Can alterations really make my jeans bigger?

Your favorite jeans feel uncomfortably tight around the waist. You don’t want to get rid of them, but you can’t wear them. Is there any hope left for them? Yes, alterations can make jeans bigger1, but only by a small amount. A tailor lets out the hidden fabric in the seams, so the expansion is […]
Can a tailor really make the ends of my jeans slimmer?

You have a pair of straight-leg jeans that fit perfectly in the waist and thighs, but the wide leg opening feels dated. It just doesn’t look right with your favorite sneakers. Yes, a tailor can easily make the ends of your jeans slimmer. This common alteration is called "tapering," and it involves narrowing the leg […]
Can detergent make blue jeans shrink in cold water?

You carefully wash your favorite blue jeans1 in cold water, hoping to keep them the perfect size. But you still worry—could the detergent you’re using be secretly shrinking them? No, detergent itself does not make blue jeans shrink in cold water. Any minor shrinkage you might see is caused by the water relaxing the cotton […]
Can a dry cleaner really make my jeans skinny?

You have a pair of jeans that are comfortable but too baggy in the legs. You love the wash and the fabric, but the relaxed fit just feels outdated and sloppy. Yes, many dry cleaners can make your jeans skinny because they have professional tailors1 on-site who perform alterations. They can taper the legs and […]
Can freezing your jeans really make the odor go away?

Your jeans don’t look dirty, but they smell a little stale. You’ve heard about a trick to freeze them, but you’re skeptical. Does putting your jeans next to frozen vegetables actually work? Yes, freezing jeans1 can temporarily reduce mild odors by making the odor-causing bacteria dormant. However, it doesn’t kill all the bacteria or remove […]