Ask Angie: How do you prevent dark jeans from "staining" white? - YouLookFab Forum

Category

Dressing

Ask Angie: How do you prevent dark jeans from "staining" white?

SW Ann

Veteran

Been about 2 years since last posting, and I wasn't exactly prolific then....however, I follow along every day....
To my question--I see all the beautiful white that you wear, Angie, and sometimes with dark denim (like today's post) How do you keep the dark on the dark side and the white --white!!!?? I've already tried the vinegar wash on denim but that has, thus far, not solved my issues....Thanks for anyone's help with this.

Dressing

16 replies

Latest reply was from deb

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Great to see you post again and welcome back.

First, I don't wear dark blue jeans as a rule. I bat for Team Faded Denim and Team White Denim, which never stain my white clothes, footwear and bags. The skinnies in todays are my only pair of dark blue denims. They are old so they don't stain anything. If I want to wear dark denim, I wear black straight legs, which don't stain either. But usually, I wear black or grey trousers if I want to wear dark pants.

So there you go. It's not rocket science. I just stay away from denim that stains - it's as simple as that. My white items - and I wear a lot of white - are safe and sound.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

But Angie, sometimes it's hard to know whether dark denim stains until you buy it and wear it. Some jeans have little warning labels on them, but my worst offenders in this department had absolutely no warning.

As a member of Team Dark Denim, who just plain looks better in dark denim than in lighter washes, this is a problem I would love to see a real solution for.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I don't understand what you mean, Janet. I am assuming that all dark blue denim stains - warning labels or not. That's one of the reasons I do not wear it. It's safer that way when you wear as much white as I do. Plus I prefer the shade of blue on faded denim. Black denim does not stain - at least, not in my experience.

If you wear dark colours most of the time, staining is less of an issue.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Nope, not all dark blue denim stains. I have some dark jeans that have never bled onto anything, and some that have. Some of the ones with warning labels don't seem to stain at all, but I've worn and washed one pair of (unlabeled) dark wash jeans numerous times and they still stained even my hands! I think they're finally done bleeding, but it is maddening. I even noticed a bit of blue stain on a white belt I have, after I wore it with dark jeans.

I do often wear dark tops with my dark wash jeans, but I also love a white shirt, and white jackets! I have a light colored bag that got stained from dark jeans.

I hate to have my outfit options restricted by (faulty?) dyeing. I don't remember having this problem years back. And premium brands sometimes seem to be the worst offenders.

I love love love how light faded denim jeans look on you, Angie, and many others, but 95% of the time on me, I just don't love lighter colors on the bottom half. I try, but I just don't feel they are as flattering.

SW Ann

Veteran

My worst offenders are a pair of 6+ year old DKNY trouser jeans--I love these pants, but even my fingernails come up with stains if I have on light polish (infuriating with a fresh mani) I've washed and washed, and still have the issue. And I too look better in dark denim, and frankly like it better. I really hope someone comes up with a solution. Thanks Angie for your imput--at least I know now how you keep your whites so white--never wearing them with anything that might stain!

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

SW Ann, I believe that using something to the effect of "dye sealer" in the washing machine helps set the dye of dark blue jeans. I think it's pretty available if you do a search.

Janet, thank heavens you have dark blue jeans that do not bleed. I hope you find many more pairs. I think my J.Brand zippered skinnies bled a little the first few times I wore them, but never again. And you are right. My clients complain about premium dark blue denim staining all the time - and the worst is when it stains light shoes. Impossible to clean.

This staining thing is a thing of modern fashion. It was not like this 20 years ago, to your point - when they also made jeans sans stretch which I much preferred. I think dark jeans were very rigid and hard back then, but you also did not have blue hands and sofas.

Runcarla

Veteran

SW Ann, I know your pain! I'm team dark denim, and though after one or two hard washes, my dark denims of the past stopped bleeding, my current fave pair continues to release colour after 4 months and several hot water washes. (They still retain their dark wash - thank goodness!). I'm careful what I pair them with, and try to keep my hands out of my pockets (or wash my hands more often!). So far no dye on undies, or other body parts...seems it's the dye on the outside surface.

SW Ann

Veteran

Angie, it's interesting that you would comment that it didn't happen (the staining) 20 yrs ago---when I did a search for methods to prevent it, one thing that came up was a column written by Heloise from 1984 on this very topic. Hmmmm.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I think it did happen occasionally 20 years ago, but only with brand new jeans in which the denim had not been pre-washed (which was how some manufacturers used to sell denim.)

These days, jeans are sometimes over-dyed for the very dark wash, and that's why the colour is leeching from the outsides (but not onto our undies, etc.)

It's frustrating. It has happened to me as well, but usually I've had good luck getting the stains out. And then I am careful what I pair the jeans with afterwards until they seem to have finished their "bleeding."

Amy

(website)

Veteran

The dye sealer does not always work. It depends upon the fibers in the material and what's used to dye the fabric. I have made lots of dark blue jeans that didn't stain, but one pair I made using a high quality fabric kept rubbing off dye no matter what I did...vinegar, retayne, etc.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

SW Ann, I guess I was really lucky in the '80s and '90s, and never experienced denim staining. It was also never a topic that came up with friends and family. How odd is that? We wore white and light blue jeans a lot back then too. That must have been part of the reason.

My first denim staining experience was in 2005, when I bought a pair of dark denim clams from Zara. My legs were always blue. I also had trouser jeans that stained from BR. I'm happy to have said goodbye to all of that.

SW Ann

Veteran

I didn't wear jeans nearly as much back in the 80s and 90s like I do now--so many different occasions now where jeans are acceptable. I will buy some of the Rit dye sealer and try it--if it doesn't work, I won't be any worse than I am now. Thanks for that suggestion, Angie--I had not heard of a dye sealant.

Runcarla

Veteran

Hey, Suz! Thanks for the info about over-dying. Another new thing I've learned from this forum!

merwoman

Veteran

smiling at Suz's post - 'Blue moon" could take on a whole new meaning....

Colette

Veteran

I let my dark denim soak for a bit in soapy cold water in the washing machine. Then I soak them in cold water and white vinegar. Then I rinse and repeat two times before I wear them. Make sure they are turned inside out. Works on most of my jeans but I do have that one pair that still turns my hands blue.

deb

Veteran

In the 70's my Levi's always bled so we washed them on hot water several time until they stopped. There was no different types of washes then. Everything has dark blue.