How to Hand Wash Socks to Prevent Getting Lost in the Washer/Dryer
We are proud to share our advice and expertise on our favorite smile-inspiring styles, but the one mystery that haunts us day after day involves those that never return from the laundry room. Have they run away? Did they disintegrate? Were they enjoyed as a tasty snack by the monster in the dryer? While we may never figure out just exactly where these wacky socks disappear to, one way to prevent future pairs from getting lost in the washer/dryer is to hand wash them.
Even though the types of socks we carry don’t require more delicate care than a wash on the gentle cycle, opting to hand wash instead of using the machine helps you not only keep better track of them, but is also good for the environment and can even further extend the brilliance of the fun colors and designs. That’s a win-win-win in our book!
Check Out Our Collection of Wacky SocksIf you’ve ever considered hand washing your socks but aren’t really sure how to do it safely and effectively, here are some instructions that should hopefully help you out.
how to hand wash socks
First of all, if you’re planning to wash your socks by hand, you might want to start by separating them out from your general laundry hampers. Keep a special bin for all of the pieces you plan to hand wash, whether that includes only socks or some of your other delicates, too.
Even if you’re typically the only one in your household who does the laundry, you don’t want to risk anyone surprising you by doing a load and accidentally sacrificing some of your favorite pairs to the laundry monster in the process. Yikes!
Just like you wouldn’t want to run the washing machine a bunch of times for small loads if you don’t have to, you can totally wait until you have a decent number of pairs in your bin before doing a cycle by hand.
Step 1. Wipe down the sink with a multipurpose cleaner, then rinse with hot water so you have a clean starting point. Especially if you’re using the kitchen sink or the bathroom sink for this, you want to make sure there’s no food gunk or toothpaste globs that would muck up your process.
Step 2. Plug the sink and fill it about three quarters of the way with warm water. You can go a little warmer if you’re running just whites, but don’t make the water too hot or you’ll risk hurting your hands when it’s time to start scrubbing!
Step 3. Add a squirt of liquid detergent to the water. It’s fine to eyeball it. If you’re washing whites, you can add a little bit of bleach to the mixture, but consider putting on a pair of gloves before sticking your hands in the water.
Order Unique Socks for a Unique You!Step 4. It’s time to put the socks in! Dump your load into the sink and make sure each pair is completely submerged with water. You can gently push the socks down into the water and separate them with your hands.
Step 5. Let the socks soak between about 15 minutes to a half hour, depending on how large the load is and how dirty the pairs are. Once the socks are done soaking, drain out the water and get ready for the “rinse cycle!”
Step 6. Squeeze out the socks after soaking them, then refill the sink about halfway with water. You can set the socks aside in a bowl next to the sink until it refills with fresh water. Push the socks around with your hands to loosen up and release any detergent that might still be lingering around.
Step 7. Once you’ve rinsed out your socks and there are no more suds, drain the water one more time and wring out each pair until they are no longer dripping wet.
Step 7. If you don’t have the patience to line dry (and who does, really?) lay out a towel and place each sock flat on it to dry for a few hours.
Step 8. Once the socks are dry, return all of the happy pairs to their rightful place in your sock drawer until they’re ready to be worn again.
socks that last
The reason most of our socks don’t require hand washing is because of their durable, yet comfortable fabric composition. Studies have shown the wearing and washing performance of blend socks is much better than 100 percent wool socks, which are prone to shrinkage.
We carry unique socks designed to be worn and loved for years to come, so while you can totally throw them in the washing machine, if you want to be able to find them for as long as they’ll last you, it might be worth giving hand washing a try!
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