How to Wash Raw Denim The Easy Way - The Best Way To Wash Denim
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 3 ม.ค. 2019
- Many a denim head has never washed their jeans. This is all in the attempt to minimize indigo loss and to promote those awesome fades. Still, there is nothing cool about stinky jeans. There are many theories on the best way to clean raw denim: freezing, ocean washing, dry cleaning, or avoiding washing at all. In this video I discuss why I choose to wash my denim using the bathtub technique and how you can do the same in 10 easy steps.
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Just a side note on washing denim. During WWII, sailors used to tie their new indigo “dungarees” to a long line and trail them in the sea, sometimes overnight. This would give them the heavy use look that they wanted. E J Jernigan documents this in his book Tin Can Man.
Dude, that’s the coolest thing I’ve heard all day!!
Carl Murawski the audio book of Tin Can Man is one of the coolest “Man” books I have listened to, Highly reccomend.
Count me in! Thanks for the recommendation
As time wore on, the started having to re-dye the dungeries.
Haha, did this during my own sailing times. Only the long legged jeans turned afterwards into a pair of shorts the next day. What happened? The legs unravelled at the hem seams whilst trailing in the water at high speed.
As someone who has been wearing US made Levis shrink-to-fit 501s since the late 1960s, I believe that the magic of raw denim is the beautiful fading process that happens as the jeans wear from washing and usage. There is nothing special about keeping them dark blue or having horizontal fade lines. Don't worry about washing your raw denim jeans - unless you didn't have the sense to buy them big enough so they fit after they shrink.
Many people buy pre-faded jeans, even though the fading looks fake, because they don't like dark blue jeans. Other people buy dark blue jeans thinking that fading isn't acceptable, even though that is what cotton jeans do. In the old days jeans always started being dark blue and then faded as used. Modern society thinks that is quaint.
@Rex Erection Around 1970 when I was a child I got my first Levis trucker jacket. Jeans were always dark blue then so I washed it a bunch of times until it had some fade. As I aged I realized I like jeans and jackets when they are dark blue, like them when the are partially faded, and like them when they are quite faded (but I don't like holes.) So I do exactly like you described, I wash my clothes when they get dirty. But that is just common sense. I don't worry about jeans fads or jeans superstitions.
It’s not “modern society” that finds it quaint. It’s a very tiny percentage of denim wearing people that are into this culture of fades and whiskers and honeycombs and etc. Most people don’t care or know about it and that is why every department store or clothing store is stocked full of prefaded non-selvage denim, your every day jeans. I guarantee you if you ask the average person buying jeans what selvage is or how to get a certain fade look, they’ll have no idea. So it’s not modern society. It’s a tiny tiny tiny percentage of people who are into this hobby. Denim heads appreciate the history of American denim and the utilitarian nature of jeans. Don’t criticize these kids if they want to create the perfect fade. How boring would this world be if we all wear the same clothes and shoes, drive the same cars, or eat the same meal everyday.
It’s not “modern society” that finds it quaint. It’s a very tiny percentage of denim wearing people that are into this culture of fades and whiskers and honeycombs and etc. Most people don’t care or know about it and that is why every department store or clothing store is stocked full of prefaded non-selvage denim, your every day jeans. I guarantee you if you ask the average person buying jeans what selvage is or how to get a certain fade look, they’ll have no idea. So it’s not modern society. It’s a tiny tiny tiny percentage of people who are into this hobby. Denim heads appreciate the history of American denim and the utilitarian nature of jeans. Don’t criticize these kids if they want to create the perfect fade. How boring would this world be if we all wear the same clothes and shoes, drive the same cars, or eat the same meal everyday.
This is by far the most comprehensive and complete video on this topic on TH-cam. Great presentation like always.
Thank you so much!
Ok now do a video on how you store your denim. Do you fold or hang? If you fold how? If you hang how? I enjoy this stuff. You make great videos
dude this is gold, thanks
Probably one of the best videos on raw denim
You can tell you love raw denim cuz this vid was on point. The part I learn today was with the patch . Will try that
Thank you for another well made video with well explained instructions.🙏
My pleasure!
