Even if the economy is struggling, and money is a little tight right now, we all still need jeans don’t we? That might be true but it doesn’t mean we have to pay big bucks for the jeans, right? Jeans are always popular but some types are much more expensive than others. Take jeans that have been bleached. Certain bleaching techniques make jeans oh, so cool in fashion, but it can usually mean that you’ll pay way more for them than ordinary jeans.
Although ordinary jeans might cost less than bleached types they work great for people who want to save money by bleaching their own jeans. The ordinary jeans don’t have to be purchased at full price, either. Check local Goodwill stores, yard sales, secondhand stores and even vintage sellers. Decide on the jeans you want then take them home to bleach them.
No matter what technique you use to bleach your jeans it’s important that you protect the jeans from experiencing “soak through”. When working on one side of the jeans place plastic bags inside to prevent the bleach water from soaking through to the other side. Be sure to remove these bags before laundering.
One method of bleaching jeans involves a simple squirt bottle. Mix one part bleach to two parts water and shake. Squirt the bleach water onto the jeans, in various areas, to cause a dotting of bleach spots all over. Be sure to turn the nozzle to the “spray” setting rather than “stream” for best results. Make sure the bleach is not left on the jeans for more than five minutes before laundering. Wash and dry the jeans alone but launder as usual.
Give your jeans a look of being faded down the fronts of the legs by using an ordinary washcloth. Protect your hands with plastic bags or gloves. Make a bowl of bleach water with one part bleach to two parts water. Dip the washcloth in the bleach water and ring it out. The washcloth should be wet but not dripping. Wad the cloth slightly and position it at the top of one leg. Wipe straight down the leg of the jeans with the cloth. Go over and wipe down the opposite leg right away. This is done so that one leg doesn’t appear more bleached than the other. Work quickly so that the bleach doesn’t stay on one leg long than the other. Repeat the process to cover the area you want. If you repeat the process bleach the second leg first and the first leg last. This will ensure that the bleach has the same amount of time on each leg. Flip the jeans over and do the butt area or backs of the legs. Launder the jeans separately but wash and dry as usual. Instead of a washcloth you can also use a sponge for this method of bleaching.
For a look of dark and light stripes blended together use a paintbrush to apply the bleach to the jeans. Lay the jeans out flat on a table and make sure there are no creases or wrinkles. Mix a solution of bleach water and dip the paintbrush into it. It’s a good idea to tap the brush on a white towel or paper towels so that it isn’t dripping when you position it over the jeans. Use the paintbrush to “paint” the bleach onto the denim. Work from waistline to ankles, taking the brush straight down as you work, and not stopping until you get to the ankle. If you paint from the waist to the thighs, dip the brush again and take up where you left off, you’ll often notice the restarting marks on the thigh area. Paint all the way down, putting more pressure on the brush if needed, as you get towards the ankle area. Turn the jeans over, and even paint the in-seam, so that you have full coverage. Work quickly so that the bleach isn’t a lot darker in some areas than others. Use the brush to create one row on one leg, then one row on the opposite leg. Continue alternating the brush from one leg to the other all the way through the process. You’ll have the best outcome if you don’t go over the same area more than once.
To create designs and unusual markings on the jeans use stencils and a foam paintbrush. Position the stencil and tape it in place or set heavy objects on the corners to secure it. It’s very important that the stencil design be right up against the denim. If it’s raised up even slightly the bleached pattern could have undefined edges or can even run away from the actual design. It’s helpful to hold the stencil design down while applying the bleach. Mix up the bleach water then dip the foam brush into it. Squeeze out excess by pushing each side against the bowl or other container. Tap the end of the brush on a white towel or paper toweling. This will prevent dripping while positioning the brush over the stencil. Wipe the brush across the stencil, and even around the perimeter, but don’t push down hard on it. Tapping the bleach onto the jeans can cause light and dark areas on the design. Instead of stencils you can simply tape off areas of the jeans with masking tape.
No matter how broke you are you’ll always want fabulous jeans! If the money is a little tight right now do yourself a favor and create your own bleached jeans look. Shop at secondhand places to find just the right jeans then use one of the above techniques for bleaching them. You’ll look great – and feel even better – when you see how wonderfully they turn out!
Reference:
- Purchase used denims here: www.ebay.com
