While laundry may seem like a common chore, college students are redefining the usual way to clean their jeans. 

From wearing the same pair of jeans more than once between washes, line-drying and even freezing jeans, students are finding ways to make their jeans last longer and avoid visits to the laundry room. 

“I used to think that wearing anything more than once before washing it was disgusting,” said Nick Gregory, a freshman studying design studies. “But then I had a conversation with my roommate, and he said he would wear his jeans more than once, and he isn’t a disgusting person, so I figured it was okay.”

Since leaving home, Gregory said he realized how taxing laundry can be. 

“I hate doing laundry, and I am guilty of bringing my dirty-clothes basket home with me,” said Gregory. “I have definitely started to value making my laundry last as long as possible in between washes.” 

In regards to cleanliness, Mary Amron Lee, a junior studying design studies, said she doesn’t consider her jeans dirty until they are stained or just too loose to wear. 

“I don’t wash my jeans until I absolutely need to. Each pair of my jeans probably ends up getting washed once, maybe twice, a month,” Lee said. 

Gregory said he doesn’t often run into outside factors during this time of year that make his jeans look and feel dirty. 

“I don’t feel like wearing my jeans more than once automatically makes them in need of a wash,” Gregory said. “I take a shower every day, and I don’t think my clean self makes my pants dirty.”

Lee also said she doesn’t put her clothes in the dryer after each wash. Instead she uses a clothesline hung across the width of her room. 

“It keeps my clothes lasting longer,” Lee said. “The dryer deteriorates clothes, especially jeans, so quickly. It’s also better for the environment.” 

Another way to reduce the number of visits to the laundry room and harm to the environment is to freeze your jeans. 

Andre West, an assistant professor in the College of Textiles, said while freezing jeans is not the best way to clean them, it will get rid of some of the bacteria that causes them to smell bad and keep them looking new longer. 

“As soon as you wash a pair of jeans, you are going to get some wear and tear,” West said. “So to keep them fresh, one thing you can do is put them in the freezer. It will work to a certain degree, but it will not kill all of the bacteria.”

Jordan Stokes, a sophomore studying fashion and textile management, said the process of freezing your jeans could help them last longer. 

“The dye is less likely to fade, and the cotton fibers are less likely to deteriorate,” Stokes said.

Gregory said no matter the benefit, he would never be caught freezing his jeans. 

“I think the idea of putting my pants in the freezer is weird,” Gregory said. “I don’t trust that method, and I really don’t see how that would get rid of the smell.” 

West said ultimately the best way to clean your jeans is to wash them traditionally. 

“If you don’t want them to wear really quickly, the best thing you can do for any pair of jeans, or any clothing for that matter, is to turn them inside out when you wash them,” West said. “Then the rubbing and aggravation that takes place during the washing and drying processes will be on the inside versus the outside of your clothes.” 

Gregory said he believes laundry preferences are different for everyone. 

“There are so many tricks to laundry,” Gregory said. “And the thing about washing clothes is that everyone does it differently. Even my parents have different rules for washing stuff and they have been living together for more than 20 years.”