Quck answer
To set a permanent crease in jeans, follow these steps:
1. Wash and dry the jeans to remove any wrinkles or folds.
2. Iron the jeans using a high heat setting, ensuring the crease is aligned.
3. Place a cloth or paper towel over the crease to protect the fabric.
4. Apply steam to the crease using a steam iron or a handheld steamer.
5. Press down firmly on the crease with the iron, holding it in place for a few seconds.
6. Repeat this process on both sides of the jeans to ensure an even crease.
7. Hang the jeans to cool and set the crease.
8. Avoid folding or washing the jeans immediately after setting the crease to maintain its permanence.
Even though creased jeans may go in and out of fashion, it’s actually quite simple to establish a permanent fold in your favorite pair of denim jeans. All you need is a hot dryer, slightly damp jeans, an ample amount of spray starch, and a hot iron to transform your look into a more formal version of the classic cowboy style. The “cowboy press” look, commonly seen in the South and Southwest, involves pairing sharply creased jeans with plaid or solid-colored shirts and cowboy hats.
Begin by Washing the Jeans
While manufacturers recommend washing new jeans in cold water, it is advisable to wash jeans in hot water before setting a fold. The first time you wash new denim jeans, turn them inside out and add 1/2 cup of vinegar to the washer along with the laundry detergent to help set the dye. Wash the jeans in cold water alone or with other dark-colored clothing, as they tend to release dye into the wash water even if vinegar is added. It is important to sort your laundry carefully to avoid accidentally staining a white shirt or other light-colored items with the blue or pink dye from the new jeans.
After washing the new jeans once in cold water, rewash them in hot water using your regular laundry detergent. Remove the jeans from the washer and place them in the dryer. Set the dryer to high heat or the denim setting. To ensure that the jeans do not completely dry, it may be helpful to set a timer to remind you to take them out while they are still damp.
Create a Sharp Fold
To achieve a distinct fold in your jeans, retrieve a steam iron and fill the reservoir with distilled water. Set the iron to a medium to high heat level that is suitable for using the steam function. Arrange the jeans on an ironing board, matching the inner and outer seams on the leg with the inside of the leg facing upwards. Fold the other leg back and out of the way.
Glide the iron over the front section of the leg once to initiate the fold. Spray the jeans generously with spray starch and then press them using the steam setting. Instead of simply pushing the iron over the fabric, lift it up and set it back down. Utilize starch, pressure, and steam from the hot iron to create a crisp front fold. Rearrange the same leg with the inner side facing upwards and press in the back fold.
Flip the jeans around so that the unpressed leg is on the ironing board with the seams aligned, and repeat the process. Then, lift the jeans off the ironing board and align both legs. Lay the jeans down with the legs together and apply starch, pressure, and the steam iron to the front and back folds on the outer side of the top leg. Turn the jeans over and repeat these steps on the other side.
Eliminate Wrinkles and Folds
Jeans, slacks, or other pants that have been left crumpled in the dryer or a laundry basket may develop wrinkles and folds. To remove these imperfections, you can use water, steam, and/or spray starch to achieve a smooth, wrinkle-free appearance. First, try putting the pants back into the dryer with a wet washcloth or dampen a couple of dryer sheets and dry them for approximately 15 minutes on the regular setting.
You may want to consider using a wrinkle-release spray or create a mixture of 1 part vinegar to 2 parts water in a spray bottle. Hang the pants on a hanger in a doorway and then dampen the wrinkles with the solution. Allow them to dry naturally before determining if stronger methods are necessary.
Place the pants flat on the ironing board and if there is an existing center crease that you wish to maintain, align the legs along that fold. Fill a spray bottle with distilled water, moisten the wrinkles and creases, and lightly spray the rest of the pants leg. Utilize a clean dish cloth or rag as a pressing cloth and press with a medium to hot iron. Repeat this process on both sides of the pants. If the wrinkles have not completely disappeared, you can try using spray starch and the steam function on the iron to complete the task.
