How do you wash jeans without shrinking them?

To avoid shrinking jeans when washing them, turn them inside out and wash them with gentle detergent in cold water with the gentlest cycle allowed by the washer. Follow by air drying the jeans or by drying them for only a few minutes in the dryer and then air drying them.

Washing jeans properly helps to keep them from shrinking. It also helps to extend the life of a pair of jeans.

1. Turn the jeans inside out

Pull the legs of the jeans through the body of them, and straighten the legs completely. Be sure to undo any cuffs as well.

2. Set the washing machine

Use the gentlest cycle available on the washer for the jeans. Hand washing is also good, but this can be time consuming.

3. Select cold water

Cold water is best to avoid shrinking any clothing, but in particular cotton, from which jeans are usually made. Add gentle detergent to the wash cycle. If washing jeans alone, use only a small amount of detergent.

4. Dry with medium heat

When drying in a dryer, choose medium heat or lower.

5. Air dry to finish

Dry in a dryer for only a few minutes. Finish the drying time on a clothesline or a drying rack to help avoid shrinking the jeans.