Instead of Washing Jeans, Try This Freezer Trick
Nobody wants their favorite pair of jeans to get slowly demolished by the washing machine, erasing fiber after fiber everything that made them great. The rich color starts fading, the knees become baggy, and somehow the waistband feels tighter than before.
That is why some denim enthusiasts follow a rather unusual rule: wash your jeans as little as possible. And when those jeans begin to feel like they need vacuuming, they do not immediately reach for the detergent. Instead, they put them in the freezer, right next to the frozen vegetables and that tub of ice cream. However, it might be a good idea to vacuum them first, just in case.
Why Not Just Wash Your Jeans?
Jeans are tough, but repeated washing can still take a toll on them. The combination of water, detergent, heat, and the washing machine’s constant tumbling gradually breaks down denim fibers. Dark and raw denim can also lose its vibrancy, causing the color to fade much faster.
Washing can also affect the way those jeans fit your body. A good pair of jeans slowly molds to your waist and hips as you wear them. Over time, the fabric develops natural creases around the knees and pockets. Some people call them “fades,” and they are a big part of what makes an older pair of jeans look unique and comfortable to wear. If you toss them into the washing machine often, all those fades will be undone. The fabric may shrink in some areas, stretch in others, and gradually lose the shape you spent weeks or months creating.
That does not mean, of course, that you should never wash your jeans. They will eventually collect sweat, skin oils, dust, food, and all kinds of substances, the origins of which you may or may not want to disclose. However, they usually do not need a full wash after every single wear. That is where the freezer lifehack comes in.
What Freezing Your Jeans Actually Does
Aside from making jeans feel colder and fresher, putting them into a freezer may also help remove certain smells, especially when the odor is mild and the jeans are otherwise clean. But freezing won’t remove the substances or dirt trapped in the fabric, so it’s not the same as washing.
Freezing also should not be treated as a reliable way to kill every bacterium living on your jeans. Some microorganisms can survive freezing temperatures and simply become active again once the fabric warms up. In other words, this lifehack is best used as a refresh between proper washes. Soap and water are still your best friends.
How to Freeze Your Jeans
The process is simple and straightforward:
- Check the jeans for visible dirt or stains. If you have ranch stains on your jeans or if you wore them while gardening, the freezer will not work miracles.
- Next, fold the jeans and place them inside a large sealable plastic bag. The bag protects the denim from moisture, freezer burn, and random food odors.
- Gently remove some of the excess air from the bag, seal it, and place it in the freezer.
- Leave jeans overnight for a quick refresh. Don’t worry if you forget to take them out in the morning; some people leave them there for days.
- Take them out, and let them return to room temperature. The jeans may feel stiffer and cleaner at first simply because they are cold.
That’s it. That’s the trick.
When Should You Use The Freezer Method
This hack is most useful for jeans that have been worn a few times but are not actually dirty. Maybe they’re starting to exude a strange odor after you’ve been wearing them for multiple days, or you just feel like they could use some freshening up in general. If you freeze them, you may get to wear them for another week or two before washing.
It is too late to use the freezer trick if your jeans have been heavily soiled or absorbed a strong smell. Same goes for stains, but that should be common sense, really. No freezer can magically remove that nasty ketchup blot you’ve been wearing for a week.
What Are the Alternatives to Washing Jeans Less Often?
You do not have to sacrifice half your freezer space to extend the life of your denim. Hanging jeans outdoors or near an open window can also make them feel fresher. And if you have a steamer handy, that’s even better, although you should always check the do’s and don’ts on the label first.
Spot-cleaning is another way to delay the inevitable. Instead of washing the entire thing because of one small greasy stain, gently clean the affected area with cold water and a tiny amount of mild detergent.
It’s Good For the Environment Too
Freezing your jeans is cheap, easy, and it can help you wash them less frequently, which may preserve their color, shape, and distinctive worn-in look. Fewer washes also mean using less water, energy, and detergent, so at least you’re not actively destroying the planet on that particular day.
Just remember that eventually, even the most expensive pair of jeans needs a real wash. Until then, though, there is nothing wrong with giving your favorite jeans a full-course cryo treatment in your fridge.