Jeans are made of a strong and durable fabric, which is why they can often feel stiff and uncomfortable to wear at first. If you've purchased a particularly stiff pair of jeans, you can wash them in the washing machine with fabric softener and put the softener balls in the dryer. If you don't want to wash them, keep them on for as long as possible or use them for cycling or lunging.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Soften the jeans without washing them
Step 1. Keep them on for as long as possible
The oldest and most effective way to soften jeans is to put them on and wait for the fibers to stretch and soften on their own. When buying a new pair of jeans, wear them every day or as much as possible. If you wear them for a whole week rather than occasionally, they will soften more quickly.
Step 2. Wear them when cycling
Jeans also soften when you walk, but pedaling can speed up times considerably. The fabric will be put under more stress, as you will have to continually bend and straighten your legs, so it will soften faster.
Put on your jeans and pedal for at least half an hour to start softening the fibers
Step 3. Do lunges wearing jeans
Take a long step forward with one leg and bend the knee to bring the other leg closer to the floor. Return to a standing position and repeat the exercise with the other leg. Continue doing the lunges for several minutes if you want the jeans to soften quickly.
Step 4. Wash jeans only when absolutely necessary
Each time you wash them, the fibers tend to shorten and harden again. Unless they are stained, you can wear them up to 5-10 times before washing. You judge when they are really dirty and go into the washing machine.
Part 2 of 3: Wash the Jeans
Step 1. Wash them inside out
Generally jeans must be turned inside out before being placed in the washing machine drum to prevent them from losing color quickly. Read the washing instructions on the label.
Step 2. Wash them with cold water
Even if the denim fabric is not prone to shrinkage, when the trousers are new it is best to wash them in cold water. Set the washing machine to half load and spin it to a fairly high speed. If possible, allow cold water to enter the basket before adding the jeans.
If your washing machine loads from the front, it is not possible to fill the drum before adding laundry. In this case, place the jeans in the drum and then start washing as normal
Step 3. Use liquid fabric softener to soften the water
You can use any type of fabric softener. Measure 125-250ml and pour it into the water. Stir it with your hand or with a hanger to help it melt.
- Do not use detergent the first time you wash your jeans. Use fabric softener only.
- If your washing machine is front-loading, pour the fabric softener into the compartment that is generally reserved for detergent, so that it enters the drum during the wash rather than at the end of the cycle.
Step 4. Push the jeans into the water
Put them in the drum of the washing machine and push them under the surface of the water. Keep them submerged until they get soaked. You need to make sure they absorb water rather than stay afloat. Close the washer door and press the power button.
Step 5. Stop the cycle after washing if the jeans are particularly stiff
If the fabric is particularly hard, turn off the washing machine at the end of the wash cycle, before the phase of draining the water from the drum begins. Add a little more fabric softener and repeat the wash cycle. If necessary, you can wash them with fabric softener up to 3 or 4 times in a row.
Step 6. Let the cycle finish
If the jeans are not particularly stiff, you can only do one regular cycle. If you had to add more fabric softener and repeat the wash, let the program finish normally (drain, rinse and spin).
Part 3 of 3: Dry the Jeans
Step 1. Let them dry inside out
Take them out and out of the washing machine and leave them inside out. Make sure the zipper is closed and buttoned.
Step 2. Dry them on a low temperature
The heat stresses the fabric unnecessarily, so it is best to dry the jeans at a low temperature. You can choose a program suitable for delicate items. It is best to dry only one pair of jeans at a time, otherwise it will take a lot longer.
Step 3. Use softening balls or tennis balls
The softening balls are made of rubber or wool and hitting the jeans during the drying cycle will loosen and soften the fibers. Softening balls are especially useful with stiff fabrics such as denim.
- You can purchase the softening balls online or at well-stocked home care stores.
- Tennis balls are an inexpensive alternative that will give the same result.
Step 4. Roll up the jeans after taking them out of the dryer
Remove them from the dryer and roll them up while they are hot. Overlap the two legs and then roll them up from the hem up to the waistband. Leave them rolled up until they have cooled.
