How to Acid Wash Clothes

Acid wash is a cool and pretty way of making a fabric different from average jeans. It was started in the mid-'80's by the Italian company Rifle Jeans, and it has grown and sunk in popularity over time. It remains an active style for jean designers and purchasers.

You can get in on the action with any pair of jeans you may have. I will show you how to acid wash your clothes in only a few simple steps.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• pumice stones
• chlorine
• industrial washing machine
• jeans or other sturdy clothing

How to Acid Wash Clothes

1. Buy porous pumice stones. These will play an important part of the dying process so you want to make sure that you get ones that will be effective. Beauty stores, as well as sites like ebay, carry pumice stones regularly.

2. Soak the pumice stones in chlorine. Ask a professional who handles chemicals to inform you of the proper way and disposing of this potent chemical.

3. Load the jeans and the stones into an industrial washer, making sure it is safe for such an endeavor. You also want to be avoid the fumes, and warn others of the same, when acid washing jeans.

4. Check on the jeans after 15 minutes. The typical time it takes is 25 minutes, but you want to check to make sure. You don't want to go too far in either direction with acid washing. Too little can make a fabric look awful, and over-doing it can destroy a great pair of jeans!

5. Keep checking every ten minutes after that for just the right look!

6. Once the jeans are dyed to perfection, they should be transferred to another machine, and have "antichlor," sodium bisulfite, added to water they are washed with. Leave them washing for five minutes in this process. This will remove any remaining chlorine.

7. Wash jeans in water for five minutes more to remove any grit from the stones and any possible remaining chlorine.

8. Put the jeans in a high-powered drier until all dry! You now have completed the process of acid washing.

Tips & Warnings

• Try on a pair of jeans before and after they are acid washed. You'll find the jeans will likely be more comfortable after the wash, and they will feel more broken in. Ask for the opinion of others when deciding on how much on acid wash look you'd like for your jeans.
• Never instruct or let a child do this! Beware of all chemicals in your household, and ask your city h ow to properly dispose of them. Don't try this in a home machine or at a laundry mat. The machines can get seriously damaged by the stones. Make sure it is done in an approved setting. Never use a chemical without thoroughly research the hazards and safety for your personal use.