Jeans are a staple in many people's closets, and the go-to look on several occasions. However, no matter how much money you spend, jeans seems to wear and tear in the same area first: the thighs. This wear is often made worse if the jeans are ill-fitting, poorly constructed, or because they're not properly laundered or cared for. Protect your favorite pair of jeans from suffering an unfortunate fate by caring for and wearing your jeans properly to avoid premature inner-thigh wear.
Purchase jeans that are well-constructed and fit your body. Avoid jeans that are either too large or too tight in the thighs, as these can worsen the rubbing and friction that leads to premature wear. Look over the jeans to ensure they're not factory distressed in the inner-thigh area, as well.
Turn the jeans inside out and launder them separately, or with another two or three pairs of jeans to prevent unnecessary wear. In addition, it's not necessary to wash your jeans unless they're soiled or beginning to smell. Washing your jeans after wearing them three to four times is enough.
Launder your jeans on the gentle cycle with cold or warm water. Avoid using hot water or bleach, as both will weaken the denim fabric. Check the jean's label to determine if they're safe to wash in warm water.
Hang your jeans up to dry. Instead of tossing your jeans in the dryer, hang them on a drying rack outside, or suspend them from a hanger in your basement or laundry room. The heat from the dryer is damaging to the denim fabric, and will hasten the fading and wear.
Cover the thighs with patches before any signs of wear occur. The two most readily available types of denim patches are either ironed or sewed onto the jeans. Iron-on patches are easier, but prone to curling and can fall off if the jeans are laundered in hot water or placed inside the dryer. Either way, attach the patches to the inside of the inner-thigh area before any signs of wear occur. If attached after wear begins, the patches won't prevent it from continuing.