How to Make Jeans Look Distressed

Jeans sometimes look better when they're beat up. But buying pre-distressed jeans can be costly--every rip or worn spot seems to drive up the price a few more dollars. You can distress your jeans on your own with a few simple materials and save a few dollars in the process.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Bleach
• Rubber gloves
• Sponge or wash cloth
• Washing machine
• Sandpaper or pumice
• Water bottle (optional)
• Goggles (optional)

How To Distress Your Jeans

1. Wash them over and over. Jeans get a little softer every time you wash them, and washing them repeatedly will age them quickly. This takes time, but it works.

2. Prepare the jeans for bleaching. Chances are you will want to have a slightly different pattern on the front and back of the jeans, so prevent the bleach from bleeding through by lining the inside of the legs with plastic.

3. Bleach the jeans. Put on your rubber gloves and dampen--do not soak--the sponge in bleach. Wring out excess, and apply the sponge lightly in the pattern you wish to make.

4. Wash immediately. As soon as you've finished bleaching, wash the jeans by themselves in cold water.

Alternate Techniques

5. Substitute a wash cloth for the sponge. Using a wash cloth will create a more even-colored effect.

6. Substitute sandpaper or a pumice stone for the sponge. Both are absorbent and will help soften the jeans and create frays.

7. Substitute a water bottle: Put a bit of bleach into a spray bottle full of water, and use it to lighten the jeans. Use goggles; the bleach could get in your eyes.

8. Use a knife to scrape and fray. This is a bit riskier because an unsteady hand or applying too much pressure can ruin the jeans. If you want to use this technique, practice first on a few pairs of jeans you don't mind ruining.

References

• How To Age Your Jeans
• Distressing Denim