Create the 'dirty denim' look | Everyday Cheapskate | stardem.com - The Star Democrat

If you’re not familiar with dirty denim, let me explain. Dirty denim jeans are smudged; the fabric is faded in all the places you would expect wrinkles. It is also distressed, so it looks well-worn. It is a comfy kind of look, and the denim feels quite soft. But there’s more. Dirty denim has an orangish-gold tinge. It really does look dirty.

So let’s say your teen daughter has a perfectly good pair of jeans she loves but, as the latest fashion goes, they just look too “clean.” It’s easy to create the dirty denim look on jeans and other denim items, too. You can do this by over-dyeing jeans, skirts and jackets. All you need are some Rit dye (available in supermarkets, discount department stores and online) and these instructions:

Round up these materials:

— One package of tan Rit dye powder.

— 1/2 cup, or 4 ounces, of liquid tangerine Rit dye (optional).

— Distressed denim jeans, skirt, jacket, etc.

— Rubber gloves.

— Washing machine.

1. Turn the washing machine on, and let it fill with hot water. You want the water very hot, about 140 F. You may need to turn your water heater to “hot” a few hours in advance to achieve this very high temperature. Warn all family members, because water this hot can scald youngsters and elderly people in just a few seconds.

2. Add the tan Rit dye powder to the water.

3. Submerge the jeans or other items in the mixture, and soak them for 10 minutes. Close the lid of the washer to maintain the high temperature.

4. Rinse the items, and then wash and rinse again. You do not need to add detergent.

5. Dry in the usual manner.

6. Repeat steps 1-5 with the liquid tangerine Rit dye to give the denim an added “dirty” look (optional).

7. After dyeing, clean the washing machine by running it through a complete wash cycle with detergent and 1 to 2 cups of bleach.

There you go — dirty denim, for a fraction of the price.

Mary invites questions, comments and tips at mary@everydaycheapskate.com, or c/o Everyday Cheapskate, 12340 Seal Beach Blvd., Suite B-416, Seal Beach, CA 90740. This column will answer questions of general interest, but letters cannot be answered individually. Mary Hunt is the founder of http://ift.tt/I4rAac, a personal finance member website and the author of “Debt-Proof Living,” released in 2014. To find out more about Mary and read her past columns, please visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com.

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