I don’t know about you, but there’s nothing more annoying than pulling your favorite pair of jeans out of the wash and finding strange ripples all over them. Like, what happened in there? Were they battling for their lives in the spin cycle? One day they fit perfectly, and the next, they’re clinging and twisting like the washing machine chewed them up and spat them out.
If you’ve ever found yourself wondering why your jeans come out wrinkled, puckered, or wavy, this one’s for you.
And no, this isn’t just some random fabric malfunction. There are real reasons behind it — several, actually. Most jeans today are woven with a bit of stretch, which makes them comfortable but also a little more delicate. The biggest culprit? Heat. But the dryer isn’t the only thing to blame — how you wash, dry, and even store your jeans can make a big difference.
So, if you’ve ever stared at your formerly smooth jeans and wondered where things went wrong, you’re in the right place. Let’s break it down.
Why Do Jeans Ripple, Pucker, or Wrinkle in the Wash?
After ruining more than one pair myself, I did some digging to find out what’s really going on. It turns out those fibers are doing a lot when they go for a spin in the washer and dryer.
1. Heat Deteriorates the Lycra in Your Jeans
These days, most jeans aren’t 100% cotton. They usually contain a bit of Lycra (or elastane) to give them that perfect amount of stretch. But here’s the problem: Lycra hates heat.
