Making your favourite socks last longer is easier than you think. Learn how to care for your socks and keep them in perfect condition with these simple, easy-to-follow steps.

How to care for your socks so they last longer

You only get one chance to make a good first impression, and your socks say more about you than you think. Just as you look after other accessories like your trainers, you should look after your socks.

There are plenty of myths about how to care for socks, with overly complicated and not very effective advice. At BESOCKS we keep it simple and bring you the definitive guide to giving your socks the care they deserve.

From today, say goodbye to those annoying holes and worn patches in your favourite socks. With these tips, you’re sorted. Take a look at our collection of original socks.

Read the care labels

The first tip is the most logical and necessary. As with any garment, before washing we should check what fabrics it’s made of so we can choose the right wash programme.

Socks are made from a wide variety of materials and qualities. The highest-quality socks are always made of 100% organic combed cotton, like the ones you’ll find at BESOCKS.

Cheaper materials such as nylon, acrylic or polyester are also used. They’re much less durable, so you need to be more careful when washing them, as they’ll wear out faster than average.

To find out what your socks are made of, check the box or packaging, where brands and manufacturers are required by law to list this information. Then choose your wash programme accordingly.

Wash socks at 30 degrees or lower

Another important and much-debated point is washing temperature. As we said, it depends on the material, but choosing the right temperature is essential.

Not so hot that it damages them, and not so cold that it fails to reach the level of cleaning and disinfection a garment this exposed needs.

We recommend washing at a maximum of 30 degrees to keep them from losing their shape. It’s the best way to avoid shrinking and broken fibres, while still being hot enough to clean and disinfect.

Wash them inside out so the design doesn’t fade

Your socks wear out for 2 main reasons. The first is that you don’t invest as much in quality socks as you do in other garments.

The second thing that ruins your socks the most is not washing them inside out. If we had to highlight one tip above all others, it would be this one. This simple step protects the outside of the sock, where the design is printed, from wear.

It’s a trick few people use, and it greatly extends the life and look of your socks. From now on, turn them all inside out before putting them in the washing machine and they’ll come out in top condition.

Use a low spin

Another small but very effective washing tip is to use programmes with a low spin. Socks don’t need a high spin to remove stains and dirt.

We recommend washing socks separately from other clothes on a programme of no more than 600–800 rpm, so the rubbing and friction of high-spin cycles don’t end up ruining your favourite patterned socks.

Don’t iron your socks

Another post-wash mistake is ironing socks. It’s not a good idea for several reasons. Some socks contain fabrics like nylon, spandex or other synthetics that don’t react well to the heat of an iron.

In most cases they lose elasticity and comfort. The heat affects the elastic fibres and makes the sock lose its shape, which can be very uncomfortable. They also become stiffer and less pleasant to wear.

Don’t use bleach

Another common mistake is using very harsh cleaning products like bleach. These products can remove dirt from some clothes, but they’re not made for cleaning socks.

Just make sure you use a good-quality detergent. Higher-quality detergents contain active ingredients that remove stains and dirt without the need for corrosive products.

Air dry

Drying is another important point. The key to making your socks last longer is not using a tumble dryer. We’re often in a hurry and end up using it, but we recommend avoiding it at all costs. The best thing you can do is air dry them at room temperature.

Hang them evenly with pegs and avoid direct sunlight, at least during the hottest hours of the day. That’s all it takes.

Avoid walking around in just your socks

Most of the information we’ve found on this topic focuses on before, during and after washing, but we think it forgets an essential part of keeping your socks in good shape.

And that’s how you wear them. Simply walking around in socks without shoes can wear out the sole excessively, little by little.

Keep your toenails short

Toenails are another thing that can damage your socks. Holes in socks appear for two reasons. The first is low-quality socks – that won’t happen with ours; take a look at the whole collection.

The second reason for that pesky hole is toenails that are too long. Without a doubt, long toenails are a sock’s worst enemy.

Don’t force the sock: wear it properly

Like any other garment, socks have a specific structure and shape. Wearing the wrong size can strain the sock’s pattern until it gives way somewhere, especially at the heel.

Always choose your size range so the sock sits properly. Make sure the heel of the sock lines up with your heel and don’t wear it pulled too high and stretched, or you could damage its structure.

Now you have no excuse not to look after your socks. Change your relationship with them by following these washing tips, and extend the life of your fun socks.

Also on the journal: How to wear white socks and Socks with sandals