If you’ve found the perfect pair of jeans, or invested in some designer trousers, you want them to last as long as possible.

Our care guide offers tips and advice for keeping your trousers in optimal condition. Remember to check the garment label for exact care instructions.

Jeans

  • If you rip your jeans, get them repaired. Not only will this prolong the life of them, but it also creates a really authentic look.
  • Avoid washing your jeans too frequently, as this can cause the dye to fade.
  • For minimal signs of wearing, hand wash your jeans inside out to preserve the colour and fade of the denim. Leave them to soak for an hour with a small amount of detergent and avoid any scrubbing or rubbing.
  • If you’re using a washing machine, try to separate your washing into similar shades, as it is possible that dye may run in the first couple of washes.
  • Pre-washed denim is fine to be washed straight away; however you should not wash raw denim for six months, in order to achieve the best natural fades and whiskering effect.
  • You can spot clean marks on your jeans by using a clean, damp cloth to saturate the area and scrub away the stain.
  • Tumble drying can cause excessive wear and shrinkage, so hang your jeans up by the legs to air dry.

Cotton

  • Cotton trousers have a tendency to wrinkle easily – Use an iron at a hot temperature to smoothen them out. A bit of steam should do the trick to remove stubborn creases.
  • Cotton trousers are machine washable, however they may shrink or fade if washed at temperatures over 40°C.
  • It is perfectly safe to dry your cotton garments in a tumble dryer, though due to the material’s absorbent nature it may take longer than other materials to try, or require a higher temperature.

Polyester

  • Use a low temperature when ironing polyester trousers, as anything too hot can burn them.
  • Wash your polyester garments at a warm temperature, as a cold wash may not effectively remove stains. A standard detergent with do the trick.
  • Polyester is susceptible to static cling, so add some fabric softener to you wash to prevent this happening.
  • When drying in a tumble dryer, set at a low temperature to avoid any shrinkage.

Linen

  • Linen is made from a natural flax fibre and is a particularly strong and breathable fabric.
  • To minimise creasing, you should iron linen trousers at a hot temperature with a steam iron when they are still damp.
  • A lukewarm hand or machine wash is the best way to clean linen.
  • When machine washing your linen clothing, wash on a gentle cycle, with a mild detergent.
  • If you hand wash your trousers, avoid twisting or scrubbing, as it can damage the fabric.

Wool

  • Store away from moths and other wool-eating insects.
  • Use a steam iron to smooth out creases, however only do so when the garment is completely dry.
  • Wool naturally repels dirt, so it means that you can go longer between washes than with other materials.
  • Brush any loose dirt and dust off using a garment brush.
  • Some wool products may require dry cleaning only, so be sure to check the label.
  • If you can wash them, use a mild detergent and leave to dry naturally.

Leather

  • Avoid folding leather trousers as this can cause creasing and cracking.
  • Remove any liquid stains by blotting the patch with a sponge soaked in warm water. Avoid rubbing, as this could spread the stain further.
  • Dust or mud can be removed using a damp cloth.
  • For a full wash, saturate your trousers in warm water, but do not leave them sitting.
  • It is sometimes possible to machine wash leather trousers at a cold temperature, however we recommend you check the care instructions on the garment label.
  • Pop them in the tumble dryer on high heat until they are completely dry, to pull them back to form.

Synthetic blends – Elastane, Nylon, Spandex

  • Leggings and other styles of trousers crafted in a stretch material are usually made from a synthetic blend of fibres such as elastane, nylon and spandex.
  • Unless you are wearing them for active use, you can usually get away with wearing them more than once before cleaning, however they are prone to piling.
  • Iron inside out.
  • Machine wash on gentle cycle (or hand wash) in cold water.
  • Wash inside out to prevent piling.
  • Air dry flat to avoid misshaping, or tumble dry at a low setting.
  • Fabric softener can block the pores and hinder breathability of active wear.