Good American Care Guide 2026: How to Wash Jeans, Faux Leather and Swim the Right Way
Sunday evening, laundry basket on the bed. Inside: the jeans you've worn four days running, white jeans with a coffee splash on one knee, a pair of faux leather pants from Friday night, a swimsuit still damp from the hotel pool, and a satin shirt you're slightly afraid of. The easy move is one hot load and a long tumble dry. It's also the fastest way to wear out clothes you paid good money for.
Good American publishes a Denim Care Guide, and every product page lists its own care instructions. Olivia Reviews read the guide and a stack of current care labels in October 2026, from Always Fits jeans to faux fur, swim and satin, and turned them into one routine that keeps the stretch, color and shape where they belong.
Quick take: Wash denim less often, always inside out and cold, and keep it away from high heat, which the brand says breaks down the stretch. Always Fits is its most delicate denim. Faux leather and faux fur are dry clean only, the wool-alpaca sweater goes flat to dry, and some labels are stricter than others, so read each tag. If something fails early, the brand treats manufacturing faults within 60 days as faulty. Planning a new pair? See today's Good American deals first.
The Denim Rules, Straight From the Guide
Good American's starting point is simple: don't wash your jeans too often. The guide says this helps prevent fading and shrinking, saves water, and that body oil, air and a little dirt "only add character." When you do wash them, it lists five rules:
- Wash jeans inside out.
- Use cold water with similar colors.
- Air dry, flat or hanging.
- If they get stiff from air drying, tumble dry on low for just 5 to 10 minutes.
- Don't iron.
The reason behind rules 2, 3 and 5 is the same. According to the guide, high heat "tears through the stretch" in Good American denim, wearing down the fabric and shortening its life. Since most Good American denim has some stretch, heat is the enemy.
Always Fits: Handle With the Most Care
Good American calls Always Fits its most delicate denim. That's the power-stretch fabric with 100% stretch, sold in four-size bands. The guide advises hand washing, or machine washing in cold water, and then air drying.
Here's a detail worth knowing. The label on the Always Fits Good Legs Straight Jeans in white says to wash inside out in cold water with like colors, not to bleach, to tumble dry on low and to iron on low heat. That's a little less cautious than the guide. If you want your Always Fits to last, the guide's gentler routine of a cold wash and air dry is the safer habit, and it doesn't break any rule on the label.
White Denim: No Bleach, Act Fast
White jeans get their own paragraph in the guide, and its first warning surprises people: avoid bleach. Good American says it can eventually turn white denim yellow. If you get a stain, rinse it in hot water as soon as possible to loosen and lift it, then wash the jeans in cold water with like colors.
Between Washes
The guide's tips for stretching the time between washes:
- Spot clean small stains with a damp cloth, or an old toothbrush and a little mild soap.
- Air them out by hanging the jeans outside.
- Mist with a fabric spray to release odors.
- Try the freezer. The guide mentions freezing jeans overnight as a way to stretch the time between washes, while making clear it isn't a replacement for washing.
Dark washes need one more precaution. Several labels, including the Always Fits Slim Palazzo, warn that color may transfer when the garment is new, so keep fresh indigo away from pale sofas and light handbags for the first few wears.
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Beyond Denim: What the Labels Say
Better Than Leather: dry clean only
Good American's faux leather is 100% polyurethane, and the Better Than Leather Vintage Low Rise Bootcut Pant ($198) is labeled dry clean only. Skip the washing machine entirely.
The Faux Fur Coat: dry clean only
The Faux Fur Coat ($288) is plush faux fur with a smooth satin lining and a hook-and-eye closure. It's 100% polyester and also labeled dry clean only.
The Oversized Turtleneck Sweater: lay it flat
This midweight knit is a wool-alpaca blend (32% wool, 32% alpaca, 30% nylon, 6% spandex). The label says to machine wash cold on a gentle cycle with like colors, not to bleach, to lay flat to dry, use a cool iron only if needed, and not to dry clean. It's $168.
The Satin Femme Shirt: gentle, then low heat
The Satin Femme Shirt ($148) is 100% polyester satin with a crisp collar and long cuffs. Its label says machine wash cold on a gentle cycle, no bleach, tumble dry on low, iron on a warm setting if needed, and don't dry clean.
Swim: the label that breaks the pattern
The 90s One Piece is 80% nylon and 20% elastane, in what Good American calls a double knit compression stretch fabric. Its label is the outlier in this guide: machine wash warm, non-chlorine bleach when needed, tumble dry, iron on a warm setting if necessary, and it can be dry cleaned. It was on sale for $95.99 (down from $128) when we checked.
Care at a Glance
| Item | Fabric | Price | What the label or guide says |
|---|---|---|---|
| Everyday jeans | Stretch denim | From $108 | Inside out, cold, air dry, low heat only if stiff, no iron (guide) |
| Always Fits jeans | Power stretch denim | $168 | Hand wash or cold machine wash, air dry (guide) |
| White denim | Varies | Varies | No bleach; rinse stains in hot water fast (guide) |
| Better Than Leather pant | 100% polyurethane | $198 | Dry clean only |
| Faux Fur Coat | 100% polyester | $288 | Dry clean only |
| Oversized Turtleneck Sweater | Wool-alpaca blend | $168 | Cold gentle wash, lay flat to dry |
| Satin Femme Shirt | 100% polyester | $148 | Cold gentle wash, tumble dry low |
| French Terry Raglan Sweatshirt | 100% cotton | $98 | Cold wash, tumble dry low, iron on low |
| 90s One Piece | Nylon and elastane | $95.99 on sale | Warm wash, non-chlorine bleach when needed |
Before the First Wash: Know the Return Rules
Hold off on washing anything new until you've decided to keep it. Good American accepts returns and exchanges requested within 14 days of the date your order shipped, and items must be unused with tags attached. Exchanges and returns for store credit are free; refunds to your card cost $6 at a Happy Returns Return Bar or $9 with a prepaid UPS label. Bodysuits and swim must come back with the protective adhesive strip in place, and Final Sale items or anything 50% off or more can't be returned.
If Something Goes Wrong
Good American's FAQ draws a clear line between faults and wear. Goods count as faulty if they arrive damaged, or if a manufacturing fault appears within 60 days of purchase. To report one, start a return in the portal, choose "Product is Defective" and explain what happened. After 60 days from the order date, the brand treats issues as normal wear and tear. That's one more reason to follow the care labels from day one.
Good American Care Questions
Can I put Good American jeans in the dryer?
The Denim Care Guide says to air dry, and only tumble dry on low for 5 to 10 minutes if air drying leaves jeans stiff. Some labels allow tumble drying on low.
Should I iron my jeans?
The guide says don't, because high heat damages the stretch. A few labels mention ironing on low heat, but the guide's advice is the gentler option.
How do I get a stain out of white jeans?
Rinse it in hot water as soon as possible, then wash the jeans in cold water with like colors. Avoid bleach, which the brand says can turn white denim yellow.
Can I wash faux leather?
Not according to the label we checked: the Better Than Leather pant is dry clean only.
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Final Verdict
Good American's care advice comes down to one idea: protect the stretch. Wash jeans less, turn them inside out, keep the water cold and the heat low, and give Always Fits the gentlest treatment of all. For everything else, read the label, because faux leather and faux fur want the dry cleaner while satin and sweaters can go in a gentle wash. When it's time to add to the rotation, see today's Good American deals and compare current Good American offers.
Olivia Reviews researched Good American using its official website, product listings and published policies in October 2026. We haven't personally tested these products. We may earn a commission when you buy through our links, at no extra cost to you.