Performing a Laundry Miracle: White Jeans
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A few weeks ago, I committed the unthinkable: I put my favorite white jeans in the color wash.
They were ruined.
Splotches of pink and red dye everywhere.
It was especially bad on the back pockets and front seam.
I realized it around the crazy hour, right as dinnertime was ending but before bathtime/bedtime. My husband saw the urgency in my eyes and was like, “do what you need to do” when I told him the dreadful news. I am so lucky he is so amazing…I zoomed right over to the grocery store, panicked, with my mom on the phone, trying to get advice on what type of cleaner I should buy.
Our grocery store didn’t have much…I ended up buying OxyClean and good old fashioned bleach. So, I drove back home determined and on a mission. I was going to get these pants back to the perfect white they once were.
And you know what? I did it!
So, in this blog post, I am detailing each and every step that I took (over the course of a week) to get my pants back to white.
Phase 1: Wash and Overnight Soak
As soon as I got home, I isolated the jeans and did a machine wash on hot with 1 scoop of OxyClean and a little bit of bleach. This got the red dye out, but the pants were no where near presentable. The red dye had been removed by the bleach and was a horrible yellow stain all through the front and back.
Per my mom’s instructions, I filled the bathtub up with some warm water and prepared for a soak. First, I got some OxyClean (which is a crystallized washing soda) and manually rubbed it into the back and front of the jeans. I scrubbed the $&*# out of it with my poor little hands. Then, I soaked the jeans in more OxyClean and a little bit of bleach. I let them sit in that tub for almost a full 24 hours. Now, some would advise against this, because bleach weakens the fabric structure and can really do irreparable damage to your garments. They just simply don’t hold up the same. My denim (luckily) was very durable, and I made sure not to use that much bleach.
Phase 2: Ask For Help
I took to Instagram to ask for help and advice. So many amazing friends and followers reached out with their own suggestions, so I started taking notes. After inventorying the responses, I decided that the following two products had to go in my Amazon cart: Borax and Dawn PowerWash Spray. I was skeptical but still, steadfast. I think I posted a poll asking whether I should keep trying to remove the stains or give up and the majority of people said to give up! I AM SO GLAD I DIDN’T…because the magic was about to happen. I am eternally grateful for my Instagram friends for these tips!
Phase 3: The Reinforcements
I let the jeans air dry on a clothing rack and was advised to stop soaking - so I did. Amazon Prime to the rescue! My Borax arrived, along with the Dawn PowerWash. It was a long two days but it was worth it. I laid out the jeans and started spraying very liberally all over the stained areas. I let it sit for a little bit….maybe an hour, but probably not any more. Following this, I put the jeans in another warm machine wash with more Dawn sprayed on top and a scoop of Borax. Repeat 1 more time.
Before
During
After Phase 3
The Results
The transformation is dramatic when you see the before & afters, but the actual process felt less than so. I was full of doubt the entire time, uncertain that any positive changes would happen. But the photos speak for themselves. My jeans have an ever-so-slight twinge of yellow on the back pockets that I am hopeful will come out with washes over time.
I am sharing this post for INSPIRATION more than anything. These kinds of laundering mistakes happen, and when they do, it can be heartbreaking (in a frivolous way). The disappointment can tempt you to just replace what you lost. In this case, I was hell bent on trying something before replacing these $130 jeans. I am so glad I stuck through it, because it just goes to show that you can do the same. Trust me! The next time I mess up in the laundry department, I am definitely going to be more patient and try to mend what I can. Here’s a lesson in sustainability, patience, and of course, asking for help! They’re always a good idea.
ciao, xo
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