You might’ve heard that jeans don’t need to be — and indeed, should not be — washed after every wear. Laundering suggestions have ranged from washing them after every other wear or after several wears to even never at all.
When it comes to washing your denim, you want to strike that balance between maintaining its color and fit and keeping it clean. So what does that mean for how often you should wash your jeans? We asked a dermatologist and a textile expert for their takes.
How Often Experts Recommend Washing Your Jeans
There’s no one set of specific rules that dictate how often you should wash your jeans, says Erum N. Ilyas, MD, board-certified dermatologist and associate professor, clinical dermatology at Drexel University College of Medicine in Philadelphia. That's because the frequency can depend on several factors such as:
How often you’re wearing your jeans
How long you wear your jeans each time you wear them
Whether you sweat in your jeans
The fit of your jeans (loose versus tight or somewhere in between)
Whether you apply lotion or oils to your skin before putting on jeans
Sweat, skin-care products, and skin bacteria can all accumulate in your jeans, which is why it’s best to wash them regularly. Ilyas recommends washing jeans between every three and five wears.
Why It's Important to Wash Your Jeans
Just like any clothing you wear, your jeans can get grimy. “Denim is still mostly cotton, although we are finding some more use of blended textiles that include an elastane to make it stretchier. This means that bacteria can absolutely attach to these fabrics,” says Dr. Ilyas. “The bacteria can embed itself into textiles and even form biofilms to resist washing if left unwashed for too long,” she says.
That said, the makeup of each brand and style of jeans can vary. To know exactly what’s in your personal pair, you’d have a sample of the fabric analyzed in a lab, says Karen K. Leonas, PhD, professor of textile science at the Wilson College of Textiles at North Carolina State University in Raleigh. Keep in mind that dirt and other grime can easily embed in the denim, which is enough to cause abrasion to the fibers and ultimately damage them, decreasing their longevity. “Laundering can remove some of those particles that are trapped in there,” she says.
In short: Washing your jeans is good for you — and your favorite pair of denim.
The Right Way to Wash Your Jeans
Research has shown that both washing and wearing denim speeds up the wear and tear on the fabric. For one, the indigo dye doesn’t completely penetrate the fibers of the fabric, so wear and washing can cause abrasion that rubs off the blue layer of the jean, leading to a more worn look, she explains. Washing can also wear jeans out more quickly, especially if you have a top-load washer outfitted with an agitator that rubs up against clothes, says Dr. Leonas.
When washing jeans, there are a couple of things to keep in mind. First, avoid using hot water. “Detergent manufacturers reformulated most detergents decades ago, and they now clean effectively in both warm and cold water,” says Leonas. She uses cold water because it’s more environmentally sustainable than hot water. (Cold water uses less energy because your hot water heater does not have to heat up the water.) Powder detergents can be more abrasive compared with liquid, so stick to liquid formulations. And hang jeans to dry instead of tumble drying, she says; while hanging may make jeans stiffer and affect how well the fibers spring back into shape, it does preserve the fabric better.
Finally, there are some recommendations to freeze your jeans by putting them in your freezer for a certain amount of time to kill microbes that have settled into the fabric. Ilyas is dubious about this method: “I doubt most residential refrigerators could attain a deep freeze to impact bacteria — or just slow them down temporarily,” she says.
What Happens if You Don't Wash Your Jeans Enough?
In most cases, not washing jeans often enough likely won’t lead to bad health effects. That said, it’s not the most hygienic approach because bacteria buildup can cause odor.
Denim fabric may also be able to transfer bacteria back to your skin, says Ilyas. This is typically not a problem because your skin is a good barrier for keeping harmful microbes out of your body and your skin has immune defense mechanisms that resist bacteria overgrowth.
But, as Ilyas says, friction from denim can potentially cause chafing, a small injury to your skin that can make it more vulnerable to bacteria. When this happens, you could develop folliculitis, which is a condition where hair follicles are inflamed, she says. Signs and symptoms of folliculitis include an “acne-like” breakout of spots that are encircled by a red ring, along with possible itchiness and pain.
