Home | DIY Methods | DIY Cleaning Methods for Jeans

DIY Cleaning Methods for Jeans

Reviewed by Zac Kieffer

Updated: September 15, 2025

Discover easy DIY cleaning methods for jeans. Keep your denim fresh, clean, and long-lasting with these simple at-home tips and tricks.

DIY Cleaning Methods for Jeans

Cold Water and Mild Detergent

Fill a basin with cold water and add a small amount of mild detergent. Submerge the jeans and gently agitate them by hand. Let soak for 15–30 minutes, then rinse thoroughly with cold water. Air dry to maintain the fabric’s color and shape.

Title

How to Clean Jeans with Cold Water and Mild Detergent

Turn your jeans inside out before washing. This helps reduce fading and protects the outer fibers from friction in the wash.

Use cold water. Cold water is less likely to cause shrinking or color loss, which is especially important for dark or raw denim. It also helps preserve the fit and feel of your jeans.

Choose a mild detergent. Look for a detergent labeled as “gentle” or “for delicates.” These formulas are less likely to be harsh on denim fibers and help maintain the fabric’s integrity.

Wash on a gentle cycle. If you’re using a washing machine, select the gentle or delicate cycle. This reduces agitation, which can wear out denim faster.

Avoid overloading the machine. Give your jeans enough space to move freely. Overcrowding can lead to uneven cleaning and extra creasing.

Skip the fabric softener. Fabric softeners can coat denim fibers, making them feel waxy or less breathable over time.

Air dry your jeans. Hang them up or lay them flat to dry. High heat from dryers can cause shrinkage and break down the fabric’s structure. If you want to avoid stiff jeans, give them a gentle shake before hanging.

Spot clean when possible. For small stains, use a damp cloth and a drop of mild detergent to gently blot the area. This can help you go longer between full washes.

Stain Penetration Limitations

Cold water and mild detergent may not fully remove deep or set-in stains from jeans, as they lack the strength to break down tougher residues, leading to visible marks or incomplete cleaning after washing.

White Vinegar and Baking Soda Soak

Fill a basin with warm water and add 1 cup of white vinegar and ½ cup of baking soda. Submerge your jeans and let them soak for 30–60 minutes. Rinse thoroughly with cold water and air dry. This method helps remove odors, break down stains, and refresh your jeans naturally.

Title

How to Soak Jeans with White Vinegar and Baking Soda

Gather your supplies: You’ll need a clean tub or large basin, white vinegar (the plain, distilled kind), baking soda, and cold water. Make sure your jeans are free of any loose dirt or debris—give them a quick shake or brush-off first.

Mix your solution: Fill your tub or basin with enough cold water to fully submerge your jeans. Add about 1 cup of white vinegar and 2–3 tablespoons of baking soda. The mixture will fizz—this is normal, and it’s just the baking soda reacting with the vinegar.

Submerge the jeans: Place your jeans in the solution, making sure they’re fully covered. Gently agitate the water with your hands to help the mixture reach all areas of the fabric. If you’re working with dark or raw denim, avoid scrubbing or twisting, as this can affect the color and texture.

Let them soak: Allow the jeans to soak for 30–60 minutes. This gives the vinegar and baking soda time to work on lingering odors and help loosen buildup from detergents or body oils. If you’re dealing with particularly stubborn smells, you can extend the soak up to 2 hours, but don’t go much longer—prolonged soaking can weaken fibers.

Rinse thoroughly: After soaking, drain the tub and rinse the jeans under cold running water. Keep rinsing until the water runs clear and you don’t feel any residue. This step is important—leftover baking soda can leave a gritty feel, and vinegar can leave a scent if not rinsed well.

Air dry: Lay your jeans flat on a clean towel or hang them up to air dry. Avoid using a dryer, as high heat can cause shrinkage and fade the color. If you want to keep the shape, reshape the jeans while damp and let them dry naturally.

What this method does: The vinegar helps neutralize odors and can break down some mineral deposits from hard water. Baking soda acts as a mild deodorizer and can help lift some residues. This soak is a gentle way to freshen up jeans between washes or after a sweaty day, without using harsh products.

Color Fading Risk

Using white vinegar and baking soda to soak jeans can cause color fading, as the acidic and alkaline properties may strip dye from the fabric, leading to a lighter or uneven appearance over time.

Salt Water Soak

Dissolve 1/4 cup of salt in a basin of cold water. Submerge your jeans and let them soak for 1 hour. Rinse thoroughly with cold water and air dry. This method helps set the dye and remove light stains without harsh chemicals.

Title

Salt Water Soak for Jeans: A Straightforward Guide

Why Soak Jeans in Salt Water?

Helps set dye: Salt water is often used in an attempt to help set the indigo dye in new jeans, which can sometimes reduce the amount of color that rubs off onto other clothes or surfaces.
Gentle cleaning: This method is less aggressive than a typical machine wash, which can help jeans keep their shape and color a bit longer.
Minimal shrinkage: Soaking in cool salt water is less likely to shrink your jeans compared to hot water or a dryer.

