FRESH FIXES
Common laundry mistake may be ruining your jeans, says pros – a freezer trick will eliminate the stink without fading
There is a specific cleaning agent not to use that could permanently damage the texture
FASHION fans have revealed a laundry mistake that many make that could be doing more harm than good for your jeans.
They shared a freezer cleaning hack that will fade any bad odors and revitalize the pair of pants.
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Almost everyone owns something denim, but not everyone knows how to take care of it.
Washing and maintaining it can be hard, especially when there are added embellishments and design details.
Experts at Gap have shared five fashion hacks to wash and protect your denim clothes.
DON'T OVERDO IT
First, make sure not to overwash your denim.
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The professionals said that denim should only be washed every ten wears, and overwashing can " damage embellishments like sequins and beads."
They recommended only washing denim clothing with these details when an item is "truly dirty."
Most of the time spot treatments will do the trick.
Then, you can hang it on a clothesline or outside to dry for a little "boost."
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The Gap experts also shared a "freshen-up" tip.
"We stand by the jeans in the freezer trick to kill any bacteria and eliminate any odors," they said.
My grandma taught me a $1.78 laundry trick - it's the best so I won't gatekeep, it gets stains out of everything
HANDWASH IF HANDY
As a follow-up, handwashing is the best cleaning option to protect both the overall color and life, as well as any loose embellishments.
In particular, the experts said that cold hand washing helps to "prevent damage to any adhesives and can reduce chances of shrinkage."
"The process is as simple as submerging your outfit in cool water with detergent but to keep your soaking time to a minimum to prevent damage to beading and embellishments," they explained.
If there’s a specific stain to get out, they recommended gently massaging the area and avoiding "scrubbing" motions.
CONSTANT CLOSURE
Next, always close zippers when putting denim in the wash to avoid any snagging and possible damage.
However, the experts noted that the rules for more delicate fabrics are slightly different.
"Zips should be done up but buttons should remain open to avoid causing potential strain on the delicate fabrics," they explained.
It could cause buttons to become loose, or elastic loop button holes to detach from the fabric.
Cleaning hacks and tips
Here are some tips to help you when you clean your home next:
- How to clean your shower to ensure it's always sparkling
- What to do to get rid of nasty odors in your home
- Here's how to get your home smelling like fresh laundry
- You're cleaning your pots and pans all wrong - here's a trick to remove the residue
- These are five hacks to ensure your kitchen is spotless
- What you need to know when cleaning your bathroom
- This trick will ensure your washing machine is clean and smells great
- This cheap, easy trick will remove your mold from grout without scrubbing
- These simple items will make your carpet clean and look brand new
- This 'lazy' hack will ensure your oven is clean for pennies
FABRIC FAUX PAS
When selecting your cleaning agents, the Gap experts suggested snubbing fabric softener.
They said it can change the texture of denim and damage the surface of velvets and satin.
They especially warned against adding it to your wash if you’re washing custom-made pieces.
TUMBLE TIP
The experts advised against tumble drying as this can cause loss of shape and other problems.
"The fast spin of a tumble dryer is just asking for embellishments to become loose and damaged, plus the heat can cause shrinkage and fading," they added.
The "best method" is to lay your denim flat or let it air dry outside.
A "top tip" they suggested is to peg, or roll up your jeans at the bottom of each leg.
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This will cause the water to run down to the waistband, so it dries quicker and reduces wrinkles.