Washing Denim 101 with Mott & Bow

It’s National Denim Day and since some of us are cleaning everything in sight, I thought it would be the perfect time to share how to wash your jeans, courtesy of Mott & Bow.

I’ve always wondered what’s the “right” way. I’ve heard wash them after several wears, don’t wash them – just freeze them or just throw them in the dryer with a dryer sheet. Thanks to Mott & Bow (my newest fave denim company) for outlining the proper way to take care of this wardrobe staple.

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Step-by-Step Denim Washing Process

Mott & Bow says to wash your jeans as you see fit, and just follow these three steps.

1. Pull the jeans inside out.
2. Wash in cold water on a gentle cycle. 
3. Lay flat to dry, or tumble dry to bring back to the jean’s original size. 

There are also some guidelines to follow if we’re not talking about the tried-and-true blue. The great thing about black and gray jeans is that most stains are almost always invisible. Mott & Bow suggests adding Woolite “dark” detergent to your routine, and the water temperature to cold to minimize fading. This step is recommended for the women’s Bond and the men’s Jay and Barclay black jeans.

Gray + faded black jeans have their own set of rules, too. Treat them like the black jeans if you want to avoid fading, but if you want to embrace the distressing process, feel free to wash your gray denim more. Furthermore, Stone and Leroy for men’s, Orchard, and Allen for women’s fit this regimen.

Let’s not forget about the raw jeans. These are typical of the DO NOT WASH variety. However, the truth is you can wash this type of denim, but want to hold out as long as possible in-between wears. Each wash breaks down the resin that ultimately shapes the jean to your body. Read more here about why it’s important to space out a raw denim washing schedule. Here are some types of Mott & Bow denim that fit this category: Oliver & Rivington.

The more love you show your denim, the more you’re going to get out of them. As a matter of fact, I’m so glad that Mott & Bow found me – I truly am because I have been continuously impressed with the quality of their denim and clothing. You can find other posts about Mott & Bow here and here.

These items were gifted by Mott & Bow. This post also has affiliate links. Translation: if you purchase something through the link, I may receive a small commission. No – the price does not change.