The former CEO of Levi Strauss & Co. once surprised many people after saying that jeans should almost never be washed in a washing machine. His advice quickly went viral and started a big debate online.
Charles “Chip” Bergh, who led the company for years, explained that frequent washing can damage denim. According to him, washing jeans too often can cause them to lose their color, shape, and overall fit faster.
He clarified that he did not mean people should never clean their jeans at all. Instead, he recommended spot cleaning small stains rather than putting jeans in the washing machine every time they get dirty.
Bergh also said that if jeans become very dirty, he sometimes washes them in the shower while wearing them instead of using a washing machine. The idea is to protect the denim fabric and make the jeans last longer.
According to Levi’s recommendations, jeans should usually be washed only after about ten wears unless they are very dirty or smell bad. Washing too often can cause fading and damage the material over time.
Experts also say that when you do wash jeans, you should turn them inside out, use cold water, and let them air dry instead of using a dryer to help them last longer.
The advice has divided people online. Some agree that washing jeans too often ruins them, while others say they still prefer to wash their clothes regularly for hygiene reasons.
Either way, the Levi’s CEO’s advice made many people rethink how often they wash their jeans and how they take care of their denim.
