Nothing beats the feeling of fresh socks on your feet. The soft cushion of the fabric and the smooth textures can make you feel like you are walking on clouds. We all have our preferences of which kinds of socks we prefer based on material, cut, and style. Some of us even have a favorite pair we wear on the weekends around the house, but making your socks last is a whole other story.
To help, here are some tips for keeping all of your socks fresher for longer and getting the most out of that one special pair.
Do Not Use the Dry Cleaners
Tip number one: do not take your socks to the dry cleaners. While this might be your first instinct for keeping clothes fresh and well cared for, this one is actually a no-go for your socks. The high heat can damage the fabric and reduce the elasticity much faster than other cleaning methods. Leave the dry cleaners for your suits, slacks, and blouses but not your socks.
Flip Socks Inside Out For Cleaning
When you throw your socks in the hamper, turn them inside out. Throughout the day, your feet sweat, and the bacteria from it accumulates inside your socks. When you wash socks inside out, you have a cleaner sock and a softer inner fabric.
On that note, let’s talk about what temperature to wash socks at. Keep the water cold when you clean your socks to avoid wearing down the materials. By using both of these methods, you’ll keep your socks feeling brand new after every wash.
Sort Socks According to Color
If you already sort your laundry, this one is already in the bag (or hamper). However, for those who throw it all in one load and press start, you might want to change your ways to give your socks a longer lifespan.
Keep the colors of your socks and other clothes vibrant and crisp by separating them by color before washing. That means washing white socks with whites and colorful socks with colors. This is an age-old method that makes a big difference.
Avoid Using the Fabric Softener
Wondering how to wash socks? You may think fabric softener is a must-have, but it’s a big no-no. This may seem very counterintuitive, but fabric softeners can reduce the long-term life of your socks and other clothes. The chemicals can create a coating on materials that wick moisture, decreasing their effectiveness.
In addition, these products contain numerous toxic chemicals, including a nasty skin allergen called methylisothiazolinone (MIT). Overall, it seems like the risks of using fabric softeners far outweigh the benefits.
Don’t Use an Ironing Board
While grandma and grandpa got a lot of things right, some things were done back in the day that don’t hold up today, like ironing your socks. If you are still ironing socks at home, you can stop knowing you are doing the right thing.
Similar to taking them to the dry cleaners or even drying them with high heat, the heat reduces the elasticity or stretchiness of your socks over time. Giving up this old-fashioned method is an easy way to make your socks last years and years.
Stock Socks Flat
You can also increase the life of your socks by storing them flat versus rolling them together. This also increases the longevity of the stretchiness of your socks since they won’t be stretched over one another. If you do this, keep your sock drawer organized, so you don’t fall victim to the sock elves.
Purchase Good Quality Socks
Make sure that you are buying quality socks. The materials used in cheaper socks will wear out faster than a well-made sock. High-quality materials not only last longer but feel, perform, and look better.
Your feet carry you through the day and have nerves that span your entire body to your brain. Do yourself a favor and get a decent pair of socks for your feet. Check out the selection or create fully custom socks with logo to find your next perfect pair.
Get the Most Life Out of Your Socks
Socks don’t have to come and go quickly. Instead, make them last as long as possible by following these simple tips.
