Jeans care: how to keep the wash the way it is
Wash your jeans the right way and the colour lasts longer. The most important rule for how to wash jeans is short: as rarely as possible, inside out, cold, air dry. The rest of this guide explains why, and what is different with raw denim.
Washed or raw? Check the label first.
Star Denim comes in two kinds of fabric. Sahara Sky, Phantom Black, Smoked Mocha and Basic Black are washed jeans.
Raw Blue and Raw Black are raw denim and not made for the washing machine. They have their own routine, which you will find in Raw denim explained.
When in doubt, the care label in your jeans always wins.
Washed jeans in the machine.
- Turn them inside out. That way the outside does not rub against the drum, and the colour stays more even.
- Buttons done up. The 5 logo buttons on Star Denim keep the waistband in shape that way.
- Cold or 30 degrees. Warm water releases more dye.
- Similar colours together. Dark jeans not with white tees.
- Low spin. Fewer creases, less wear.
Drying: in the air.
Heat is the main reason cotton shrinks and loses colour. Hang the jeans up by the waistband, smooth out the legs once and let them air dry. The dryer and the radiator stay off.
Why washed colours change.
A wash like Smoked Mocha or Sahara Sky is made by deliberately taking colour out of the fabric. Every further wash takes a little more. A review of Smoked Mocha says: "Unfortunately light grey after 2 washes and not as brownish anymore."
You cannot fully prevent that, but you can slow it down a lot: wash cold, inside out, rarely. With Smoked Mocha especially, it is worth airing them out after wearing instead of washing straight away.
How often should you wash jeans?
Not after every wear. A pair of jeans that is not dirty gets fresh again by airing it out overnight.
Treat single stains on the spot with a little cold water. The less often the machine runs, the longer the wash looks like it did on day one.
Dye transfer: what you can do.
Dark jeans, and raw denim above all, can rub off onto light fabrics at first. Wash a new dark pair on its own the first few times, and for the first few days do not wear light sneakers or light bags that rub against your hip.
Does not fit anymore after washing?
Washed jeans can change with heat. For Star Denim, the measurements of every size are listed in centimetres in the size guide. Measure your jeans flat and compare, and you will see whether anything has changed.
In short.
| Washed Star Denim | Star Denim Raw | |
|---|---|---|
| Washing | machine, inside out, cold or 30 degrees | hand wash, cold, inside out |
| First wash | with similar colours | on its own |
| Drying | in the air | in the air |
| In between | air out | air out |
FAQ.
Can Star Denim go in the dryer?
We advise against it. Air drying protects colour and measurements.
Do I need to wash new jeans before wearing them for the first time?
Not the washed styles. With raw denim it can be worth it if you want to wear light clothes or light sneakers with them, because raw denim can rub off slightly before the first wear.
Where do I find all the washes?
In the Star Denim jeans collection. You can read a comparison in Star Denim washes explained.
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