White denim--dirt magnet?

How quickly do white jeans get dirty, compared to your regular jeans? I want to take the plunge and get a pair of white lightweight skinnies for the summer, but the dirt factor is holding me back.

11 years ago

Dressing

25 replies

Latest reply was from Aida

Janet

(website)

Veteran

If I'm really lucky (or careful?), I can get two wears out of my white or cream jeans before washing, but I generally count on having to wash them after each wear. Since they're easy to wash and I don't wear them every day, I don't feel like it's a big deal.

11 years ago

Sveta

(website)

Veteran

I usually get 2 wears too unless I am super clumsy

11 years ago

MsMaven

Veteran

Agreed--2X if you are careful and lucky, and once in a while 3, but don't count on it.

11 years ago

kkards

Veteran

unless i spill lunch, 3 or 4 times.

11 years ago

Ledonna N.

Veteran

Maybe that is why I have not worn my yet or it is that I am a dirt magnet.

11 years ago

Suz

(website)

Veteran

What kkards said...and of course it does depend on what I am doing. If I'm working at home and walking and it's nice weather -- they will last 3 or 4 wears.

If it starts to rain, I have to take transit, I happen to sit down on a dirty park bench, or I spill something, fewer.

The beauty is, they DO wash up.

11 years ago

SandyG

Veteran

To be real, plan on one wear to look fresh and clean. A second wear is pure summer bonus. Duplication makes sense here.

11 years ago

Suja

Veteran

I was worried about this before taking the white jeans plunge. 2-3 wears for me. Sometimes dark knits leave fuzz on them but that can be brushed off with a lint brush. So far, I haven't managed to stain them which was my biggest concern. I duplicated mine because there were so many times when I wanted to wear them and they were in the laundry.

11 years ago

ironkurtin

Veteran

Carry a Shout pen and prepare to bleach when you wash - white pants get dirty. And don't just check the front before you wear them again. I learned that one the hard way.

11 years ago

DonnaF

Veteran

One or two wears; occasionally three with the straight legs. The hem of the baby boots generally gets dirty after one wear. I also find that textured denim is better at hiding grime than a very smooth finish.

11 years ago

Elizabeth P

Veteran

One to two, but it doesn't bother me at all, they wash really well. I have two kids, and a DH who is really good at exercising - laundry is a frequent event in our house.

11 years ago

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Wow, some of you are getting 3-4 wears before washing? You must not have dogs that jump in your lap.

11 years ago

Ornella

(website)

Veteran

3-4x at least and I walk, ride a bike, ride on a bus, even climb on the rooftops

11 years ago

Anonymous

One wear....that is why I buy cheap & duplicate:

http://www.kohls.com/product/p.....womens.jsp

Everything I do as a MOTG makes my clothes dirty plus I am a klutz.

11 years ago

carambola

Veteran

I am in the 1-2 wears camp, but my daily life involves public transportation, city walking, and 2 little ones.

11 years ago

Susie

Veteran

I always wash my white jeans after 1 wear so that they appear more crisp. With regular denim, I will wear them more than once or toss them in the dryer damp for a few minutes if they are wrinkled but I don't like to do that with white ones, in case there is a spot on them. I wear them frequently so I have several pairs. That way I always have a pair available to wear.

11 years ago

(website)

Veteran

Really depends on activities at hand. 2 or 3 wears if I'm just going neat and tidy places But they do wash up fine when things happen (wine tasting red dribbles)

11 years ago

Gigi

Veteran

I'm generally pretty clumsy and get some kind of food on mine. So, one to two wears. I agree with the commenters who said that washing frequently keeps them looking crisp and clean. I also agree that they wash up nicely. I have a stain stick from Ecover, and when I take my jeans off for the day, if I see any specks of crud, I moisten the spots and treat them with the stain stick, and they come right out.

If you want to try white jeans, find yourself a cheaper pair and see how they work for you. That way, if you find it a pain, you're not out much. American Eagle has very reasonably priced white jeans, though I think they are jeggings, so they will be superskinny. But they are definitely jeans and not leggings. Loft and Ann Taylor also have been running some end-of-season sales where you can get a good deal.

11 years ago

Mia

Veteran

I can get 3-4 wears sometimes but I no longer have a small child and our only pet is a hamster. They do, of course, require fairly frequent washing so they don't last as long as some garments. My current ones from J. Crew have some stretch although I do not wear them tight and they hold their shape nicely. My last pair from BR needed washing more often to look "crisp".

11 years ago

Anonymous

I average 2-3 wears out of my white jeans, sometimes more if I only wear them part of a day. I worried about tea and coffee stains but they come out. The pup doesn't jump on people or it would be different.

11 years ago

Gracie

Veteran

Two wears, usually. If I put my hands in my pockets... game over! to the wash they go.

11 years ago

merwoman

Veteran

Flares - wash after every outing

Boot cuts - generally 2-3 wears.

Take the plunge, you'll love them!

11 years ago

Jenny H

Veteran

Wow. Thanks for this post. I hope I don't gross anyone out, but my life requires my bottoms be worn more than 2-3 times between washing. This confirms my theory that white bottoms are not for me.

11 years ago

Eliza

Veteran

Pretty blessed with my white jeans experience. 3-4 wears usually before I need to wash them. But a lot depends on circumstances. I put on a new pair of white linen pants today and somehow was spotted before arriving at my destination. Bumped something along the way.

Still a happy wearer of white.

11 years ago

Aida

Veteran

I'm fairly messy and I usually get 3-5 wears out of my white skinnies. More often than not I'm washing more due to the denim stretching across the wears. Of course if I've gotten anything on them I pop them in the washer with some bleach or oxyclean right after that wear, but it doesn't happen as often as I thought it would. I second IK's notion of checking the back, that gets dirtier more quickly than the front for me (I guess I sit on weird things?).

11 years ago

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