Have you ever wondered why your favorite socks are linty, hard or shrunk after a few washes? With the right sock care and knowing how to wash socks properly, many of these problems can be avoided. High-quality socks in particular quickly lose their function due to incorrect care. Whether everyday socks, hiking socks, sports socks or business socks - with simple care tips, your socks will stay beautiful, comfortable and functional for longer.
Why do socks pilling when washed?
Even high-quality yarns can form small pills when rubbed, especially when there is a lot of movement or when washing with rough fabrics. This can happen particularly quickly with high-tech or wool socks. It is best to prevent this from the outset.
A quick solution:
- Turn socks inside out before washing
- Use a gentle wash cycle at a low temperature
- Wash socks with a high wool content in the wool wash program
- Use mild detergent without bleach
- Place socks in a laundry bag
This will keep the material smooth and the colors bright.
Material guide for your socks
- Cotton: easy-care, temperatures up to 40 °C, mild mild detergent is sufficient.
- Wool / merino: delicate, maximum 30 °C, low friction, use wool wash program.
- Synthetics / functional fibers: robust, 30-40 °C, no fabric softener, functionality is retained.
- Silk: particularly delicate, hand wash or wool program only, low temperatures, no spinning.
- Cashmere: luxurious and soft, maximum 30 °C, very gentle wool detergent, do not rub.
- Viscose / bamboo: pleasantly soft and breathable, 30 °C is sufficient, wash gently and preferably air dry.
Socks shrink during washing - how to prevent it
Many people know the problem: your favorite socks no longer fit after washing because they have shrunk. The culprit is too high a washing temperature or the dryer. Normally this shouldn't happen, but sometimes there are exceptions. This can be avoided with simple measures.
Our tips:
- Do not wash above 30 °C
- Avoid tumble dryers, as air drying is more suitable
- Observe the care symbols on the packaging
Prevent holes and wear and tear
Small holes are often caused by friction or sharp objects. Sports socks in particular suffer quickly from intensive use.
How to protect your socks:
- Change socks regularly
- Avoid sharp objects such as long toenails or zippers
- Use a laundry bag to protect even delicate knitted materials
- Wear the right socks with the right shoes: hiking socks with hiking boots, ski socks with ski boots and so on.
Care tips for socks
Many socks have special functions - moisture wicking, cushioning and odor resistance. To maintain these properties for a long time
:- Wash separately according to color or material
- Fabric softener damages the fibers, especially in functional and wool socks
- Allow to dry quickly, but not in the dryer
The best tricks for soft, fresh socks
Even after washing, you can do a lot for comfort with a few simple steps. and freshness:
- Fold or clip pairs of socks together before storing
- Store socks neatly in the closet
- Never store together with hard or scratchy fabrics
Conclusion
If you look after your socks properly, you will enjoy them for longer - whether in everyday life, during sport or in the office. With just a few simple steps, you can prevent pilling, holes and shrinkage, retain soft fibres and bright colors.
