Where did this 'never wash your jeans!' mentality come from?
It feels like jeans - regardless of designer or 'raw denim' status - were clothes until about seven years ago, then they became fragile and precious jewels.
News flash: if you're worried about washing your jeans, you're inventing problems because you have none of your own.
I remember the raw denim trend in like the early 2010s ans you allegedly weren't supposed to wash those, but even then that's a very specific type of jeans we're talking.
I went to Europe in 2007 or something and a pair of Levis were stupid expensive. They just make that shit up and create value out of bullshit. Levis have been $30 when they last raised minimum wage in The 90s. These prices make no sense.
Where did this ‘never wash your jeans!’ mentality come from?
The same place all religious and other propaganda comes from. Plus it’s useful to spot the gullible and easily led people so you can avoid them to save your sanity!
Denim doesn't hold onto dyes nearly as well as other materials. This makes it more prone to fading in pretty much all circumstances, even through normal wear, such as fading in the creases of your knees. The detergents will also break down the fibers of the denim, causing it to rip more easily. Because of this, you really should only wash it when it's visibly dirty or has a bad smell.
I've got a pair of jeans that I wear nearly every day. Have had them for about seven years. Washed them maybe seven times. The denim is still in excellent condition. Granted, I don't do a lot of physical labor in these jeans, but I do walk around town quite often in them. They still look and feel like they're only a week old.
If you are wearing jeans nearly every day and washing them once a year, i hate to break it to you, but they have a bad smell. You may not think so but others do.
When they appear dirty or smell. A hoodie that I wore on a lazy day may get a couple wears before wash. My comfy sweat pants I treat like my jeans. Everything else gets one wear then washed.
I don't see the need to wash something that doesn't look or smell dirty.
Most days, I don't do shit that dirties anything but underwear, which gets changed at least daily. So in most senses, any given pair of jeans can go weeks without accumulating anything but dead skin cells, some skin oil, and some of my pimp juice.
That being said, I ain't going to wear the same pair more than three days unless my back is so fucked up that changing them isn't realistic.
Given that I've accumulated jeans over the years in various sizes as my body changed post-disability, I have enough pairs that I could hypothetically change pants every day and not wear the same pair twice in a month. Mind you, I'm bigger than I was for some of them and can't wear them. I'm also smaller than I was for some of them, and even a belt can't make them comfortable to wear for long. So I have maybe a dozen pair that are in rotation, plus a couple that are for when I'm doing something really grungy (like OP's mom).
Assuming my brain isn't fucked (and I'm only on lemmy to keep myself from going nuts until I can head to the hospital for a family member, so it's fucked), that would work out to any given pair being washed ten-ish times a year? I think? It's math, so I'm probably wrong.
I do know that most months, I only have to do two loads of laundry that isn't underwear. If I only wore jeans, the math would work out, but there are days I don't wear jeans, so I dunno.
When they smell bad. Even when I wash I use delicate detergent and use the handwash setting and no spin/wring. It's overkill but I like the ritual of caring for clothes.
Given that I do laundry roughly once a week, often pushing it past that a bit to maybe a week and a half or so
And I don't wear jeans much during the summer, and generally prefer other styles of pants
Probably around 30 times a year.
I normally only wear them once before washing. Sometimes twice if the weather's cool and I haven't done much to get sweaty/dirty or if they were only worn for part of the day. There's some extenuating circumstances where I might push it beyond that, like if I'm camping it's possible that I might wear the same jeans for a long weekend (but with fresh undies every day)
I don't buy nice jeans, pretty much just whatever Walmart or target has in stock in my size. I get a few years out of a pair as day-to-day jeans, once they start showing too much wear they might get downgraded to work pants for when I'm doing yard work, painting, etc. at which point they get washed when that job at hand is done, usually one day but for a particularly big job I may wear them for a few days.
I mean it depends on the uses. Esp sitting in a chair (also with my more cozy cotton pants) often or other sweaty conditions, it can be like once a week, but also if it passes the smell test and there was no dirt-event it can also be idk, once a month?
so anwser probably would be like ~20-30 times a year,
why what about you?
Jeans & shirts & pants I hang up and don't wash often. I have lots of them, so not sure of the interval but maybe 10 - 15 wears? Underwear and workout clothes I wear once and wash.
Office job, I do bike in but not far. Merino wool t shirts or loose shirts for work.
Of course if I spill something on them I wash them.
I wash my clothes after I wear them, each time. Unwashed clothes get a certain funk, even if they look clean. You can always tell when people do this. It’s a little metallic.
54 Comments
Drbreen@sh.itjust.works · 40 pts · 166d
I only wash them when I shit myself.
andrewta@lemmy.world · 40 pts · 166d
So twice a day?
GuyFawkes@sh.itjust.works · 17 pts · 166d
On a good day.
Drbreen@sh.itjust.works · 7 pts · 166d
When required.
wesker@lemmy.sdf.org · 6 pts · 166d
Damn. okay.
Texas_Hangover@lemmy.radio · 9 pts · 166d
Hey, you asked the question.
