Keeping black jeans, well, black is no easy task, fading being an unfortunate (and inevitable) reality. But we knew there had to be a few things we could do to keep it to a minimum. So we consulted our denim team for their tips on maintaining that deep, just-bought-’em black. And boy, did they deliver.
Overall, the agreed trick is to limit spins in the washing machine. (Cue the chorus of “Are you telling me not to wash my jeans? Gross.”) We know sometimes it’s just absolutely necessary to give your jeans a good clean though, so here’s how to do it and still keep them in tip-top shape (slash shade).
Set the dye before their first wash. Soak your jeans—inside out—in a bath of cold water with one cup of white vinegar and one tablespoon of salt. This helps set the dye into your denim before a disruptive wash.
Be gentle. The less often your jeans touch soap or water, the longer the color will last, so try not to wash ’em often and spot clean smaller stains. If you must wash, though, do it on a low setting or by hand. (Mama Earth will thank you for that one, too.) Your last, very important to-do: Turn them inside out before they soak.
Do not put them in the dryer. Air drying prevents fiber breakdown, making it the best way to prolong the richness of the color. Dry your denim right side out and hanging by the back belt loop (see picture above). The weight of the denim will help prevent wrinkles.
Armed with this knowledge, go forth and keep those Skinny Skinny Jeans as black as the day you found them at our Denim Bar.
Shop our assortment of denim here and find other care tips here.
