It is universally acknowledged that washing your clothes is a must after a few wears.
But that’s a different conversation altogether when it comes to how frequently you should wash your pants.
Fortunately, a professional opinion has been provided by the person behind one of the largest clothing firms.
Held since 2011, Charles “Chip” Bergh is the president and chief executive officer of Levi Strauss & Co.
According to Stock Analysis, the apparel company is one of the biggest and most well-known in the world, with an estimated value of $5.82 billion.
Although Levi’s is most renowned for their jeans, the firm also offers T-shirts and jackets, so Bergh would naturally know the best way to care for your jeans.
The CEO clarified in a 2014 interview with Fortune that, “except for very infrequently or rarely,” a nice pair of jeans doesn’t necessarily need to be washed in a washing machine.
According to The Evening Standard, Bergh neglected to wash one of his favorite pairs of pants for a decade.
He had to defend his statements while speaking with CNBC since people did indeed take him at his word.
“I never said don’t wash your jeans,” he said. “True denim heads, people that really love their denim, will tell you to never put your denim into a washing machine. So that’s what I do.”
According to John Reid, general director of clothing store Garment Quarter, experts who are familiar with the material will advise against washing denim since it can change the way it looks.
“The sheer amount of water that they are exposed to in a washing machine can be the culprit for affecting the look and color of the denim by fading over time,” he explained.
“Cotton-based denim jeans with little stretch to them will become more comfortable over time.”
Denim that hasn’t been washed will also last longer because the fibers won’t break down and cause tears or holes in the material.
In the event that Bergh spills something on his pants, he would rather spot-clean them or, if the stain is nasty, wash them in the shower.
Thankfully, Levi’s has kindly posted cleaning advice on their website if you’re wondering how to wash your jeans.
Denim, according to the maker, is not very delicate since, unlike other fabrics, it can get wet without becoming damaged, making dry cleaning “pretty unnecessary.” Denim got its beginnings as “workwear.”
But if you were to run them through the washing machine, Levi’s says: “You’ll wanna turn your jeans inside out to protect the color from fading through direct contact with detergent. Make sure the zipper is closed to help maintain the shape.”
“You’ll wanna set the water temperature to cold. Cold water prevents the fabric from shrinking and the color from fading.”
“Choose gentle or delicate wash to make sure your jeans aren’t being put through any unnecessary stress. Pick a gentle detergent for darker colors if you have a dark blue or black wash.”
Regarding the frequency of washing, Levi’s advises going extended periods without washing your jeans to preserve their “distinct lines and creases.”
The guide reads: “That unique look comes from wearing your jeans for long periods without washing. So in the spirit of helping you all achieve that aesthetic, we’ll help you understand how often to wash them. In terms of optimal washing frequency, we’d say less is more is the general guideline.”
“The more specific guideline is to wash them once every 10 wears at most to keep them fitting correctly and make sure you minimize sagging.”
Levi’s states that you can wear it longer, even though 10 wears is recommended.
The apparel firm continues, “Instead of choosing a full-on machine cycle, we are suggesting that you use a damp cloth or old toothbrush with mild soap to remove small stains in between washes.”
