How to Soften Jeans

Co-authored by Kamel Almani

Last Updated: September 16, 2021 References

Jeans are made of durable denim fabric, which often means that they are stiff and uncomfortable at first. If your jeans are especially stiff, soften them by washing them with fabric softener and drying them with dryer balls. To break jeans in quickly without washing them, wear them as much as you can, ride a bike while you wear them, or do some deep lunges.

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Breaking in Jeans Without Washing

1
Wear your jeans as much as possible. The oldest tried and true method of softening jeans is simply wearing them and letting the fibers stretch and soften. When you first buy jeans, wear them every day or at least as often as you can. They’ll soften up faster if you wear them for a week straight than if you wear them once a week.^{[1]
X
Research source}
2
Ride a bike while wearing the jeans. While the jeans will soften with normal wear, biking achieves an exaggerated effect. The constant bending and stretching motion that riding a bike requires puts extra stress on the jeans, breaking them in faster.^{[2]
X
Research source}
- Spend a half hour or more riding in your new jeans to jump start their softening.
Advertisement
3
Do some deep lunges in the jeans. Put the jeans on and stretch one of your legs out in front of you as far as you can. Then lower your other knee to the ground. Stand back up and do the same thing with the opposite leg. Repeat this process at least a handful of times to break the jeans in quickly.^{[3]
X
Research source}
4
Wash your jeans only on occasion. Washing denim tends to tighten up the fibers that you’ve stretched out with wear. For occasions when you don’t get the jeans filthy, washing them every 5-10 times of wearing them is sufficient. You’ll have to judge for yourself if they are actually dirty and ready to be washed.^{[4]
X
Research source}

Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

Washing New Jeans

1
Turn your jeans inside out. Check the tag of your jeans to confirm this, but most jeans are supposed to be washed inside out. Since washing distresses the color and look of the jeans, turning them inside out reduces this a bit.^{[5]
X
Research source}
2
Fill the washing machine with cold water. Although denim isn’t going to shrink all that much, it’s still best to wash new jeans with cold water. Set the washer on a small load cycle and turn the agitation to high if you have the option. Let the basin fill before you put the jeans in it.^{[6]
X
Research source}
- For front-load washing machines, you won't have the option to fill the machine first. If you have a front-load washer, add the jeans as you normally would.
3
Add liquid fabric softener to the water. Choose whichever softener you prefer. Measure out ½ to 1 capful of the fabric softener and pour it into the water. Swirl the water around with your hand or a hanger so the softener mixes into the water.^{[7]
X
Expert Source

Kamel Almani
Laundry & Cleaning Specialist
Expert Interview. 9 April 2021.}
- Don’t add any detergent the first time washing the jeans. Only add fabric softener.
- For front-load washers, you may have to put the softener in the detergent compartment so it adds to the water during the wash cycle.
- In the final rinse cycle of the wash, add vinegar instead of fabric softener.^{[8]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  Kamel Almani
  Laundry & Cleaning Specialist
  Expert Interview. 9 April 2021.}
4
Push the jeans into the water. Put the jeans into the washing machine and press them down under the water. Hold them there long enough that they soak up the water. You want to make sure they soak up the water rather than sit on the top of it. Close the lid and start the washer.
5
Stop the machine after the wash cycle for extra-stiff jeans. If the jeans are especially stiff, stop the machine after it finishes the wash cycle and before the water drains. Add a bit more softener and start the wash cycle over again. It’s okay to do this three or four times for extra-stiff, new jeans.
6
Let the washing machine run through the cycle. If the jeans aren't super stiff, let the washing machine run as normal the first time through. Also, if you run the wash cycle with softener additional times, let the machine run through the whole cycle (including rinse and spin) on the last time.

Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Drying New Jeans

1
Leave the jeans inside out from the wash. Pull the jeans from the washer and leave them inside out. Also make sure the zipper is up and the jeans are buttoned.^{[9]
X
Research source}
2
Dry the jeans on a low heat setting. High heat puts extra and unnecessary stress on the material of the jeans, so stick to the low setting. Permanent press or delicate are both good options. It’s best to dry only a few pairs of jeans at a time or they will take a lot longer to dry.^{[10]
X
Research source}
3
Add dryer balls or tennis balls to the dryer. Dryer balls are rubber or wool balls that beat against the jeans during the dry cycle. They loosen the fibers of the jeans, which provides extra softening. Dryer balls are especially helpful with stiff fabrics like denim.
- Look for dryer balls in the laundry sector of the grocery or big-box store. Dollar stores may even have a cheap version.
- Tennis balls are a cheap alternative which accomplish the same effect.
4
Roll the jeans up when you take them out of the dyer. Pull the jeans out of the dryer and roll them up while they are still hot. Fold the legs on top of each other. Then start rolling from the bottom of the pants until you get to the top. Leave them rolled up at least until they cool off from drying.

Expert Q&A

Question

Is it okay to dry jeans in the dryer?

Kamel Almani
Laundry & Cleaning Specialist
Kamel Almani is a Laundry and Cleaning Specialist and the Co-Owner of WashyWash, a toxin-free and eco-friendly laundry and dry clean service based in Amman, Jordan. Kamel and his staff at WashyWash use Blue Angel certified and dermatologically-tested detergents. They also combine EcoClean and digital technology to provide an eco-friendly, convenient, and quality cleaning service. Kamel holds a BA in Design from the University of Applied Science, Amman.

Kamel Almani

Laundry & Cleaning Specialist

Expert Answer

Yes, if you tumble dry them using a low heat setting. This will soften the fabric more than air drying. You can also steam iron them to help loosen up the fabric.
Question

Could I use a sharp paring knife instead of sandpaper?

Community Answer

It is not a good idea. You might accidentally destroy your jeans instead of softening them.
Question

Where can I buy preshrunk Levi jeans?

Community Answer

Most Levi jeans are already sanforized (pre-shrunk), so they will not shrink much after the first wash. The only pairs of Levi jeans that are not preshrunk are the ones labeled "Shrink to Fit" or "STF." People who buy these pairs usually wash them, then wear them damp to mold the jeans to their body shapes.