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How to wash your socks
so they last.
Temperature, drying, detergent: what keeps the elastic and the shape intact, material by material.
Most socks can be washed at 30 or 40 degrees, inside out, with a mild detergent and without fabric softener. Socks in a cotton and polyester blend cope well with 40 degrees, while wool and merino need 30 degrees or a wool programme. What wears socks out most is heat: a hot tumble dryer slackens the elastic in the cuff and weakens the heel and toe. The care label is always the reference.
At a glance
Which temperature for which material?
General guidelines. The care label on the pair always takes priority.
| Material | Washing | Tumble dryer | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cotton | 40 degrees, sometimes 60 depending on the label | Low temperature | Cotton can shrink in heat |
| Cotton and polyester | 30 to 40 degrees | Preferably air-dry | The blend keeps its shape well, the elastic suffers from heat |
| Wool or merino | 30 degrees, wool programme or by hand | No | Felts and shrinks if the water is too hot or if it is rubbed |
| Sports socks (technical fibres) | 30 to 40 degrees | No | Without fabric softener, otherwise they wick moisture less well |
Step by step
Washing your socks properly
Seven steps that considerably extend the life of a pair.
- Read the label before the first wash, especially for wool and sports socks
- Turn your socks inside out: the dirt and fluff are on the inside, and the colour is protected
- Wash white socks separately from dark ones
- Put your socks in a laundry bag: pairs stay together and nothing gets lost in the drum seal
- Dose the detergent as stated on the packaging and skip the fabric softener
- Do not overload the drum, otherwise water and detergent circulate poorly
- Air-dry, flat or hung by the toe, not on the radiator
What to avoid
The most common mistakes
Almost all of them have the same result: the sock loses its shape or wears out before its time.
White socks
Getting white socks white again
White socks turn grey mainly because other items bleed onto them and dirt builds up under the sole. Wash them only with whites, pre-treat the sole with a stain remover according to its instructions, and choose 40 or 60 degrees only if the label allows it. A sock that has been grey or yellowed for a long time rarely regains its original colour.
When to replace
Signs that a sock has had its day
Even well cared for, a sock wears out. These signs show that it is time to replace it.
- The cuff no longer holds and the sock slips inside the shoe
- The fabric has become thin or see-through at the heel or toe
- A hole appears
- The fabric stays rough or pilled, even after washing
When UNDY is right for you
Replace without thinking about it
For those who keep their socks too long.
Many men keep their socks too long, simply because they do not think about it. UNDY is a Swiss subscription that delivers a pair of branded socks in your size, from 39 to 46, to your letterbox every month, with free delivery. Most styles are made of a cotton and polyester blend.
Frequently asked questions
What people often ask
Read more
Other useful pages
New socks, every month.
From CHF 12.50 per month, delivered to your letterbox with free delivery.