What You’ll Need

Table salt: About 1/2 cup for a standard-sized bucket or sink.
Cold water: Enough to fully submerge your jeans.
A clean bucket or bathtub: Make sure it’s free of any cleaning product residue.
Old towel: For drying, since jeans can drip a lot after soaking.

How to Do a Salt Water Soak

Fill your bucket or tub with cold water. Add about 1/2 cup of table salt and stir until it’s dissolved.
Turn your jeans inside out. This helps protect the outer color and surface.
Submerge the jeans fully. Make sure they’re completely underwater. If they float, weigh them down with a clean plate or another heavy, non-reactive object.
Let them soak for 1–2 hours. Swish them around gently once or twice to make sure the salt water reaches all areas.
Rinse thoroughly with cold water. Get all the salt out—leftover salt can make fabric feel stiff.
Press out excess water (don’t wring). Lay the jeans flat on an old towel, roll them up, and press to remove water. Wringing can twist the fabric and mess with the fit.
Air dry flat or hang by the waistband. Avoid direct sunlight, which can fade the color.

Extra Tips

Spot clean stains first: If you have a specific spot, dab it gently with a damp cloth before soaking. Salt water won’t do much for set-in stains.
Don’t overdo it: Frequent soaking isn’t necessary. Once when new, or after a few wears, is usually enough if you’re trying to help set the dye.
Skip the salt if your jeans are pre-washed or labeled “colorfast.” The salt soak is mostly for raw or unwashed denim.

Residual Odor Retention

Salt water may not fully remove deep-set odors from jeans, causing residual smells to linger even after soaking. This method is less effective on strong or persistent odors compared to specialized detergents or thorough washing.

Squeeze fresh lemon juice onto the stained areas of your jeans. Lay the jeans in direct sunlight for a few hours. The natural bleaching action of lemon juice combined with sunlight helps lift stains and brighten the fabric. Wash as usual after treatment.

Title

Lemon Juice and Sunlight for Cleaning Jeans: A Straightforward Guide

Gather your supplies: You’ll need fresh lemon juice (bottled works in a pinch), a clean spray bottle or bowl, and access to direct sunlight. If you’re working with dark or raw denim, test on a hidden spot first—lemon juice can lighten fabric.

Spot treat stains: Squeeze or pour lemon juice directly onto the stained area of your jeans. For stubborn spots, gently rub the juice in with your fingers or a soft cloth. The citric acid in lemon juice helps break down some common stains like grass or food.

Lay jeans flat in sunlight: Place your jeans outside on a clean surface, stain-side up. Sunlight can help boost the stain-fighting power of lemon juice thanks to a process called photobleaching (that’s just a fancy way of saying the sun can lighten stains). Make sure the jeans are spread out so the treated area gets full exposure.

Let them sit: Leave the jeans in the sun for a few hours. Keep an eye on them—prolonged sun exposure can fade denim, especially if it’s a deep or vibrant color. If you’re worried about fading, check every 30 minutes or so.

Rinse and wash: After sun treatment, rinse the jeans thoroughly with cool water to remove any lemon residue. Then wash as usual, following the care label instructions. This helps prevent any lingering stickiness or scent.

Dry as recommended: Air dry your jeans if possible. High heat from a dryer can set any remaining stains and may shrink denim.

What to expect: Lemon juice and sunlight can help lighten some stains and freshen up jeans, but results vary depending on the stain type and denim color. This method is best for light spot cleaning, not for deep cleaning or heavy-duty stain removal.

Fabric Fiber Damage

Lemon juice is acidic and, when combined with sunlight, can weaken and break down the fibers in denim, leading to fabric damage, fading, and reduced durability of the jeans over time.

E-Cloth

Other Brands

Precision-engineered, uniform microfibers

Often crushed/less consistent fibers

No streaks with just water

May need chemicals for same results

Lasts ~300 washes

Many break down faster

Traps and locks in particles

Can smear dirt around

Reduces chemicals & waste, reusable

Less eco, more waste/chemicals

Shop Now

A Clean You Can See

Our high-performance microfiber products simplify cleaning, making it quick, easy, and effective, so you can enjoy visible results without the fuss. No streaks, just results.

Shop Now

30-day money back guarantee

Experience Real Cleaning

A Clean You Can See

Blue Liquid Glass Cleaner

E-Cloth Window Cleaning Kit

General Purpose Cloth

$7.99

190 total reviews

DESCRIPTION

Always up for some good clean fun, the E-Cloth General Purpose Cloth tackles nearly every household cleaning task on your list. Masses of precision-engineered microfibers attract and trap grease, grime, fingerprints, and over 99% of bacteria using the cleaning power of water. Use it on countertops, tile, appliances, even glass. Just dampen and wipe. With so many grab-and-go uses, this cloth will be a constant companion. And without cleaning fluids to lug and spray, you’ll speed through chores – and avoid elements that could linger in air and on surfaces and travel down drains. Rinse and dry between tasks. Toss in the laundry – not a landfill – to refresh. Reusable and backed by our 1-year or 100-wash promise, this cloth helps you cut down on waste and cost, and still clean fresh.

Choose a Quantity: 1 PC

1 PC
2 PC
4 PC

Color: Alaskan Blue

Alaskan Blue
Daffodil Yellow

Product variants

Need help?

View full details