Jeans have come a long way since they were originally made as practical workwear for miners and labourers. Now available in every fit, colour and style, no wardrobe is complete without at least one pair.
However, figuring out how often they should be washed can be tricky. A study from the University of Alberta found the bacteria levels in a pair of jeans worn for two weeks were the same as a pair that was worn every day for 15 months, meaning washing them more often doesn’t make them cleaner.
According to denim brand Levi’s, some people choose to never wash their jeans. Design director Paul O’Neill told the Australian Financial Review he washes them every “30 to 50 wears.”
Discussing the matter on social media, one woman questioned whether her husband was cleaning his jeans. She wrote: “My husband insists on wearing his jeans 4-5 times before washing them.
“He will go out to eat, grocery shop, cook food (raw meat) in them, and wear them all day and still fold them up and put them back in the closet.
“I basically have to sneak them out to wash them. Personally, if I leave the house I’m washing whatever clothes I’ve left in. Is this normal? Am I the crazy one here? He wears them maybe 1-2 times per week and then puts them back in the closet. My biggest issue is that they’re sitting in his closet on top of/with clean clothes.”
People reacting to the Reddit post were torn, with many confessing they rarely washed their denim. One person wrote: “Who the hell washes jeans after only a handful of wears? I wear mine probably longer than most. Only time I toss it in the wash is if it’s been a long time and I’m washing my other clothes anyway, or if it’s visibly dirty or smelly.”
Someone claiming to be a clothing expert added: “Fashion designer here! That’s what jeans are designed for. Actually, washing them too frequently can cause damage of the fabric. Jeans were made for heavy-duty tasks, which makes it a resistant fabric. You can wear it as many times as you wish as long as it’s not dirty or it doesn’t smell bad.”
Not everyone agreed with the “less is more” approach when it came to washing denim with many horrified. One user penned: “That’s disgusting, I think they need a wash after a few wears. Ya’ll clearly stink!”