How to wash socks correctly

washing socks Socks are the item of clothing that is washed most often. Of course, you can stock up on enough pairs of socks to not wash them for two weeks, but this will not solve the problem; sooner or later you will still have to do this. Knowing how to wash socks correctly can greatly facilitate this process and save your time.

What to choose: a machine or a basin?

The question arises, what is the best way to wash, in a machine or by hand. It is impossible to give a definite answer here; it all depends on the specific situation. You can wash it either way. But there are some nuances. If there are too few socks, for example, 3-4 pairs, then the machine has a 5.5 kg automatic machine, you shouldn’t wash them, you will need to put something else with them, otherwise an imbalance will arise and a program error will appear on the display.

This is not a reason to avoid machine washing. Socks can be washed in a special small sock machine. Thanks to such a machine, you can save both water and your energy. But if you don’t have such a machine, and your socks are all different colors, then hand washing simply cannot be avoided.

In addition, hand washing is convenient when you need to freshen your socks or remove fresh stains. For example, it is better to wash white socks immediately and not wait for the dirt to become embedded in the fabric, and therefore you should not wear them more than once. To wash one pair, you can do without a basin altogether if the bathroom has a sink. The main thing is to remember to wash the sink after this procedure.

Housewives often resort to double washing. First, soak the products in a basin, and then spin them in the washing machine to enhance the effect.

Washing colored socks

Before washing, be sure to shake out dust and pellets from all socks, and then sort them. Light and hand washing socks Wash white socks separately from dark and black ones. You also need to sort your socks by fabric type; wool socks are washed separately from cotton and synthetic ones. You can use any powder to wash cotton socks. Hand washing is carried out as follows:

socks need to be well wetted and thickly soaped with soap, for example, laundry soap;
Dissolve washing powder in a bowl of water at 40-60 degrees;
put soaped socks in the solution and leave them for 2-3 hours, longer if possible;
After the time has passed, rub each sock, paying special attention to contaminated areas;
Don't rub your socks too hard, otherwise you will literally rub them into holes. It’s better to lather again and leave for a while.
When the socks are clean, you need to thoroughly rinse off the soap, rinse them and hang them to dry.

As for machine washing, you can use any mode with water heating no more than 60 degrees. The best option, of course, is the “Cotton” mode. Before washing, you can fasten pairs of socks with clothespins, this way they will not lose each other, and it will be easier for you to hang them up to dry. Well, if you still lose a sock after washing, read the article Where do the socks go?.

How to wash white socks

washing white socks The most difficult thing to wash is white socks by hand, especially if they have been dirty for several days. During this time, the dirt has dried and become embedded in the fibers. So don't wait, wash your white socks right away. It is enough to thoroughly soap them with ordinary laundry soap or soap with bleaching properties and leave them to lie for 40-50 minutes. During this time, the dirt will dissolve, all you have to do is rinse the items and hang them to dry.

You can whiten darkened socks using oxygen bleaches; instructions for using such products are included. Follow everything as indicated by the manufacturer, and the result will be obvious. Lemon and mustard help remove stains and dirt from white socks if they are applied to the products for a while. Before washing in the machine, be sure to rinse off the mustard so that it does not get into the internal parts.

Important! It is better to wash white socks in water at a temperature of 40⁰C, too hot water can make socks darken.

If the above tips did not help you, then you will have to soak or boil. Suitable for soaking:

boric acid mixed with water in a ratio of 1 tablespoon of acid per liter of water. After soaking the socks in this solution for 3 hours, wash the socks in the washing machine in the “Cotton” mode and dry;
hydrogen peroxide mixed with ammonia. Add 3 tablespoons of peroxide and a spoonful of ammonia to a bowl of warm water, put socks in the water and wait 3 hours. After this soaking, gray socks will become snow-white. Rinse them well and dry them;
a quarter cup of soda ash. Add it to water, it will help wash white socks. You'll have to soak them for a few hours and wait.

bleaching agents

And finally, the most labor-intensive process is boiling. The socks are boiled for 10-15 minutes in water with the addition of powder and lemon slices, which has good bleaching properties. We hope you now understand how to wash white socks.

White socks should be dried hanging, but not on a radiator. Battery-charged socks may turn yellowish.

Features of washing woolen products

You will have to wash wool socks in a special way.Here are some rules for caring for wool socks:

They are washed using a special liquid detergent.
You can wash socks in a washing machine, but only in the “Delicate Wash” mode or in the “Wool” mode; in these programs the drum rotation speed is reduced, which means the wash will be gentle.
When washing wool socks by hand, use warm water with a temperature of no more than 30 degrees. Otherwise, the socks will shrink and their size will become smaller.
Wash items not only from the front side, but also from the back side.
When squeezing warm items, do not twist them too much and do not hang them on a line to dry. You shouldn’t dry them on a radiator either. Optimal drying on a flat, horizontal surface close to a heat source.

Every person should know how to wash socks. Therefore, we have collected for you all the important rules for washing these products both in the machine and by hand. In addition, you can watch a story about returning whiteness to white socks.