Your favorite denim jacket¹ looks dull and wrinkled after washing. You worry that cleaning it will cause it to shrink or fade. I will show you how to do it right.

To wash a jean jacket, turn it inside out and use a washing machine on a cold, gentle cycle with mild detergent. To dry it, either tumble dry on the lowest heat setting or hang it to air dry. This preserves the fabric, color, and fit of your jacket.

I've spent over 20 years in the denim industry. At my factory, DiZNEW, we handle thousands of denim garments every single day.

The biggest mistake I see people make is not with wearing their jacket, but with washing it. The right care can make a jacket last a lifetime, while the wrong method can ruin it in a single wash.

People always ask me about the specifics, like using a dryer or a washer. Let's break down these questions so you can care for your jacket like a pro.

Can I put a denim jacket in the dryer?

You pulled your damp jacket from the washer and the dryer seems so easy. But you know that high heat could shrink it. Here is the safest way to dry it.

Yes, you can put a denim jacket in the dryer, but you must use the lowest heat setting or a no-heat tumble dry² option. High heat will shrink the cotton fibers and can damage any stretch materials like elastane, permanently altering the jacket's fit and feel.

At my factory in Dongguan, we run countless tests on denim fabrics. One of the most important is the shrinkage test³ after washing and drying. I can tell you from experience that high heat is the number one enemy of a good fit. The heat causes the cotton fibers to contract tightly, which leads to shrinking.

If your jacket has any stretch in it, the heat can melt those delicate elastic fibers, leaving you with a saggy, misshapen garment. That's why we always recommend gentle drying methods to our clients.

Comparing Drying Methods

The best method for you depends on how much time you have and how cautious you want to be.

Method	Pros	Cons	My Recommendation
Tumble Dry Low	Fast and convenient. Softens the fabric.	Small risk of shrinkage. Uses electricity.	Best for when you need it dry quickly. Always use the lowest heat or air-fluff setting.
Air Dry	Zero risk of shrinkage. Extends the jacket's life. Saves energy.	Takes much longer. Fabric may feel stiff initially.	The absolute safest method. Hang it on a padded hanger away from direct sunlight to prevent fading.

A little trick I use is to air dry⁴ the jacket until it's about 90% dry, then toss it in the dryer on a no-heat cycle for ten minutes. This softens the fabric without the risk of heat damage.

Can jeans jackets go in the washer?

You want to wash your jacket, but you are afraid the machine will be too rough. The wrong cycle can cause ugly fading and wear out the seams. Let me show you how.

Yes, a jeans jacket can go in the washer. For the best results, you should turn the jacket inside out, use a gentle cycle⁵ with cold water, and choose a mild, color-safe detergent. This process protects the color and the structure of the garment from damage.

Using a washing machine is perfectly fine and it's how we test garments for durability at DiZNEW.
The key is not if you use a machine, but how you use it. We've seen jackets destroyed by hot water and aggressive spin cycles.

Following a few simple steps makes all the difference and keeps your jacket looking just like the day you bought it. It all starts with proper preparation before the jacket even touches the water.

Preparing Your Jacket for the Wash

First, empty all the pockets. I once saw a beautiful sample jacket ruined because a designer left a blue ink pen in the pocket.

It was a costly mistake that a simple check could have prevented. Next, close all buttons and zip up any zippers. This stops them from snagging on the fabric or banging against the inside of the machine, which can damage both the jacket and the washer.

Finally, turn the jacket inside out. This is the most important step. It protects the outer surface from abrasion, which preserves the color and any special details like patches or embroidery.

Choosing the Right Settings and Detergent

Always use cold water. Hot water causes the indigo dye in denim to bleed out, leading to quick fading. It also increases the risk of shrinkage.

The gentle or delicate cycle is best because it uses slower spin speeds, which puts less stress on the jacket's seams and fibers. When it comes to soap, choose a mild detergent⁶ made for dark or colored clothes. Harsh detergents can strip the dye from the fabric.

Should you wash a denim jacket separately?

It is time to do laundry, and you just want to throw everything in together. But denim dye is known to bleed and it can easily stain your other clothes.

Yes, you should wash a denim jacket separately for its first few washes. New or dark-wash denim often bleeds excess indigo dye. Washing it alone or only with other dark jeans prevents this dye from staining your lighter-colored clothing. After a few washes, it's safer.

In the denim world, we have a term called "crocking." This refers to the transfer of dye from one fabric to another, either when wet or dry.

At DiZNEW, every new wash we develop goes through rigorous crocking tests. We need to know exactly how much color will transfer so we can advise our clients.

A dark indigo jacket can absolutely ruin a white t-shirt in the same wash load. Washing it separately at the beginning is a simple step that protects all your clothes.

A Simple Guide to Denim Laundry Loads

Not all denim jackets are the same. Your washing strategy can change depending on the color and age of your jacket.

• New & Raw Denim: For the first 3 to 5 washes, always wash the jacket completely by itself. This is when the most excess dye will be released.
• Dark Wash Denim: After the first few washes, you can start washing it with other dark-colored items. Think black t-shirts, dark grey sweaters, or other pairs of jeans. Just never put it in with whites or pastels.
• Light Wash & Bleached Denim: These jackets have already lost most of their dye during the manufacturing process. They are much safer to wash with other clothes, but it is still a good idea to wash them with other light colors.

The Color Catcher Trick

If you are in a hurry and must wash your jacket with a mixed load, there is a helpful product called a color catcher sheet.

You just toss one of these sheets into the wash. It is designed to absorb any loose dyes in the water, preventing them from staining your other clothes. I often recommend this as a "safety net" for our clients to tell their customers about.

How to unwrinkle a denim jacket?

Your jacket is clean, but it is full of deep wrinkles. You know ironing can be harsh and takes a lot of time. There are much easier ways to get it smooth.

The best way to unwrinkle a denim jacket is with steam. You can hang it in your bathroom during a hot shower, use a handheld garment steamer, or tumble dry it for 15 minutes on low heat with a damp cloth to create steam inside the dryer.

Wrinkles happen when cotton fibers dry in a crumpled position. The key to removing them is moisture and a little heat to relax the fibers so they can straighten out.

At the factory, we never use a traditional iron on our final products. We exclusively use industrial steamers. Steam is gentle, effective, and it won't create a strange shine on the fabric's surface, which can happen with the high, direct heat of an iron.

You can easily use the same principle at home without any professional equipment.

Comparing Wrinkle-Removal Methods

Here are a few methods you can try, from the easiest to the most effective.

Method	Effectiveness	Risk to Fabric	Notes
Shower Steam	Moderate	Very Low	Easiest option. Hang the jacket on a hanger, close the door, and the steam from a hot shower will do the work.
Garment Steamer	High	Very Low	This is the best method. A handheld steamer quickly relaxes wrinkles without direct contact, protecting the fabric.
Dryer & Damp Cloth	High	Low	Very fast and simple. The damp cloth creates steam in the dryer. Use a low to medium heat setting for 10-15 minutes.
Ironing	High	Medium	Only do this as a last resort. Turn the jacket inside out, use a medium heat setting, and never let the iron sit in one spot.

My personal go-to method is the garment steamer. It's a small investment that works wonders for all your clothes, not just denim. It gives you that perfect, fresh-from-the-factory finish every single time.

Conclusion

Properly caring for a jean jacket is simple. Wash it inside out with cold water on a gentle cycle. Dry it on low heat or hang it to dry.

---