I actually bought some bravestar jeans based on your video that should arrive in the next week or so so the timing of this video is perfect!
You’re going to love them!!!
been a raw denim fan since self-edge opened up shop in NYC, you've done raw denim very well my friend. all good info without any of the hype or pseudo science from a lot of the 'denim heads'
Thank you very much!
Excellent as always. Will do. Thx
Another excellent How To video Carl. I've never cared for the leather patch, so I appreciate the pro-tip!
Thank you, this is exactly the kind of info I was looking for! Want to get into Japanese selvedge denim and make sure their life is maximized.
Great video, and very instructful, thank you!
Thanks for watching!
So much easier with someone showing me than telling me what I should do!
Seeing these in the tub reminds me of when I was a toddler back in the sixties watching my older brothers who were Mods sitting in the tub with their new Levi’s shrinking them to fit then walking around outside on a summers day until they dried. The aim was for a skin tight fit!
I don’t have a tub or large enough container so I put my jeans ( always reversed) on a cold wool cycle in the washing machine which works well. In the cooler days when there is little to no perspiration happening I sponge wash them reverse first, then outer then sponge rinse them the same way, that works as well!
Perfect timing. After eight months of wear I'm about to wash my first pair of raws for the first time.
Wtf?! Straight funk
Ewwwwwww
Bravestar for the win!
2:14 is that a pair of Brave Star loomstate jeans I'm seeing. Brave Star makes great selvage denim. Ocean water is such a bad idea, it has a horrible smell and as Carl points out, you're actually adding bacteria to your jeans (don't believe us, go swim in the ocean, let your trunks dry and give them a whiff... it smells like socks mixed with mold). This is a great tutorial. I use cold water in the bath with Brave Star detergent.
Excellent vid man
Thanks for the visit dude!
👌 Keep em coming bro
Thanks man!
This channel is the best channel regarding denim Jeans
Thank you so much!
@@CarlMurawski , always welcome, dude. See how can Jeans be kept inside the fridger...even I was wondering, so I just use to wash with plain water with some detergents according to the water I used for the Jeans in a simple plastic bigger tub , not even inside a bath tub. I just wash whenever it gets dirt. That's all. Thank you for your washing tips.
Nice touch with the rubber ducky👌
I do this method too (minus the agitation) and it works wonders on my denim, even though I still wear LEE modern fits. I don’t press the jeans to dry, just hang dry from the bottom. I usually go 6 months between washes and never hear any complaints, but I also have a 3 pair rotation. I do blind smell tests all the time too. I plan on getting my first pair of Raw soon; the GAP 1969’s.
Do you go put in the heat and work in them? Maybe Im just more fragrant because i could never go that long.
Soak unsanforized denim for 2 hours in hot water before first wearing them. Wear them for as long as you can but do wash them if they smell bad or delaying the wash will damage them. I usually wash them after 10 months in a bathub with warm water, followed by periodically washing them every couple of months or so. After the 3rd wash, all future washes go into the washer and air dry when done. Have been doing this with a variety of brands like oni, pure blue japan, momotaro, 3sixteen, naked and famous, and it has worked out well for me.
When you squeezed the water out of your jeans . You could see a bunch of indigo come out of your jeans. That made me realize that I'm never going to squeeze my Jean's ever when I'm done rinsing and I'm just going to hang them up and make sure that the legs are open and there is air circulation in the room I'm drying them in. That's it. To each there own but I want mine to stay dark as long as possible. Great video btw!
I let mine drip dry .
Thank you
Exactly what I do with my raws. Takes a bit longer and my wife thinks I'm weird but that shit ain't cheap and I want them to last! Great vid!
Haha, I think most wives think we’re weirdos anyhow!
Great review, Carl. I take my dark wash jeans to the dry cleaner. I usually buy Levi jeans. Over the years, taking them to the dry cleaner has worked out for me.
