It’s a common consensus that it can be difficult to locate the ideal pair of jeans. You therefore presumably want your jeans to last you a very long time when you do eventually find that amazing pair that fits just how you want it to. The good news is that denim is an extremely resilient material that holds up well over time—some even claim that it becomes better with age. The bad news is that denim can lose a significant amount of its lifespan if improperly cared for. Thus, in order to possibly ensure a happy ever after for you and your new favorite pair of jeans, Are Denim Jeans Affected by Drying?en asked questions about maintaining your denim, such as “do jeans shrink in the dryer?”
Do Jeans Shrink in the Dryer?
Yes, a dryer shrinks jeans. For a more technical explanation, consider this: jeans shrink in the dryer because of the tremendous heat and agitation from tumble, which disrupt the fiber links and cause the fabric to contract. (This also implies that jeans may shrink in the washing machine, particularly if hot water is used.) As per Clorox, jeans undergo shrinkage of approximately 3-4% when dried in the dryer. For instance, a 32-inch inseam pair of jeans would have shrinkage ranging from 1″ to 1.25″. That might make a difference in whether or not your jeans fit.
The dryer may help you get a more precise fit if you wish to purposefully shrink your jeans down a size. However, given the heat and agitation can also fade and tear down your denim, reducing their overall longevity, we don’t advise making machine drying your jeans a habit.
Jeans Can Shrink Differently
The terms “preshrunk” or “prewashed” may have been attached to certain pairs of jeans you’ve seen while shopping; these are standard techniques used to keep jeans from significantly shrinking when customers take them home and wash them. These jeans will, however, only slightly shrink in the dryer.
In addition to cotton, a tiny amount of spandex or elastane is currently used in the production of many jeans. This is meant to give jeans a more relaxed, stretchy feel. Jeans may be more resistant to shrinking if they contain spandex or elastane. On the other hand, there’s a chance that they will stretch out more with wear, which means you might have to wash them more frequently.
Denim that has not been treated or washed will shrink the most when it is washed. This is known as raw denim. It’s usually advised to hand wash or dry clean this kind of denim as little as possible rather than washing it in a machine.
How Not to Let Your Jeans Shrink
Understanding the kind of jeans and denim you’re working with might assist you minimize unanticipated shrinking, as was previously indicated. Additionally, the simplest method to lessen shrinkage is to wash your jeans less frequently because shrinking occurs throughout the washing cycle. Though there are many differing opinions on the subject, in general, you should be aware that the fewer often you wash your jeans, the less they will shrink and the longer they will last.
The Laundress co-founder Gwen Whiting advised us to wash jeans only after about ten wears, “or whenever jeans smell stale or unpleasant.” Whenever you do wash your jeans, make sure to use cold water to treat them gently. You should also line dry your jeans rather than placing them in the dryer.
