I interrupt my – I’m sure enthralling – coverage of Rolex to ask: how often do you wash your breeches? I generally go with maybe 2-4 times a year because washing just destroys fabrics. I got into the habit with jeans – seriously, don’t wash your jeans – and carried it over to riding pants. I also prefer denim breeches. And it does work. I’ve had pairs of breeches last me years and years even with intense daily use.
However, there is a dirtiness factor to take into consideration. As I normally just ride around my own barn, if my breeches are dirty, so what? But since I’ve been venturing out into public so much (clinic, upcoming shows, and endurance rides), I feel like I should have clean breeches. I bought three pairs of breeches at Rolex; two of them are nice breeches, not my usual tights or denim breeches. I want to wear them, but I also want to keep them clean and shiny. And I want them to last, so I don’t want to wash them all the time. So I’m torn; I don’t know what to do.
What should I do? What do you do? Any advice or anecdote would be appreciated.
I wash mine once or twice a week!
those are snazzy. I wash mine after a few rides- it really depends on how sweaty/dirty they are. However, I almost never put them in the dryer. I hang dry. Breeches last me years that way.
Wow! I don't even do laundry that often. Before anyone thinks I'm gross, I always wear clean underwear, I just buy tons of it so I can do laundry as infrequently as possible.
I do hang dry my breeches. I washed all the ones from Rolex and hung them dry already – I can't wear new clothes without washing or I'll get itchy/rash from the chemicals. Maybe higher quality breeches will survive more washings.
I worry about them fading if I wash them too often. I wear each pair multiple times before washing them, so I at least wait a little over a month between washings, unless every pair is filthy. I also wash my breeches separate from my other clothes(though I wash all the breeches together). I turn them inside out to prevent the color from fading and hang them to dry.
That's good advice. What I was worried about is when the fabric and seams start to fall apart. But I should also worry about fading.
Yeah I'm with you. Maybe 4-6x a year. For newer, nicer breeches I wash them separately, on a cold water cycle, usually with something like the Leather Therapy laundry rinse, then hang dry.
I have 2-3 pairs of older, crappier breeches that I never really liked and would be ok if they died. Those go right in with my regular laundry, dryer and all.
I wash after every wear. I have cheap Tuffriders and haven't noticed any issues. I wait until I have a small load, turn them inside out, affix all the little velcro pieces, and wash on cold. Then I hang to dry.
So glad to know I'm not alone. I do have a cheap pair of tuff riders that I just throw in the wash, but even those I don't do often.
I'd need to own a ton more breeches to wash after every wear given that I only do laundry like 1 or 2x a month. I do wish I wasn't so lazy. I admire your ability to get stuff done!
LOL Olivia you are just like me! I do laundry maybe once or twice a MONTH, and my breeches go in there if they are supremely filthy. My show breeches I make a point to wash on a gentle cycle after every wear, but for my ever-day breeches they can go a month or more between washes. It depends how many horses I've been riding and how much visible dirt is on them, how stiff they've become, and the season (stanky sweaty-ass Summer breeches do require more laundering than breeches in the winter). But my habits are mostly out of laziness!
So glad to know I'm not alone. I also do clothes laundry about 1x a month. Laziness is major factor for me. I thought it might be nice to have clean breeches for once though. Maybe I'll keep one pair aside for special events.
I usually wear breeches 2-3 times and then wash them. I ALWAYS wash them on delicate cycle, with no fabric softener and never put them in the dryer, which helps them last longer.
That seems somewhat reasonable. I'd probably still need to buy more breeches to make this happen and not have to do laundry more frequently than I would like.
It depends on the barnd for me. I love equine culture jean breeches i have two pairs. i have pair that has lasted me at least over year. I put them in wash then i will hang dry or put them in dier. Same with my tan breeches. bad spelling
I just got a pair of Kerrit breeches and they fit fine in the waist but are a little bit saggy in the thighs/rear end. I don't really fit into leggings very well and was just wondering if anyone has advice about that.