Guide: How to wash raw denim selvedge jeans?
Are you unsure how to wash your favorite jeans? Raw denim requires a little more love than regular pants, but if you follow this guide, you'll be safe.
Important: Before washing, you should consider what kind of fades and expressions you want to achieve with your jeans. Check our guide: How often should jeans be washed?
How to wash raw denim selvedge jeans?
Raw denim is not pre-washed by the manufacturer. The fabric is stiff, and the deep indigo color is still "unstable," meaning it can bleed onto its surroundings. At this stage, the jeans are vulnerable to getting permanent marks from the washing machine if you wash them like regular clothes. This is because the jeans are raw, and actually has nothing to do with them being selvedge.
Step 1: Before washing
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Empty your pockets! Especially important are paper and receipts that will dissolve and get stuck in the fibers.
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Always turn your jeans inside out! This is the most important step to ensure the indigo color has as little direct contact with the machine drum as possible.
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Close all buttons and zippers! This helps the jeans maintain their shape throughout the washing process.
Step 2: Washing machine settings
The goal is to treat the indigo dye in the weave as gently as possible to preserve your personal fade. Regular cotton programs are too harsh for untreated denim.
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Program: Use a delicate cycle, wool wash, or a dedicated jeans program.
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Temperature: Max 30°C if you want to retain as much color as possible.
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Detergent: Use a mild, liquid detergent without bleach.
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Spin cycle: No! This is the most important point. Spinning creates sharp creases in the stiff fabric which can lead to uneven streaks and "washing machine marbling."
Step 3: Drying jeans
Skip the tumble dryer! When the jeans come out of the machine, they will be dripping wet. The water running off will be blue, so be careful with the surface underneath. The color will bleed onto its surroundings.
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In the shower: Hang them in the shower overnight until they are dry enough for the drying rack.
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Towel trick: You can lay the jeans flat on a dark towel and roll them up like a sleeping bag to press out excess water before hanging them to dry.
Consequences of incorrect washing
Japanese denim is made with enormous respect for craftsmanship, using top-quality cotton and sturdy seams. It is rarely the jeans themselves that are damaged by washing, but the indigo color and your future fade can be harmed.
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Machine Marbles: If you wash incorrectly (too hot or with a spin cycle), you can get white streaks that make the jeans look wrinkled and permanently "damaged" in color.
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Shrinkage: As with all cotton, high temperatures will cause the fibers to contract. If you wash too hot, you risk your favorite jeans becoming too small.
Do you prefer to wash by hand? Check out this guide: Wash like a denim head
Written by Inger Kristin Haugsevje
