Why Do Jeans Get Weird Ripples After Washing?

2. The Washer Twists and Stretches the Fabric

Even if heat isn’t the issue, the way your jeans move inside the washer can cause problems. Think about it — your jeans aren’t just soaking gently in water. They’re being tossed, twisted, and stretched in every direction.

It gets even worse if you overload your washing machine — everything tangles up, and the fabric gets pulled unevenly.

Stretch denim is especially prone to this. When it’s wet and heavy, different areas dry under varying tension: some sections stay taut, others loosen. The result? Those annoying wavy ripples that make your jeans look like they’ve aged a decade overnight.