How often should you wash your jeans?

The CEO of Levi's confessed he hadn't washed his favourite pair in 10 years

(Getty Images/iStockphoto)

You’d think the boss of heritage denim brand Levi’s would have a tight routine when it comes to looking after his own jeans.

In fact, the company’s CEO Chip Bergh went 10 years without washing his favourite pair, an admission that sparked outrage when he first made it at an event five years ago.

At the time, Bergh claimed that he’d refrained from putting his jeans in the washing machine in fear that it would wear down the material.

The denim boss reignited the debate into how often one should wash their jeans in a recent interview with CNN, admitting that those same Levi 501 jeans had still not been in the laundry,

“If you talk to real denim aficionados, they will all agree you should never put a pair of jeans in the washing machine,” he added.

We spoke to Levi’s to find out how often we should really be washing our jeans.

How often should you wash your jeans?

It turns out that Bergh’s stance on jean-washing is slightly at odds with that of his own brand.

Speaking to The Independent, a spokesperson for Levi’s in the UK revealed that although jeans don’t need to be washed that often, putting them in the washing machine once every month is advisable to keep them looking and smelling clean.

“When denim jeans were first created in 1873 (at that time they were called waist overalls) they were worn by labourers and miners of the American West,” they explained.

“Denim is therefore, a hard-wearing and durable fabric – it doesn’t need to be washed as frequently as believed. In addition to this, you save water and energy.”

That said, if a pizza slice lands face-down on your lap, it might be time for an emergency wash, the spokesperson added.

As for Bergh’s tactic, they explained that jeans do tend to look better when washed infrequently, which is why some people may choose not to wash them.

How should you wash your jeans?

Turn them inside out and throw them in the washing machine with your other dark clothing on a cool wash, the Levi’s spokesperson advises.

“Use a mild detergent and no bleach,” the add. This will prevent the fabric from being damaged.

How should you dry your jeans?

“Don’t tumble dry your denim but rather air-dry them inside out,” Levi’s suggests.

“You’ll save water, energy and time – and your jeans will look better, denim is a fabric that gets better with age.”

How can you keep your jeans clean in between washes?

If you do manage to get the odd bit of mud on your jeans, Levi’s advises cleaning them by dabbing the affected area with a damp cloth and hanging them outside to dry.