Why Do Jeans Get Weird Ripples After Washing?

October 27, 2025 by emma

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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.