We’ve all been there—you pull your jeans out of the dryer only to find them covered in strange ripples that weren’t there before. What causes this frustrating phenomenon, and is there any way to prevent it?
The answer lies in the fabric itself. Most jeans today contain elastic fibers like Lycra for comfort, but these materials are sensitive to heat and agitation. When washed in hot water or dried on high heat, the Lycra fibers shrink unevenly, creating puckers and wrinkles. The more you wash them, the worse it gets, as repeated heat exposure breaks down the elasticity permanently.
The washing machine’s spin cycle doesn’t help either. As your jeans twist and tumble, the thick denim absorbs water unevenly, causing some areas to stretch while others stay tight. Overloading the machine makes this worse, leaving your jeans to dry in awkward positions that set the wrinkles in place.
To keep your jeans smooth, always wash them in cold water and air-dry when possible. If you must use the dryer, choose the lowest heat setting and remove them while slightly damp to reshape. Turn them inside out before washing to reduce friction, and avoid stuffing too many items in the machine. If your jeans already have ripples, try steaming or ironing them on low heat with a damp cloth. With these simple changes, you can say goodbye to wavy denim for good.
