I am frequently asked how many times you can wear a pair of jeans before popping them in the wash. I have found that unless you’ve spilled, traveled, traipsed in the mud, or perspired heavily in them, three times works well. Any longer tends to alter the original fit of the jeans (they stretch and grow); and any shorter is wasteful. Denim will fade every time you wash it, so you should only do so when necessary. This was also the advice I received from a denim manufacturer when I worked in the fashion industry as a buyer.