For our clothes to last longer and stay and tip top shape we have to follow the manufacturer's instruction on washing and drying. Yet oftentimes we tend to ignore these instructions because they are printed in very fine prints and we find it too much of a hassle to read it word per word.

Ignoring manufacturer's washing and storing instructions usually have disastrous results and because of this we find ourselves in the mall again looking for a shirt, dress or a pair of jeans to replace the one that has been ruined.

It would be too expensive to keep on replacing the clothes that were ruined because you ignored to read the instructions. But there are also times when you can't seem to find those tags where the instructions are written especially in jeans and so you are left with no choice. Keep in mind that jeans shrink as well as fade, so when you wash them, you have to do it the right way. Here are some ways to keep that from happening.

1. Before you toss your jeans into the machine, empty the pockets first. This is important because items left in the pocket will not only damage the machine but it can also damage your jeans. The best way to make sure that the pockets are empty is by turning it inside out.

2. Group your jeans. This is a great way to make the task of washing your jeans a whole lot easier. Group them according to their appearance; for example, group colored jeans together, dark jeans in another group and light washed jeans in another.

3. Once you have grouped your jeans according to appearance, turn them inside out. This process is especially important when you are washing dark colored jeans to keep them from fading. So before dropping them into the machine, make sure that you have turned them inside out.

4. If you are washing your jeans for the first time because it is new, wash it alone and without any other type of clothing. This is done to keep it from staining other pairs of jeans or other types of clothes. Stick to this step especially if your new pair is dark colored jeans.

5. Wash jeans with clothes that are more or less similar in color. Dark jeans should be washed with dark colored clothing while light colored jeans should be washed together with light colored clothing.

6. When washing your jeans, use warm water because it has been said that warm water is good for washing them. In case it is specified that you use cold water, then you can do so since it is the manufacturer's instruction.

7. Set your machine to gentle cycle or hand wash. Setting the machine to this cycle will keep your jeans from getting worn out.

8. Adding a fabric softener during the wash cycle will give a softer feel to your jeans.

9. When everything is done, hang your jeans to dry. Air dried jeans last longer because the chances of it shrinking and fading are rather low as compared to machine dried jeans.

It may sound complicated but those steps will surely help you keep your jeans in perfect condition.