Good to hear! Thanks for the suggestion
Great video my friend
Thanks! My Edwins are fresh again 😀
I am completely with you on gray jeans, but if I have to go through all of that to wash my jeans, I’m tapping out! 😂
Good vid.
Hats off to those who want to go through all that hassle. I just throw mine in the washing machine inside out and once in a while if I feel they've got coarse dirt in them then outside out. When worn out after a couple of years I just buy a new pair. Usually jeans is all I wear and IMHO if they're not washed after a week of use they're going to get gross - especially around the crotch area as that is a moist place. Jackets you can do away washing once every or every other season depending on use - but they're also not as exposed to moist unless you got really sweaty armpits.
But do really wish that many manufacturers again would make that thick tight woven non stretch denim again. I found an old pair of forgotten jeans in my closet from some obscure long gone discount brand probably 00s. Of course I didn't fit them anymore (not surprising because of my age when those were bought) as I couldn't button them but the legs were very nice, comfortable and warm and really got a great feel both comfort and quality wise. Today most regular priced denim is stretch which I agree has its own rights but it's also very thin and cold (here's a colder climate most of the year) and doesn't seem to last as long as the old thick tight woven stuff. I want something in between for us that want a little better stuff than todays run of the mill but also not having to go through price and hassle of the very exclusive japanese denim.
Awesome video... do you have one on how to hang or fold jeans? 👍
Found this video helpful and concise. Just washed my Naked & Famous jeans for the first time, and while I admit that I'm a bit of nervous wreck, I definitely feel like I've at least done the right thing.
Carl, I am a new subscriber. Thanks for you buddy over at Fit Mans Style. I would not have found you if it wasn't for his video recommending your channel. Great video on washing your jeans. Thanks
Hey there, thanks for subscribing! That was very nice of Ian to include me in his video. I hope you like what you see on my channel and feel free to drop me a comment any time.
I know there’s a bunch of denim specific detergents out there but I’ve been using the Railcar Fine Goods stuff for a while now and it seems to work well.
Yes, I’ve seen that and Heddels has one too I think.
Pretty good video
great vid, just to add use jeans safe detergent and to be honest a gentle cycle in your washing machine with no spin cycle just works fine...
Camera got so close to that water... my nerves!! Great stuff Carl!
The Kavalier what u talking about mate?he even submerged the camera into the water
Thank you for the words for that poor leather patch! Cheers!
The poor little fella is always neglected!
When it comes to selvedge denim idk what to believe anymore Carl
Also if you don't want any coloring from the pants to transfer to that leather patch I would coat it with light leather conditioner first so any glue from the tape don't stay. then with clear packaging tape cover it before the wash process then when hung to dry remove the tape slowly
Brave star jeans.. goat
Great video on laundering raw denim. I wanted to reciprocate by sharing some additional points that have worked for me.
1. Wear your raw jeans for at least 90 - 120 days before first washing using a cyclical schedule; so many days on and at least one day off (rest). I use the "Genesis" cycle; six straight days of wear with one day off. Repeat.
2. During your raw denim "rest" day(s) turn raw denim jeans inside out and hang them up by the waistband in an area away from the Sun. Spray (a light misting) any "fragrant" areas with a "Febreze" product. The preferred area to rest your raw denim must have good - great ventilation.
3. Pre-Wash / First Wash - Your first wash should be on your "rest" day beginning with a pre-wash in a tub/ five gallon bucket of cool water with a dye setting rinse of either 2.5 to 3.0 cups of distilled white vinegar or 10 - 15 tablespoons of Epson salt completely dissolved in 5 - 6 cups of water. Put the distilled white vinegar / Epson salt dye setting rinse in the tub/bucket of cool water FIRST and evenly incorporate then place your insides out raw denim jeans in. Completely submerge the raw denim jeans in this pre-wash for at least 3 - 4 hours, preferably overnight. In addition to minimizing dye loss, this pre-wash will also disinfect your raw denim jeans.
4. Drain or remove your raw denim jeans from the dye setting pre-wash and press (not wring) out the excess water. Then follow immediately with your first wash. You should repeat this pre-wash/wash approach for your next 3 - 4 washes. The amount of dye loss from your raw denim jeans will be significantly less each subsequent wash cycle.
