Should You Wash Your Socks Separately?

Socks complete our outfits, help us protect our feet and reduce oil and grime that can dirty our shoes - by absorbing our perspiration before it reaches the sole.

A small piece of garment compared to the rest of our clothing. But should socks be washed separately at the end of the day when they get dirty and ready to be cleaned?

Yes, you should clean your socks separately from other clothing. This is not only more hygienic, but it also helps to preserve your socks. Today, we look at the various reasons and how you can clean them properly.

Why separate your socks?

Many complain that washing socks separately can be a chore. However, it has more pros than cons. Whenever possible, try to wash socks separately from the rest of your laundry.

To have healthy feet

Socks remain on your feet for a good part of the day. During this time, dirt, germs and perspiration can accumulate as they get trapped in your socks. Worse if you get them wet in the rain and now you are trapped with wet socks for the rest of your day.

If your socks are not cleaned thoroughly, they will start to smell. Prolonged usage of dirty socks is a sure way to foot diseases such as athlete’s foot. This is detrimental to both your physical and social health.

It is already bad dealing with persistent fungal growth, and worse when people may start avoiding you because of the unbearable stench from your feet.

To make your socks last longer

If you give your socks the right care, they can last a long time.

Socks have to be replaced often because they wear out and can have holes, become thinned out, or develop loose stitches. They can also sometimes spoil during the washing process.

The durable fabrics of our everyday clothing are rougher than those of our socks. If we wash our socks together with other laundries in a small washing machine, we risk the delicate socks rubbing against the rougher fabrics.

This will result in the thinning and fraying of your socks. Soon enough, holes can start to appear. The rougher washing cycle can over-pull or stretch your socks and further deform their shape.

One more point to the team who wash their socks separately!

To keep your socks’ colour vibrant

There is a trend of socks slowly becoming a fashion accessory for our outfits. More are coming with unique designs and vibrant colours that help to bring out your personality.

Colours that went dull after only a few washes.

Socks are often neglected at laundry time because they are small. But the simple action of separating your socks can help keep their colours for longer. Gather all your socks for a separate run which is tailored to their needs.

They will thank you for it and reward you with retained vibrancy and shape for many years to come.

How to wash your socks?

Here are some steps to washing your pair of socks. They can vary slightly depending on whether you use washing machines or prefer to wash them by hand.

Preparing your socks for wash

Step 1: Separate your socks and group them according to the following when practical:

Colour—White versus coloured socks to prevent a colour run.

Material—Dress (wool or cotton) from athletic socks (polyester or nylon) to prevent potential lint in your dress socks.

Heavily soiled—If your socks are soiled or have absorbed a lot of perspiration, try soaking them in cold water for half an hour before washing to loosen the stubborn stains and eliminate some odour beforehand.

Step 2: Turn your socks inside out.

As your socks have absorbed your perspiration and accumulated bacteria from your feet, turning them inside out helps to clean them more thoroughly.

If there is any lint that forms during laundry washing, it can now accumulate on the inside of your socks instead of the socks’ exterior - thereby preserving the vibrancy of your socks where they matter.

For machine wash

Step 3: Load your socks to your washer using the correct settings.

Temperature of water—30 degrees Celsius or less, avoid heated cycle

Type of detergent—light mild detergent (avoid bleach, fabric softener or harsh chemicals)

Settings of machine—gentle wash

The right conditions can slow down the socks' ageing process, preventing the colours from fading, the size from shrinking, and the elasticity from loosening.

Modern machines usually have eco-modes. These are usually suitable for your socks as long as the cycle is not heated. They save energy and water, help the environment, and reduce utility costs!

Step 4: Turn the socks right-side out.

After the machine has done with the wash, carefully turn your socks right-side out. Do this gently to prevent overstretching.

Step 5: Drying the socks.

Keep the temperature moderately low to prevent the deformation of your socks. Air-dry them in a cool, shaded environment.

If you are using a dryer, try to set a cool temperature and toggle the dryer to “gentle” mode. It is okay to dry them with other pieces of clothing as long as you do not overload your dryer, allowing ample space so that they can be tossed effectively.

By hand

Step 1: Soak the socks in soapy, cool water.

Fill the sink or a pail with cold water. Use mild detergent. Turn the socks inside out and soak them for five to ten minutes.

Do not twist or scrub your socks in order to maintain their shape and elasticity!

Step 2: Rinse the soap out of the socks and air-dry or use a dryer. You can then start from step 4 in the previous section.

When to hand wash the socks?

Delicate socks

If you have delicate dress socks or speciality socks such as compression socks, you should wash them by hand or according to the requirements on their cleaning labels.

Hand washing is gentler than machine washing as long as you exercise caution while washing your socks. We emphasise this again - do not wring your socks!

If you plan to invest in high-quality socks, hand washing them can make them last longer and save you money.

Small washing load

Your household washing machine can probably handle a moderately large load of laundry. Washing clothes for the entire family at once can save you time and money. However, more often than not, the entire load of socks for an entire week or two is likely too little for one washing load.

This is when you might want to consider hand washing your socks. This helps you keep your dirtied socks manageable, and You can wash them whenever you feel that they have reached a sizeable load.

The last thing you want is a month-old pair of stinky socks in the basket. To learn more about how frequently you should wash your laundry, check out our previous article here.

Space constraints

If you live in a small flat without a washer or in a rented space, you will likely do your laundry at the laundromat. Spending a separate trip just to wash your socks can be a chore.

Consider hand washing your socks instead. All you need is a pail, water, and soap. Oh, and one hour of your time, with most of it going to soaking the socks.

Alternatively, get a laundry valet service. Reclaim your precious time for yourself.

Can I wear new, unwashed socks?

Remember the excitement whenever you get pretty new socks? You rip them out of their packaging and are ready to go! But are they?

Sorry to burst your bubble, but I would wear new socks before I washed them.

Artificial chemicals

Throughout the fabric and socks' manufacturing process, the fabric may have come into contact with harmful substances that can damage your skin. The dyes for your socks are all chemicals, as are the colour stabilisers. These chemicals can be potentially harmful to your skin, especially if they do not have any certifications such as GOTS, Oeko-Tex, or other labels.

You should always wash new socks before wearing them, especially if you have sensitive skin or chemical allergies. This first wash helps to remove residual chemicals that can still be present.

If you are still worried about residual chemicals after washing, try wearing the socks at home for half an hour and monitoring how your feet feel. Remove the socks any time you feel uncomfortable.

Germs

Besides, no one knows how many people touched the socks before they were packaged and shipped.

In the retail shop, many customers have touched them before you. The guy who replenished the shelves. You! Yourself has brought it to the counter for payment. Your new pair of socks can harbour many different bacteria without you knowing it.

Wash your new socks first, the soap you use can eliminate pathogens, making them safe to wear.