Seriously, jeans can go a while between washes, as long as you change your underwear daily.
Which brings us to the next question:
How often do y'all change your underbritches?
Lost_My_Mind@lemmy.world · 5 pts · 166d
I own no underwear.
wesker@lemmy.sdf.org · 6 pts · 166d
So you apply the pee and poo leftovers directly to the pants?
Lost_My_Mind@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 166d
Uhhhhhh, I think you're using the bathroom wrong....shouldn't be any leftovers. It's not Thanksgiving.
starlinguk@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 166d
Are you 2 years old?
swordgeek@lemmy.ca · 34 pts · 166d
Where did this 'never wash your jeans!' mentality come from?
It feels like jeans - regardless of designer or 'raw denim' status - were clothes until about seven years ago, then they became fragile and precious jewels.
News flash: if you're worried about washing your jeans, you're inventing problems because you have none of your own.
Onomatopoeia@lemmy.cafe · 20 pts · 166d
The 60's - when jeans were still very rough material and needed a LOT of breaking in.
Today's jeans are wimpy by comparison.
But regardless of the material, I wash my pants when they get dirty, not every time I wear them.
garbagebagel@lemmy.world · 9 pts · 166d
I remember the raw denim trend in like the early 2010s ans you allegedly weren't supposed to wash those, but even then that's a very specific type of jeans we're talking.
ScoffingLizard@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 2 pts · 166d
I went to Europe in 2007 or something and a pair of Levis were stupid expensive. They just make that shit up and create value out of bullshit. Levis have been $30 when they last raised minimum wage in The 90s. These prices make no sense.
paulcdb@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 166d
The same place all religious and other propaganda comes from. Plus it’s useful to spot the gullible and easily led people so you can avoid them to save your sanity!
SaveTheTuaHawk@lemmy.ca · 2 pts · 165d
Just get into the hotub with them after your workout, but take them off just before you fuck your boyfriend.
IWW4@lemmy.zip · 1 pts · 166d
Same place the “never wash your cast iron pans” notion came from. Internet hivemind bullshit.
Proprietary_Blend@lemmy.world · 29 pts · 166d
I'm this economy? You must mean how often do I wash my jean.
I_Fart_Glitter@lemmy.world · 28 pts · 166d
Nose blindness is real and jeans are very washable. Wash your jeans you stinky hippies.
undefined@lemmy.hogru.ch · 19 pts · 166d
I haven’t worn jeans in 10+ years. Am I missing something? Why wouldn’t you wash them?
Chozo@fedia.io · 7 pts · 166d
Washing damages the denim, reducing its lifespan. It leads to color fading and tearing.
undefined@lemmy.hogru.ch · 24 pts · 166d
Alright I suppose but by that logic I shouldn’t wash any clothing — it all eventually fades and loses its quality no?
Chozo@fedia.io · 1 pts · 166d
Denim doesn't hold onto dyes nearly as well as other materials. This makes it more prone to fading in pretty much all circumstances, even through normal wear, such as fading in the creases of your knees. The detergents will also break down the fibers of the denim, causing it to rip more easily. Because of this, you really should only wash it when it's visibly dirty or has a bad smell.
I've got a pair of jeans that I wear nearly every day. Have had them for about seven years. Washed them maybe seven times. The denim is still in excellent condition. Granted, I don't do a lot of physical labor in these jeans, but I do walk around town quite often in them. They still look and feel like they're only a week old.
Poojabber@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 162d
If you are wearing jeans nearly every day and washing them once a year, i hate to break it to you, but they have a bad smell. You may not think so but others do.
IWW4@lemmy.zip · 6 pts · 166d
LOL… who the hell throws out a pair of jeans because the color fades?
HAHAHAHAHAHA
SaveTheTuaHawk@lemmy.ca · 2 pts · 165d
plus it removes that musky aroma people love.
Nemo@slrpnk.net · 16 pts · 166d
once a week
username968142@lemmy.world · 14 pts · 166d
I only wash them when they're dirty.
BassTurd@lemmy.world · 13 pts · 166d
When they appear dirty or smell. A hoodie that I wore on a lazy day may get a couple wears before wash. My comfy sweat pants I treat like my jeans. Everything else gets one wear then washed.
I don't see the need to wash something that doesn't look or smell dirty.
IWW4@lemmy.zip · 13 pts · 166d
The same amount as any other article of clothing,
RamRabbit@lemmy.world · 12 pts · 166d
Once every wear or two.
starlinguk@lemmy.world · 12 pts · 166d
I wash my clothes when they're smelly or dirty. Washing them when they've only been worn once is insane and terrible for the environment.
Kolanaki@pawb.social · 10 pts · 166d
Wash? They're broken in so well, they maintain the shape of my legs even when I take them off.
Apepollo11@lemmy.world · 8 pts · 166d
I probably get a month, possibly two, out of them between washes. I work from home though, so they don't really get that dirty.
communism@lemmy.ml · 7 pts · 165d
If I wear them daily, then weekly. So about once every 5–7 wears.
southsamurai@sh.itjust.works · 5 pts · 166d
Jeans? Kinda depends on the use.
