they are extremely comfortable (and stretchy ... and flattering ... ) They also come in sizes short, regular and long for a more inclusive fit.
Mother-and daughter-loved: Wrangler Women's Cowboy Cut Slim Fit Jeans
- Run true to size
- Slim fit, wide leg opening
- Fabric may feel stiff
Colorways: 6 | Sizes: 00-15
Commerce editor Vivien Moon isn't ashamed to admit that she borrowed her mom's jeans and has yet to give them back. “In the tradition of shopping from my mom’s closet, I recently took a pair of Wrangler jeans that have to be 17 years old yet fit perfectly and are very much in style now," she says.
These classic jeans are available in six unique washes and come in five different lengths for a more ideal fit.
Expert- and editor-recommended: Levi's High-Rise Wedgie Straight Cropped Jeans
- Durable
- Comfortable
- May run small
Colorways: 14 | Sizes: 24-32
Smith prefers to find a good pair of Levi's at a vintage store or flea market, but says they're a good staple. These straight-leg jeans boast a high waist and come in a range of dark and light washes.
These are also a favorite of Shop TODAY senior editor Francesca Cocchi Zabloudil, who said, “I own them in several washes — they’re so flattering and the perfect length."
Stretchy and flattering: Abercrombie & Fitch High Rise 90s Relaxed Jean
- Color and size collection
- Stretchy
- May run large
Colorways: 26 | Sizes: 23-37
"I heard such great things about A&F jeans and finally decided to try — they totally live up to the hype!" raves associate editor Lauren Witonsky. She mentions that there's a perfect mount of stretch in these high-rise jeans and finds the relaxed fit is super flattering. "The best part has to be the multiple inseam lengths, and the long fits me perfectly at 5’8."
These comfortable jeans come in over two dozen shades and are available in sizes extra short, short, regular, long and extra long.
Comfy and cute: Mother The Rambler Ankle Jeans
- Pockets
- Comfortable
- Ankle-length
Colorways: 1 | Sizes: 24-32
Smith recommends denim from this Los Angeles-based brand, and says they have size offerings that “fit most body types.” These mid-rise jeans have a “lived-in vibe” and a comfortable fit.
Splurge option: Slverlake London High Waist Straight Leg Jeans
- Stretchy fabric
- True to size
- Pricey
Colorways: 1 | Sizes: 23-32
A newer luxury denim brand on the market Smith recommends is Slverlke. According to their website, the Los Angeles-based brand says they use a "premium vintage" indigo denim that allows them to deliver "rich authentic looking washes."
Frequently Asked Questions
Are you looking at the faded pairs of jeans you've had in your closet forever and wanting to replace them? Smith recommends looking for "well-made" jeans that "have a slightly heavier weight, as they will hold up longer and be more durable," Smith says.
Is spraying your jeans with vodka a myth? Richardson says no. "When you get home spray (your jeans) with vodka," Richardson says. "Vodka, first of all, will remove the odor from anything, but more importantly, vodka is an anti-bacterial."
While it may seem unconventional, it's actually a practice that Broadway dressers resort to in order to keep stage costumes fresh in-between shows.
How we chose the best jeans
The Shop TODAY team rounded up the best jeans by enlisting the recommendations of denim and laundry experts to provide us with affordable and chic options that will withstand multiple washes. We also asked our editors to share their tried-and-true favorite pair of jeans as well.
Meet the experts
- Chip Bergh is the former CEO of Levi Strauss and resides in San Francisco, California.
- Benjamin Talley Smith is the founder of the denim atelier Talley Creative in Brooklyn, New York.
- Patric Richardson is a laundry expert and host of “The Laundry Guy” on Discovery+.
- Dr. Stephen Thomas is the director of global health at SUNY Upstate Medical University in Syracuse, New York.