There are additional upsides to washing your denim. You know how when you wear your jeans, they can become baggy in places like the rear or knees? That’s the fabric stretching a bit to accommodate your body’s shape and how you move — all good things. If you want the fabric to go back to “normal,” throw your pair in the washer. Why? The cotton fibers that make up denim relax when in water. “This allows the fabric to go back to its initial shape and length,” says Leonas. For you, this will feel as if the jeans are smaller now (or better fitting), though they have not shrunk.
Everyday Health
How to Stretch the Time Between Washing Your Jeans
If you want to give jeans more time out of the wash, follow these guidelines:
Don’t go commando. Wear underwear under your jeans to keep them fresher, longer.
Choose darker-dyed denim. Black, navy, or other dark jeans can hide dirt better than light-washed denim, says Leonas.
Wear them for shorter periods of time. For example, only wear them when you’re out and get into the habit of changing out of them when you get home.
Avoid wearing during hot weather. Wearing jeans on a hot day means you're bound to sweat a lot, which can necessitate more frequent washing.
Keep ‘em clean. Don’t wear your jeans if you know you’re going to be engaging in activities in which they may get dirty, such as walking through mud or puddles.
Fight germs with heat. Decrease the risk of bacterial overgrowth by ironing or using a garment steamer, says Ilyas.
Hang up between wears. Store jeans between wearing by hanging them up in your closet rather than throwing them into a hamper with other dirty clothes, says Ilyas. Since moisture promotes the growth of bacteria, turn them inside out when hanging, which will allow them to air out.
Spot clean right away. For some stains — such as tomato sauce — there’s a chemical reaction happening inside the fabric that can change the color of the fabric and make it tough to wash out. “The quicker you can remove it, the better,” says Leonas. Spot clean using kitchen soap and water on a rag and keep on-the-go stain-removing wipes in your bag for when you’re away from home. If the stain remains, then wash the jeans.
How Often to Wash Other Pants
Just as there are no hard and fast rules about washing denim, there are no exact guidelines on washing other types of pants. How often you wash them will depend on factors such as how much you’re wearing them, the fabric that they’re made out of, and if they’ve changed shape after wearing them, says Leonas. If pants are visibly dirty, have a smell, or no longer fit properly, you should throw them in the wash.
The Takeaway
Denim will last longer if you don’t wash them after every single wearing, but it can harbor both bacteria and dirt. Washing your jeans correctly will keep them clean and may also revive their shape for a better fit.
Launder in cold water after every three to five wears with a liquid detergent and hang jeans to dry, if possible.
Jacquelyn Dosal, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist practicing at The Dermatology House in Park City, Utah. Her areas of expertise include acne, rosacea, integrative treatments of inflammatory skin diseases, as well as laser treatment of the skin and injectables.
Dr. Dosal writes cosmetic questions for the certifying exams for the American Board of Dermatology. She is also the deputy editor for the American Academy of Dermatology's podcast, Dialogues in Dermatology.
Jessica Migala is a freelance writer with over 15 years of experience, specializing in health, nutrition, fitness, and beauty. She has written extensively about vision care, diabetes, dermatology, gastrointestinal health, cardiovascular health, cancer, pregnancy, and gynecology. She was previously an assistant editor at Prevention where she wrote monthly science-based beauty news items and feature stories.
She has contributed to more than 40 print and digital publications, including Cosmopolitan, O:The Oprah Magazine, Real Simple, Woman’s Day, Women’s Health, Fitness, Family Circle, Health, Prevention, Self, VICE, and more. Migala lives in the Chicago suburbs with her husband, two young boys, rescue beagle, and 15 fish. When not reporting, she likes running, bike rides, and a glass of wine (in moderation, of course).
Everyday Health follows strict sourcing guidelines to ensure the accuracy of its content, outlined in our editorial policy. We use only trustworthy sources, including peer-reviewed studies, board-certified medical experts, patients with lived experience, and information from top institutions.
