Washing: Jeans and jeans go hand in hand The machine should not be too full to avoid severe wrinkles - a moderate spin speed of 800 or 1000 revolutions is also helpful for this. Washing several pieces of jeans together prevents them from staining other textiles.
Use the Delicate or Gentle cycle
Denim may seem like a tough fabric, but that doesn't mean you should choose a Heavy Duty wash cycle. Instead, opt for the Delicate or Gentle cycle, and use cold water to help avoid shrinking or fading.
If you wash delicate clothes, the spin cycle should be 300--500 RPM. And if you are washing Thicker items like jeans, curtains then spin cycle should be 1000 RPM.
In terms of temperature, jeans should always be put on a 30c cycle. Hotter temperatures can accelerate the fading process. If your jeans are particularly dirty, you could always pat any stains away with a cool cloth before putting them in the washing machine.
When you put jeans in the dryer, always use a low heat setting. High temperatures can cause shrinkage, damage the fabric, and lead to faster fading. Take your jeans out of the dryer while they're still slightly damp. This helps prevent over-drying and makes it easier to smooth out any wrinkles.
The delicate wash cycle uses high levels of cold water and a low spin speed for carefully tending to undergarments and delicate fabrics that need to be handled with care, like lace, lingerie, or silk neckties. Specialty items like electric blankets or stuffed animals may also benefit from a delicate wash.
Spin speed—measured in revolutions per minute (RPM)—is key to achieving cleaner, drier clothes. Higher spin speeds mean more effective water extraction, allowing your items to spend less time in the dryer or on the line.
Generally, a good cadence in cycling is between 80-100 rpm.
As always, do check the manufacturer's instruction book or the wash care labels on individual garments for their own recommendations: Cottons: 1400 rpm. Delicates: 600 rpm. Woollens: 1200 rpm.
Depending on the thickness of the denim, I use a straight-stitch length between 3.0 mm and 4.0 mm. I also increase the tension on my machine to 4.6 (up from 4.0 for lightweight woven fabrics). If my denim has spandex in it, I use a stretch stitch, such as a narrow zigzag. I like a 1.5 mm wide by 2.5 mm long zigzag.
Dry clothes can become stiff for many reasons. These include the fabric not being properly rinsed during your laundry load and using too much detergent which can leave behind residue on your clothing, making the fabric stiff.
Hot water
Hot water washing cycles typically have a temperature of around 140°F. This temperature is ideal to help keep your towels, jeans and certain white garments clean and ready to wear.
We recommend setting your wash cycle to the gentle or delicate setting to reduce wear and tear on the fabric.
However, if your washing machine doesn't come with an eco-friendly setting, then you would be better off washing your clothes on a standard setting, which will often mean having it on a spin speed of between 1200 rpm and 1600 rpm.
Clothes are much more likely to shrink when exposed to hot water or high dryer settings. Washing clothes in cold water goes a long way toward preserving the “off-the-rack” size. Avoiding heavy duty cycles, fast spins and high-heat drying can also prevent shrinkage.
The washing machine will have a default spin speed for the type of clothes (and the program you have chosen). Wool will require a slower spin speed (around 600-800rpm), whereas synthetic will need 800-1000rpm and cotton around 900-1400rpm.
A washing machine with 1200 RPM should work for you. The residual moisture percentage is 52% on average.
As you build up your fitness and experience in the saddle, you'll get better at maintaining your speed over longer distances. With lots of training and the right equipment, you can aim for an average cycling speed of around 15 to 20 mph.
So, if your goal is to hit straighter shots, then a higher spin driver is usually the way to go. On the other hand, if you want more distance, choosing a low-spin driver with an optimized launch angle will help you hit it further.
Between 1600rpm and 1400rpm, there's about a 50% increase in the amount of water released. When you go above 1600rpm to 1800rpm the amount of water extracted is minimal, maybe only 5 or 6% more.
Even if you prefer to wear white trainers, hot water can still warp them. Pick a setting with a low spin speed, such as 'handwash' or 'delicate'.
Choose the Right Wash Cycle
A regular cycle is best for sturdy and dirty clothes, while the permanent press setting is fine for the average load. Use the delicate cycle for lacy and loosely woven fabrics. Use hot water for white loads, warm water for the average load, and cold water for bright colors.
Delicates should be washed on a low spin, while heavier items can handle higher speeds. Consider Soil Levels: For heavily soiled items, a higher spin can help remove more water, while lightly soiled clothes can typically do well with a medium or low spin.
STEP 1: Consult the care guide on clothing tags
If your garment is missing the care tag, a good laundry tip to help prevent shrinking in general is to wash on cold, delicate cycles and dry with low or no heat.