Raw denim rewards patience, and nothing shapes your jeans more than how, and how often, you wash them. Here is how to keep raw denim looking its best while building the high-contrast fades it is famous for.
How often should you wash raw denim?
The golden rule: wash as little as possible. For a first pair, many denim enthusiasts wait 3 to 6 months of regular wear before the first wash. The longer you wait, the sharper the contrast between worn and unworn areas. That said, hygiene comes first, if your jeans smell or you have sweated heavily, wash them. Fades are not worth a rash.
Before the first wash
If your denim is unsanforized (shrink-to-fit), expect 5 to 10 percent shrinkage on the first wash or soak, so size accordingly. Sanforized denim is pre-shrunk and barely moves. Not sure which you have? Check the product page or ask our team.
The cold-soak method (gentlest)
- Fill a bathtub or large basin with cold or lukewarm water.
- Turn the jeans inside out and submerge them flat, pressing out air bubbles.
- Soak for 30 to 45 minutes. Add a capful of gentle, dye-free detergent if they are dirty.
- Drain, gently press out excess water without wringing, and hang to dry.
Machine washing (when needed)
- Turn jeans inside out to protect the surface and fades.
- Use cold water, a gentle or delicate cycle, and a small amount of mild detergent.
- Skip fabric softener and never use bleach.
- Wash them alone or with like colours, indigo bleeds.
Drying
Always air-dry. Hang by the waistband or lay flat, and avoid the tumble dryer, heat shrinks fibres, fades indigo unevenly, and stresses seams. A little sun is fine, but prolonged direct sunlight can fade the indigo more than you want.
Between washes
- Air them out after wearing, hang them up, or even outside.
- Spot-clean small stains with a damp cloth and a touch of mild soap.
- Airing beats over-washing for odour control.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Hot water and tumble drying (shrinkage and harsh, uneven fades)
- Fabric softener and bleach (break down indigo and fibres)
- Washing brand-new raw denim too early (kills contrast)
- Wringing them out (creases and stress marks in the wrong places)
The short version
Wear them often, wash them rarely, always cold, always air-dry. Do that and your raw denim will fade into a one-of-a-kind pair that is truly yours.
Questions about a specific pair? Visit any Pronto Denim store or message us, we are happy to help you break in your denim the right way.