Q&A for How to Acid Wash Jeans

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How do you dispose of the bleach in the bucket without damaging the environment?

Community Answer

Down the sink is going to be your best bet. Definitely not in an outside storm drain. Those go directly to groundwater and local watersheds.

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Question

Does this work better with old jeans or new jeans?

Community Answer

The bleach can weaken the elastic in new jeans, so I recommend doing this with a pair of old jeans.

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Question

How do I acid wash a pair of blue jeans to uniformly very light sky blue?

Community Answer

Same as above, but no rubber bands, and probably 90 minutes total, flipping every 20.

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Question

Can I do this indoors? If not, why?

Community Answer

No. Bleach is a strong chemical and should not be breathed in, especially in the high quantities that will tend to accumulate indoors.

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Question

Is there any way to add color to the jeans, like pink or purple, once the jeans are done?

Community Answer

Yes. After you're done acid washing, and drying the jeans, use fabric dye in a smaller amount than normal to get a light color.

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Question

How do I cut the jeans up after bleaching it?

Community Answer

You can use scissors or sandpaper for more natural looking holes.

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Question

Can I do this in the basement and pour the bleach water in the washing machine when I am finished with it?

Community Answer

You can, but bleach has a very strong smell and it can be overpowering. NEVER mix bleach with vinegar - that makes a toxic gas.

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Question

What does this look like when complete?

Community Answer

A picture will speak more clearly than words here. You may want to look at different examples online to get an idea for what your jeans might look like.

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Question

How can I acid wash jeans uniformly in a specific area?

Community Answer

You can do this with a paint brush, but it's almost impossible to guarantee a uniform coverage, since it depends on how the bleach reacts with the dye in the fabric.

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Question

Can I touch acid-washed jeans with my bare hands after they've been in the dryer?

Community Answer

Yes. You can touch them when they're covered in bleach, too, but it's really hard on your skin, hence the suggestion to wear gloves.

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Question

Will this method work on deep dye, cotton/man-made fiber jeans?

Community Answer

Yes, but it will take longer, and the lighter the jeans get, the more damage the bleach is doing to the fabric, so it will shorten the life of the jeans.

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Question

What is the difference in acid-washed jeans and bleaching jeans? Or are they the same?

Community Answer

It's two names for two similar processes. Back in the Eighties, folks would mix bleach and pool cleaning acid in order to fade the jeans faster, hence "acid wash". Stone washing also gives a similar look but is done with pumice stones.

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