Most days, I don't do shit that dirties anything but underwear, which gets changed at least daily. So in most senses, any given pair of jeans can go weeks without accumulating anything but dead skin cells, some skin oil, and some of my pimp juice.
That being said, I ain't going to wear the same pair more than three days unless my back is so fucked up that changing them isn't realistic.
Given that I've accumulated jeans over the years in various sizes as my body changed post-disability, I have enough pairs that I could hypothetically change pants every day and not wear the same pair twice in a month. Mind you, I'm bigger than I was for some of them and can't wear them. I'm also smaller than I was for some of them, and even a belt can't make them comfortable to wear for long. So I have maybe a dozen pair that are in rotation, plus a couple that are for when I'm doing something really grungy (like OP's mom).
Assuming my brain isn't fucked (and I'm only on lemmy to keep myself from going nuts until I can head to the hospital for a family member, so it's fucked), that would work out to any given pair being washed ten-ish times a year? I think? It's math, so I'm probably wrong.
I do know that most months, I only have to do two loads of laundry that isn't underwear. If I only wore jeans, the math would work out, but there are days I don't wear jeans, so I dunno.
FinjaminPoach@lemmy.world · 5 pts · 166d
About 18 years on this Earth had I
afore i ever heard tell of this concept
Of narry washing a pair of fine denims.
Tis seems foolish, says I
Seems dyshygenic and vain
And one would never remove those vernacular stains
Which so oft finds home on my trouserlegs.
I was 'em once a week, same as with other trousers.
BenchpressMuyDebil@szmer.info · 5 pts · 165d
When they smell bad. Even when I wash I use delicate detergent and use the handwash setting and no spin/wring. It's overkill but I like the ritual of caring for clothes.
blimthepixie@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 4 pts · 166d
I just wear them in the shower
SaveTheTuaHawk@lemmy.ca · 1 pts · 165d
RFK? Is that you?
chocrates@piefed.world · 3 pts · 166d
I sweat a lot, I wash them when they feel dirty. Are you not supposed to wash denim? It's not like it's wool and covered in sheep grease
Chozo@fedia.io · 3 pts · 166d
When they're visible dirty. Otherwise, if they just stink but are otherwise clean, I fold them up and put them in the freezer overnight.
Iconoclast@feddit.uk · 3 pts · 166d
I haven't worn jeans for probably over 15 years. They don't last a year use so I stopped buying new pairs and go with cargo pants instead.
Holytimes@sh.itjust.works · 3 pts · 165d
I still have two pairs of jeans from when I was 15 they still fit and they still look new.
The jeans I bought 8 months ago are already falling apart and the zipper has gone to shit.
Same brand of jeans I always bought. They just are shit now.
linuxfiend@fedia.io · 2 pts · 166d
Once a week.
altphoto@lemmy.today · 2 pts · 166d
5,tops.
Fondots@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 166d
Given that I do laundry roughly once a week, often pushing it past that a bit to maybe a week and a half or so
And I don't wear jeans much during the summer, and generally prefer other styles of pants
Probably around 30 times a year.
I normally only wear them once before washing. Sometimes twice if the weather's cool and I haven't done much to get sweaty/dirty or if they were only worn for part of the day. There's some extenuating circumstances where I might push it beyond that, like if I'm camping it's possible that I might wear the same jeans for a long weekend (but with fresh undies every day)
I don't buy nice jeans, pretty much just whatever Walmart or target has in stock in my size. I get a few years out of a pair as day-to-day jeans, once they start showing too much wear they might get downgraded to work pants for when I'm doing yard work, painting, etc. at which point they get washed when that job at hand is done, usually one day but for a particularly big job I may wear them for a few days.
Ttangko@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 166d
I mean it depends on the uses. Esp sitting in a chair (also with my more cozy cotton pants) often or other sweaty conditions, it can be like once a week, but also if it passes the smell test and there was no dirt-event it can also be idk, once a month?
so anwser probably would be like ~20-30 times a year, why what about you?
RBWells@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 164d
Jeans & shirts & pants I hang up and don't wash often. I have lots of them, so not sure of the interval but maybe 10 - 15 wears? Underwear and workout clothes I wear once and wash.
Office job, I do bike in but not far. Merino wool t shirts or loose shirts for work.
Of course if I spill something on them I wash them.
Snapz@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 166d
Okay because you know what, first of all! Okay, how dare you? But first of all, okay just, I don't even have time for this!
atropa@piefed.social · 1 pts · 162d
ScoffingLizard@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 1 pts · 166d
When I can see the boogers piling up.
jtzl@lemmy.zip · 1 pts · 163d
I love that you ask "per year." Tell me your clothes are dirty without saying your clothes are dirty.😜
wesker@lemmy.sdf.org · 1 pts · 163d
This is a rude accusation and I think you have poor manners.
Beebabe@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 164d
I wash my clothes after I wear them, each time. Unwashed clothes get a certain funk, even if they look clean. You can always tell when people do this. It’s a little metallic.