No matter if it is a jacket or something else, denim fabric tends to get stiff in the beginning. And we do not prefer buying old denim jackets. Then the only option is to soften this. It seems that you are looking for the same solution.
How to Soften a Denim Jacket?
This post contains a set of tips that you can use to soften any type of denim from white jeans to colored rinses and dark-wash denim. It requires you to perform a few simple steps.
The Stuff You Will Need –
- Denim jacket
- Scissors
- White household vinegar
- Four clean tennis balls
- Clothes washer and dryer
- Plastic bucket or tub
- A small square of fine-grit sandpaper
Step 1: Remove the Tag of Your Denim Jacket
Get sharp, pointy scissors on your hand. Cut off the tag from the inside of your denim jacket. Snip close to the threads carefully. It will help avoid the puncturing of the jacket’s fabric. However, do not tear anything that comprises special washing instructions.
Step 2: Turn the Jacket Inside Out
Before you go for a wash, turn your jacket inside out. It’s time to exasperate the jacket for getting a soft feel, right? It will keep the look intact. However, you can avoid this if there are any distressed and abraded details charming on your denim jacket.
Step 3: Apply a White Vinegar
Experts recommend a fabric-friendly natural softening agent and white vinegar is the most recommended agent. Then let us tell you the know-how to prepare a softening solution by this.
Get a clean bucket or plastic tub. Mix one cup of regular and eight cups of hot tap water. Then put your denim jacket therein. It would help best if soak overnight by sinking the jacket fully.
This vinegar-based solution not only softens denim but also preserves the color in a dark rinse. No worries if you have a brand-new jacket. Such a vinegar soak will help prevent dye bleeding too! Else, as soon as the jacket dries, the vinegar scent will go away. Your denim jacket is not going to smell of salt and vinegar chips!
Step 4: Put Your Jacket in the Dryer
It’s time to dry the jacket. This time you will remove vinegar from your stuff. Wash them thereby. Then put it into the dryer. It needs to be inside-out. Rely on the lowest heat setting if you feel any risk of shrinkage.
Step 5: Roll the Jacket into a Ball
Roll your denim jacket into a tight ball when it is completely dry and feels hot after being treated by the dryer. It would help if you roll it tightly like a sleeping bag. Make the ball as smallest and tightest as you can.
Now have a fabric piece or bathrobe belt to tie up the jacket ball so that it can stay condensed. Then let it be cool. It should not take more than one hour.
Such a rolled hot mode will help stretch the denim. At the same time, it will achieve the desired goal. That means you will get the aimed softening effect on your denim jacket.
Step 6: Sand the Jacket
Sanding will help gain the lived-in look. Let us show you the way.
Unroll the jacket. It should still remain inside-out. Get a small square of fine-grit sandpaper. Employ it to rub the internal portion of your denim jacket. Please do it gently. It would help best if you move the sandpaper in horizontal strokes.
This step needs your special patience. There might be some loosened fibers. Brush them away!
Step 7: Wash Jacket in Warm Water
Now send your denim jacket into your washing machine. You don’t need to apply any detergent. It would help best if you go for the warm or medium-temperature water setting.
Are you dealing with only one jacket? Then choose the low-water setting. It will help preserve water for smaller laundry loads.
Step 8: Embrace the Tennis Ball Drying Technique
After washing the jacket, place the jacket in the clothes dryer. Add four clean tennis balls. The balls will be handy to soften the denim jacket for a worn-in feel.
However, there is a risk of shrinkage if your jacket has a high amount of stretch. So it will be wise to set the dryer on a low heat setting. On the contrary, if don’t care about shrinking, you may go for the hottest setting. It will soften your jacket at its best.
Step 9: Wear and Repeat in Need
Now it’s ready to wear the softened denim jacket! And remember, the more you wear the more it will soften. Apart from this, the frequent wash will soften additionally.
How Do I Soften Denim Jackets without Washing
Denim jackets can lose their shape and color when washed too often. Here are a few methods to soften your denim jacket without washing it. Denim becomes softer when worn.
Your denim jacket will become softer and more comfortable as you wear it and move around. You can also put your denim jacket in the dryer for about 15 minutes on a low heat setting if you don’t have time to wait for this method to work. Making the fabric softer will help it loosen up the material.
Using fabric softener without washing denim can also soften it. For 15 minutes, soak your jacket in cold water with a few drops of fabric softener. By doing this, the fabric will become softer and more flexible.
You can steam if you need to soften your denim jacket quickly. During your shower, run the hot water until the room is boiling, and hang your jacket up. It would help if you held your jacket close to the steam for a few minutes.
Making the fabric softer by loosening it up will help. We hope that these methods will assist you in softening your denim jacket without the need to wash it. It is important to remember that cleaning your jacket too often may result in it losing its shape and color. Therefore, only wash your jacket when it is essential.
Frequently Asked Questions and Answers (FAQs)
Question: How do you make a jacket-less stiff?
Answer: It would help best if you put the jacket in your dryer along with a clean tennis ball. Then go through a complete cycle. Repeat this until you get the desired softness.
Question: How can I soften a denim jacket without shrinking it?
Answer: You should avoid using a dryer if you don’t want to face shrinkage. Instead, you better solely rely on the vinegar method. Apply the details we mentioned in the post above. Maximize the time of soaking to reach your aimed softness.
Question: Will baking soda soften denim?
Answer: Baking soda contains sodium. It not only helps set any dye but also softens your fabric. So you may try this for your denim jacket as well. Apart from this, you may try bleach.
Question: Should I wash my new denim jacket?
Answer: No doubt, you should wash your new denim jacket. Especially, if you want to reduce the stiffness of that fabric, you must wash it. In fact, the frequent wash will help you the utmost.
Question: How do you break in a raw denim jacket?
Answer: In order to break in a raw denim jacket, you may rely on methods like biking, soaking, lunges, etc.
Question: Does denim soften over time?
Answer: Yes, it does. The more you bend, wear, or use, the more denim stuff loses its rigidity. That’s the reason you find old denim jeans or jackets pretty comfortable.
To Wrap Up
Now you know all the possible means and necessary steps to soften a denim jacket. It’s high time you applied this technique. Go and start your experiment. It’s amazing to rush toward the goal no matter how trivial it is!
Best of luck!
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