Using this method you can disinfect and deodorize your raw denim jeans several times, minimize indigo loss WITHOUT using laundry detergents
@Rex Erection that will help fixing the indigo.
Smelling like low tide. I liked that. No wonder friends shunned me even after offering to buy a few rounds.
I actually have used to dry clean my jean or denim jacket the results are pretty good. And since we don’t wash our Jean very often so that $20 (could be more) is acceptable.
Good point!
I had the same ideas about those other washing theories. Specially the sea wash! Your technique is my favorite. I actually wear ALL jeans for months (or years). Before I wash them. (Usually the “smell” will guide me or if I get them visibly soiled) but from now on all of them will get the tub wash. No more machine for them all! Thank you. Star Jeans advises to use a natural soap like theirs as regular laundry soap has chemicals that affect your Jean fibers though. Any ideas?
Do you do man stuff in the jeans? Like hiking or working in the heat?
Try adding a table spoon of tea for the last wash . It will give a premium expensive look.
Maybe you could do a review/update of your Japan red fire Gustin's? Although a year is early.. I just signed up for the ongoing batch
I certainly will, you’re gonna love them!
When I was stationed in Verde Bay we had a PX manager that loved 501's. He told me that if you soak them in salt water (tub of cold water enough to cover and a 1lb of salt) was the 1st step. After a 15 min soak, drain water leave jeans in tub over night. Fill tub with cold water & let soak for 2 hours and remove, turn inside out and hang to dry, sunlight is better. After they dry, fill the front pockets with bubble wrap as much as one can stuff in. Allow to hang this way for 24 hours. Remove from line, remove stuffing from pockets and then machine wash and dry was you would any pair of jeans, cold water w/ mild detergent & fabric softener. Machine dry alone. Remove from machine when dry. Have the jeans dry cleaned and pressed at your local dry cleaners. At this point you have a new pair of jeans that look like you have been homeless for a few weeks and the streets have not been kind to you.
I am thinking about getting some brave star. I am a size 33-34 on my Levi’s. What size should I get on a brave star? Awesome video BTW
I prefer to wash my jeans before I first wear them. I wash them inside out with very little soap. I'm on Well Water which helps tons...
Nice vide
can help but notice the very second the flip them right-side-in the indigo started to turn the water dark.
Thank you Carl. Yes there is something missing. Step 5, after you agitate the jeans then turn right side out, how many minutes would you soak before agitate them again?
Thanks for this. What would you say about the suggestion to soak the pair of jeans in salt, white vinegar, and cold water for some time to prevent them from fading during the wash process?
My first wash always in sea water!
I only ware wrangler jeans and have about 8 pairs i where them twice or once depending on how dirty they get and wash them in a washing machine
Just think how the miners then used denim..they didnt have access to water so they were rarely washed and if ever a quick dunk in a creek somewhere with rarely soap..or lye soap during those days.the proceduce discussed on the video is good..it replicates the early days of denims..
I have a sudden passion for denim lately..
HERNANDEZZ same, although only a few months later and it took a few months for me to get around to getting them hemmed
What is a organic dry cleaner and can they clean selvege jeans. thanks
What can you do to keep the dye off the boots? Especialy new denim jeans
Can I put them on a bucket as well ?
What about adding a little bit of vinegar in the warm washes?
I had no idea this was a thing, I all I got are carhartts so washing machines and wear them till you got a hole and patch it, I don't pay attention to fades or color cause mine arnt fancy
Would waxing the leather patch before washing, be a good idea?
My grandad always dry cleaned his wrangler jeans and his always looked new
Also any detergent is fine ?
Will this work with my denim jacket with a beige corduroy collar?
Literally wearing Brave Star while watching you wash Brave Star. Does it really matter? No, but it's kind of cool.
Jeanception
Is the only reason to not machine wash jeans is to have more control over fading? because my #1 concern with jeans is just durability, im a fan of very light jeans regardless.
