Black jeans can be a great addition to your wardrobe, but keeping them looking new can be difficult after you've washed and worn them a few times. The indigo dye in denim can leach onto other fabrics or even leather, and will fade over time. While it's not possible to reverse the color of faded jeans, you can prevent this from happening and re-stain them if necessary. If done with the right technique, you can easily restore faded jeans, maintain color depth, and keep your look fresh and trendy.
Step
Part 1 of 2: Recolor the Faded Black Jin
Step 1. Choose the right time to color the genie
Choose a day when you have a lot of free time. You should have plenty of time to soak, dry, and clean your jeans.
Wash the jeans first. Dirty cloth does not absorb the wenter (dye) well
Step 2. Select a wenter with a dark color
You can buy wenters of various brands at grocery or craft stores, which are sold in liquid or powder form. Follow the instructions given by the goer. You may have to boil the water, or you could use the washing machine to replace a pot, bucket, or sink when dyeing your jeans.
- The liquid Wenter is more concentrated and has dissolved in the water so you can use it in smaller amounts.
- If using a powder goer, you must first dissolve it in hot water.
- Use the right number of wenters. Always follow the wenter manufacturer's instructions so that you can mix the wenter and water in the right amount.
Step 3. Gather the required materials
You will need a genie, a wenter, tongs or metal utensils to stir and lift the jeans, rubber gloves, a newspaper or plastic table cover, a tissue or sponge, and a bucket or sink to rinse the jeans. Make sure you have prepared everything mentioned in the goer's instructions.
- Cover the work area with plastic sheets or old newsprint to prevent the wenter from staining the floor and other objects.
- Do not color or wash items in the sink or bathtub that are made of fiberglass or porcelain, as these can stain them.
Step 4. Soak the genie according to the time stated in the wenter's instructions
The longer the jeans are soaked, the darker the color will be.
- Stir the water as often as possible according to the product directions. Stirring the jeans is useful for preventing the appearance of a darker color in certain parts of the fabric.
- Try using a fixative. Once the jeans have been stained, the fixative will help retain the color before you rinse. The most common fixative is white vinegar, but you can also use a factory-made fixative.
Step 5. Rinse your genie
Rinse the genie using cold running water until the water is clear. Squeeze out the excess water after you rinse.
Step 6. Wash and dry your newly dyed jeans
Wash with a mild detergent and cold water. Do not wash it with other clothes in the washing machine.
If using a dryer, use the lowest setting or no heating to keep the new color bright
Step 7. Do the cleaning
Throw any used water down the drain, then wash all equipment you used to dye your jeans with fresh, cold water.
Part 2 of 2: Preventing the Black Jinn from Fading
Step 1. Let the wenter stick to the fabric
Before wearing, soak the jeans first so that the color sticks more. Turn the clothes over and soak them in cold water mixed with 1 cup vinegar and 1 tbsp. salt.
The salt and vinegar will act as a seal against the wenter genie
Step 2. Wash the jeans before wearing
Put the jeans in the washing machine and spin them a few times in cold water to remove any residue from the wenter. The rest of this wenter can make the color of the fabric fade.
Use a cloth protective spray or fixative. Using a protective material (such as Scotchgard) or a fixative can prevent fading of the jeans fabric
Step 3. Wash the jeans separately or collect them with another dark cloth
Use the gentlest wash setting using cold water.
- Turn the jeans inside out before you wash them. Even if you turn it upside down, the washing results will be just as clean, and this is useful for reducing machine abrasion of the fabric.
- Use a good quality liquid detergent specially designed for black and dark fabrics. This detergent will disable the chlorine in the water, which can cause the fabric to fade.
Step 4. Try washing the jeans in another way
It's best if you don't use the washing machine too often, and you can use several other methods to keep your jeans clean.
- Washing jeans by hand gives better results than using a washing machine on a gentle setting. Add a few drops of detergent to the tub, add the water, and soak the jeans for about 1 hour.
- Spray the jeans with a mixture made of water and vodka (in equal proportions), and allow to dry. After that, put the genie in the freezer for one night to kill the bacteria. Alternatively, you can use a mixture of water and white vinegar in equal proportions.
- You can remove odors and wrinkles on your jeans by steaming them.
- Another method is to do dry cleaning. Be sure to let the laundromat know if there are any stains or dirt that needs to be professionally removed.
Step 5. Dry the jeans or dry them on the lowest setting
Heat makes the color of the jeans fade so you should use the lowest drying setting, or even no heat. You can also let it dry on the drying rack.
- If you want to dry your jeans outdoors, choose a dry, shady location that doesn't get a lot of sun. Ultraviolet light can damage the fabric and cause it to fade.
- Do not use the dryer for a long time. Remove the jeans while they are still damp to help keep the fabric intact.
