To really appreciate a pair of Levi’s® 501® Shrink-To-Fit® jeans, you have to make them your own. Because, honestly, no one care wear ‘em like you do, right?

With that in mind, we wanted to share a few tips.

This may not be the easiest start to caring for your jeans, but it gets easier and – in fact – uses less of the planet’s natural resources, namely energy and water.

Step 1 Purchase your jeans in your true size, which for Shrink-to-Fit™ means 1″ larger in waist and 3″ longer in inseam.

Step 2 Wear them out of the store (after you buy them).

Step 3 Live in them as long as possible.

Step 4 Wash them as little as possible.

Step 5 When wash time finally arrives, soak for 20 minutes with a capful of Dr. Bronner’s Soap. Keep in mind, the hotter the water, the more they shrink. To preserve the color, turn your 501™ jeans inside out, replace the warm water with cold water and add a cup of vinegar.

Step 6 Let them drip dry until they are slightly damp.

Step 7 Put them back on – ideally on a warm day or when you can sit by a fire.

Step 8 As they dry, they’ll shape to your body.

Step 9 Enjoy!

Check out the fun poster below. You can even click to download and print!

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