HOW TO CARE FOR YOUR DENIM

Denim is a favourite on and off the jobsite, loved for it for its strength, versatility, and classic style, unlike some fabrics, denim is easy to keep clean and care for.

When you pick up some Dickies denim, you can count on it lasting for years, and with the right care, your denim will look and feel great for decades.

Whether it’s women’s overalls or men’s pants, our simple guide will give a few tips to care for your denim, so it stays in top shape, just as we designed it.

Denim is among the toughest fabrics out there, and that’s why it’s always been a go-to for everything from workwear to casual men’s jackets. Its strength comes from how it’s woven and the fibres it uses.

So, what exactly is denim made of? It’s made of long, strong cotton fibres woven in a tight twill pattern in a diagonal weave that handles tension and prevents it from tearing.

Denim is a dense, sturdy fabric, and that’s a big reason that after centuries, we still still rely on to handle the toughest jobs.

If your jeans are feeling a bit snug, don’t stress, with a little bit of work you may not need to go up a size. You can stretch denim right where you need more room.

First, grab a spray bottle with some warm water and dampen the denim, then tug and pull the tight areas by hand. If it’s still a little too stiff, spray more water and repeat the process. Once stretched to your liking, let it air dry, but make sure to avoid the tumble dryer as it will shrink the fabric again.

You can also use a little heat to get your stretch on. Simply lay your jeans flat and warm the areas you want to stretch with an iron or hair dryer, then pull gently to loosen. You can also wear them warm and move around to get a better fit.

Denim doesn’t need to be washed as often as most other materials. After wearing, just hang your jeans or overalls in a place with a little airflow to air out and freshen up a little.

When they need a clean, wash them by hand or on a cold, gentle machine cycle. Do this every now and then but not too frequently, as too much washing can fade colour and affect the shape.

When it comes to more stubborn stains, dab a mild detergent on the spot, rub it in, then rinse and air dry.

If your denim is a little too loose, you might want to shrink it for a better fit. It’s easy to do at home with a little DIY. Whether you got the wrong size or got some cool hand-me-downs that aren’t quite right a pair, you can adjust them to suit you.

To shrink denim, wash on a hot cycle and tumble dry until fully dry, however keep in mind this can wear out the fabric over time.

For quicker shrinking, spray water on the area and use a hot iron until dry.

As our Dickies denim collection grows, we stay committed to denim’s tough and timeless style. Now that you know how to care for it, explore our denim styles for women and men. Keep an eye on our new Dickies arrivals for fresh takes, and remember that’s it’s not all about the grown-ups, we also have a great range of kids’ denim for school wear that’s built tough for playground adventures.