How to Bleach Jeans

Sometimes the price tag on a pair of jeans is beyond the budget, but you feel a magnetic force pulling you toward purchasing them anyway. Save your cash. Your love affair with those light wash flares or white skinny jeans can happen for a whole lot less money. Grap some jeans from your closet and follow this guide.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Jeans
• Bleach
• Bucket
• Rubber gloves
• Drying rack
• Newspaper or old towels
• Sponge (optional)

1. Fill the bucket 3/4 full with warm water. Add 1 to 2 cups of bleach to the water. This measurement can be more or less, depending on how white you would like your jeans to be, but 2 cups should be plenty of bleach to get the desired effect.

2. Put on the rubber gloves and drop your jeans into the bucket. Keep them as spread out as possible. The larger the bucket, the better. Make sure the jeans are completely submerged in the bleach solution.

3. Allow the jeans to sit in the bucket for 5 minutes. Again, the amount of time can be more or less depending on how white you want your jeans to be. Stir the jeans slowly to make sure they do not soak in one position for too long.

4. Check to make sure all the crevices are covered. Pull the jeans out of the bucket periodically for repositioning. You may need to use a sponge to dab the bleach solution directly onto hem lines and pockets.

5. Pull the jeans from the bucket and hang on a drying rack. Place heavy newspaper or old towels under the rack, or you will have a bleached floor. Wait for the jeans to dry; repeat the entire process if needed.

Tips & Warnings

• A bleach pen works wonders when you just want to lighten certain areas on a pair of jeans. Instead of dealing with the bucket mess, buy a bleach pen, drop your jeans on some newspaper and draw to your heart's content.

• Don't use kitchen utensils or silverware while bleaching your jeans. If you need something to stir the mix with or to control the jeans, use your hands (they should be gloved) or something that can be thrown away.

• Remember the power of bleach. It can stain almost anything. Be extremely careful and wear the gloves throughout the bleaching process. Don't bleach jeans near kids or pets.