Socks are a very important item of clothing that gets the most dirt. It is advisable to wash them every day, this is the only way they will keep clean and fresh. Again, it is better not to wear socks that have been worn once, as not only does they smell unpleasant sweat, but it also leads to the drying of old dirt and the imposition of new ones on it. As a result, it will be much more difficult to remove the dirt, it is easier to throw it away and buy a new pair. Let’s figure out how to wash socks in more detail.

Washing in a washing machine

To begin with, you need to sort the socks by color (black, colored and white are sold separately) and by material (wool should be washed only by hand). Such separation is very necessary to avoid unexpected incidents during washing, for example, when all the rest of the clothes acquire a red shade because of one pair of red socks.

How to wash socks by hand and in a washing machine

  • Colored socks (especially cheap ones with the addition of synthetics) shed, so it is better to wash them either by hand (until the paint washes off) or with things that are not afraid of dyeing.
  • Wear black with jeans and dark clothes.
  • Whites will have to be messed with. If you want them to remain white longer, then you need to wash them only with light clothes, periodically using bleaches. We will talk about how to wash white socks separately below.

If the socks are not heavily soiled and there are no difficult stains on them, the washing procedure in the washing machine is simple:

  1. Shake them well to dislodge dirt and sand, turn them inside out.
  2. Install the washing machine. If you have collected a lot of socks, then in order not to lose a pair later, put them in a separate laundry bag.
  3. Washing mode, detergents depend on the type of fabric and other clothes in the drum.
  4. Hang to dry, ideally outdoors, to keep them fresh.

When there is no washing machine

A very interesting method is to put socks soaked in household soap in a plastic bottle, close it and put it in the trunk of the car before the trip. In fact, an imitation of a washing machine is obtained when the socks have been washed, and there is no risk that the smell of sweat will transfer to other things in the drum.

Then it is enough to simply rinse.

Handwash

Woolen socks are hand-knitted and heavily soiled.

In principle, you can put woolen ones in the washing machine, but they can be deformed, they will have coils that will put unpleasant pressure on the foot and irritate. To avoid this, use special detergents for wool, water temperature no higher than 30 degrees, do not wring out and do not soak for a long time. Wash both sides with your hands. Read more about the rules for washing woolen clothes in this article .

The biggest problem is how to wash socks if there are difficult stains on them: greasy stains, blood, secretions from calluses, a strong smell of sweat. Here are some tips that will help you:

  • The water temperature is not higher than 40 degrees. The fact is that at high temperatures, organic mud will not only be washed away, but will get even stronger into the fibers of the fabric, after which it remains only to throw away the dirty socks.
  • Fresh blood is washed off in cool water with household soap, and dried blood can be pre-treated with hydrogen peroxide, baking soda, salt or glycerin. How to wash off the blood is described here .
  • Wash dirty socks well with laundry soap. Then you can leave them overnight, putting them in a plastic bag, or soak them in a solution of powder with enzymes.
  • After soaking, you need to wash the socks well again. It is most convenient to do this by wearing them on your hand like a glove. However, this method is not suitable for those who have sensitive skin on their hands or have sores on them.
  • In case of heavy mud, socks are washed using special stain removers.

Washing white socks

This is the most difficult. They get dirty quickly, and over time lose their whiteness, acquiring a yellowish tint. White socks should be washed after each wear. Here are some recommendations on how to do it better:

  • Before washing in the washing machine, wash the white socks well with laundry soap or soak them for a while. To improve the effect, you can wash it with soap, put it in a plastic bag and leave it overnight. In the morning, rinse and put in the washing machine.
  • Wash together with tennis balls or laundry balls . Thanks to this additional mechanical effect, dirt can be washed off the fabric much better.
  • To strengthen the action of the washing powder, you can add a little detergent to it. Socks are soaked in such a solution and washed in a washing machine on a fast mode. However, this method is not suitable for delicate and natural fabrics, as it can damage the fibers.

how to wash white socks

A number of means for bleaching white socks should be highlighted separately:

  • For whitening, it is enough to pour one glass of baking soda into the rinse aid compartment during washing.
  • One tablespoon of boric acid per liter of water – soak socks in this solution for several hours. Then wash them by hand or in the washing machine.
  • Freshly squeezed lemon juice (one is enough) is added to a bowl of warm water. White socks are soaked for 3 hours. If this did not help to whiten all the areas, then especially dirty areas are additionally treated with pure lemon juice, after which they are washed.
  • A teaspoon of 9 percent table vinegar per liter of water – soak the socks for half an hour, after ironing.
  • Ammonia or ammonia not only whitens well, but also softens water. The solution for soaking is prepared from 1 liter of water for 2-3 spoons of ammonia.
  • Boiling in household soap with the addition of lemon juice. This method is effective, but radical, as it can lead to the socks falling apart. Boil for no more than 20 minutes.

On a note

Use laundry bags, as it is sometimes difficult to wash socks and not lose a pair. And so they will lie together, they will not get stuck in the drum, the corner of the duvet cover, the sleeve or the leg of the pants, and thus you will not lose them.

Fasten dry socks with clips or a thin thread – it will be more convenient to store them, and you will not need to spend time looking for a pair.

If you just need to refresh your socks, then before washing, you can put them one inside the other so that they don’t get lost.

If you’re tired of sock solitaire, just buy a batch of matching socks.

If you need to dry your socks quickly, you can do it in several ways.

  • Using cotton napkins, iron wet clothes through them. Be sure to turn off the steam function.
  • Pull on the sock and warm it with a hair dryer or fan.
  • Dry in the microwave. However, don’t use this method on white socks, as detergent residue can bake, leaving behind a yellowish residue.
How to wash socks by hand and in a washing machine

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.