How to Lighten Jeans With Sunlight

Use the sun to fade jeans and other fabrics.

Whether you want to fade a pair of jeans as part of a costume or simply because you enjoy the look of lightened jeans, there are numerous ways to do so. One option is to fade jeans via nature's greatest lightening/fading tool: the sun. Sunlight lightens jeans without the use of chemicals such as bleach, which can damage fabric and injure skin. Use the sun alone to fade jeans, or in combination with other jeans-fading techniques.

Things You'll Need

• Lawn chair
• Sunscreen
• Laundry detergent
• Washing bin or sink
• Hanger
• Clothes line

Instructions

1. Wear jeans on a daily basis for as long as possible. This causes the indigo dye to rub off around jean crests, ridges and bottom, which lightens these areas. If possible, wear them outside during peak sunlight hours, such as while sitting on a lawn chair to enjoy a good book. Wear sunscreen to avoid skin damage.

2. Soak the jeans with a half cup of laundry detergent for one to two hours in water that's between 40 and 60 degrees F.

3. Place the jeans on a hanger and hang them on an outdoor clothesline to dry in full sun. Move the placement of the hanger as needed so jeans are receiving maximum sunlight throughout the day. If you don't have access to a clothesline, use a clean lawn chair to drape your jeans over, whether in a backyard or apartment balcony.

4. Repeat Steps 1 through 3 until jeans are lightened to your satisfaction.

Tips & Warnings

• Avoid bleaching jeans if possible; it weakens the fabric.

• Use medium-grit sandpaper, cheese grater, or pumice stone to distress jeans and fade indigo dye.

• Soak jeans in lemon juice as another jeans-fading option.

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish
• The Wall Street Journal: The Jeans Care Secret: Rarely Wash Them
• The Denium Shop: Buyer's Guide: How to Care for Jeans