How to Acid Wash Jeans to a Different Color

Acid washing your jeans turns them a lighter color and exposes the white fabric underneath the blue dye. Instead of purchasing an expensive pair of acid-washed jeans, you can acid-wash a pair you already own. Regardless of the name, acid washing does not require any acid. All you need is common household bleach and a bit of time.

Instructions

1

Fill a bathtub with water, and soak the jeans in it until they're fully saturated. Remove the jeans and wring them out slightly so they are not dripping wet. Do not drain the bathtub.

2

Put on a pair of rubber gloves and a face mask. If you are acid washing the jeans inside, open all nearby windows to allow for maximum ventilation. Fill a spray bottle with bleach.

3

Lay the jeans on a flat surface. If the surface can be damaged by bleach, cover it with a plastic tarp before laying the jeans on it.

4

Spray bleach onto the jeans. Vary the spray pattern by adjusting the spray bottle's nozzle, if possible, and spraying from various distances. Flip the jeans over and repeat on the other side.

5

Allow the bleach to work on the jeans for about 10 minutes. Then soak the jeans in the bathtub, to rinse out as much bleach as possible.

6

Wash the jeans in a washing machine, using a normal cycle and warm water. Dry them in the dryer, or hang them up to air-dry.

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