Don’t Clean Your Jeans: The Smart Way to Care for Denim Your washer and dryer are killing your denim.

Jeans were originally designed to withstand the rigors of the blue-collar workday, but in today’s society, they’re also high fashion. That means you need to treat your Levis like Versace if you want them to keep on looking their best. And the best way to do that is to keep your denim out of the washer and dryer. While efficient, these devices will eventually ruin your costly clothes. If you've invested in some premium denim, follow these four tips to get the most out of your beloved bottoms. Soak your denim in vinegar. Whether you paid chump change for a pair of black jeans or spent half your paycheck on indigo-dyed selvedge denim, the goal is to keep the original color. Water itself will wash away your denim’s dye over time, and soap will only hasten the process. [Credit: Flickr user "Elfboy"] Try soaking your jeans in cold water and vinegar instead of washing them. Yes,vinegar. Add one cup of distilled white vinegar to a cold water bath and soak your jeans for about an hour. Hang or lay flat to dry, and don’t worry about smelling like vinegar—the odor goes away after your pants dry. This technique locks in the dye’s color, keeping your jeans dark and your furniture clean. And if youmustuse a washing machine, toss in a cup of vinegar on a hand-wash setting—but please, no detergent. Give your trousers a light steam shower. Water, both warm and hot, not only fades your denim—it causes shrinkage. If you’re barely able to squirm into your skinny jeans, a hot bath is the last thing they need. Even if you don't use a dryer, hot water will cause fabric to expand and then shrink. [Credit: Flickr user "Lottie45"] Unless you've been playing in mud, your jeans probably aren’t very dirty. A quick way to freshen them up is to hang them in your bathroom while you shower. Steam from your aromatic shower will soon have your dark blues smelling new, and a small amount of water vapor won’t make the fabric swell. Hang your jeans outside. Your dryer poses just as much of a threat to your denim as the washer. High temperatures will make your jeans shrink, and all the tumbling leads to unnecessary wear and tear. [Credit: Flickr user "Violentz"] If it’s a nice day outside, hang your favorite pair outdoors. Having your jeans air out gives them a rejuvenated scent—just make sure they’re out of direct sunlight. The bright star we refer to as “the sun” can bleach your dark jeans faster than you'd think. http://laundry.reviewed.com/features/dont-clean-your-jeans-smart-way-to-care-for-denim