What would be a great way to wash my Levi's denim straus sherpa & co jacket????I'm not sure if i want to wash in the machine or hand wash it...I'm just acquiring for a little assistance on what to do...
How do you hang them? Just on one loop? I wonder if they dry weird, idk
Can I wash my Filson lined rail splitters just once
Carl, do I need to press the water out before hang drying the jeans
How long did it take you to air dry this particular pair? I live in a very humid place so sometimes even after washing on a washing machine it would take more than 24hrs to dry after 36 hrs it will probably start to smell (this is only during very humid season). but a fully wet jean like this method I think it will also take about 1-2 days to dry I am scared of them getting worst
Have a serious question I have several pairs of dark indigo Levi’s and stone washed ones that have the mark where the size sticker was on how do I remove it
Rubber Ducky!!!
Hahaha essential!!!
That rubber duck make me subs!! JK Good job Carl keep it up!
Hahaha duck power! Thanks man!
What about a Sherpa Levi jacket? First time wash? Fade it?
Hi Carl, what is the advantage of hand washing in the tub over using a washing machine set to delicate cycle and cold water?
You jeans will fade don’t wash in cycle or at the dry cleaners just do this works
Sir ,should it be dried under sunlight
I'm buying dark wash Levis that i want to be a little bit lighter color. so should i wash them straight away in hot? will that shrink it too much?
If I don't have a tub can I put them in a bucket??
Do a machine wash on delicate, cold water, air dry
This definitely works too
I'm gonna test both methods. I'm tied of ruining $60 Levi's
Sir Nobles I’ve probably washed my Levi’s jeans btw they’re all stretch, Levi’s
Washed them hundreds of times and my Levi’s look just fine, you can’t ruin them on a delicate wash lol
@Rex Erection lol I know that but if you're smart then no worries id just wash them monthly or how long you feel like youve sweated in them then time for a wash
Before hang drying I usually roll the jeans up in a towel to soak up some of the water. It helps keep the jeans from dripping forever after hanging them up.
I like to do a quick preliminary rinse before adding detergent too but that’s just my preference!
Good tip! The drip-dry takes forever
I've just got a brand new pair of Brave Star Jeans.
They look great but being new they feel quite hard and uncomfortable. Should I do this wash before first wearing them? Thanks
No derin111 after a few days you get use to it its like when you get heavy seas for the first time you will get use to it i have the same pair of jeans as Carl Murawsky the unfinished please go with them for 1 to 3 months and then water and woolite dark i am 66 i had lots of 501 shrink to fit.Enjoythe brave stars
So, if we are trying to mimic the cycles of a washing machine, why don’t i just use a washing machine? Ty
Bringing them into the ocean and rubbing them with sand would be like a free mans sand paper... they sand paper jeans when making them. It makes the signature hem on store bought jeans
I use ice to get the water as cold as possible
Does this work for 501 levis
Can I hang dry them outside ?
damn ive just been sticking em in the wash with the rest of my clothes when ever its laundry time. theyve lasted me for years. didnt think people actually went through this much trouble.
I can't stand to wear my jeans more then twice without washing em, yes it's gonna make em fade and possibly shrink but always buy a size or two up. If you're worried about the fading I've come to find that a bit of starch will revive the color (not fully but they still get dark)
How do you soften Carhartt unlined bibs
It seems every time I wash them they get stiffer
Wear them
The smell is part of the experience.
The best and most effective way to clean them is with a gentle machine wash with no spin cycle. This is how I wash all 7-8 of my raw denim, all with different price ranges. No need to change up your regular washing routine that much, after all they are just jeans/jackets.
i dont own a washing machine but i found your way is the easiest way for lazy people like me
This is pretty much what I do. My working pairs get grease and dirt on them and a bathtub soak just doesn't get that out.
I got my raw denim tailored and unknown to me, they took them to the dry cleaners. I had only worn them once before. Can I every get solid fades or did they just waste my money?
You'll be fine probably, fades are just the indigo wearing off so unless your jeans came back white I wouldn't be too concerned.