How to Wash Compression Socks
Washing compression socks is a vital step in properly caring for them and ensuring their longevity. Compression socks are a vital tool in preventing swelling of the legs and encouraging steady blood flow to the heart. By providing gentle pressure to your legs, they are perfect for anyone suffering from pain or swelling caused by vein inflammation or muscle overworking. Because your compression socks look after you, it is crucial that you also take all the necessary steps to look after them, starting with washing them properly.
One of the best ways in which you can properly care for your socks is by following the proper steps when it comes to cleaning your socks. Cleaning your socks the correct way will vastly extend just how long you can use them, which is extremely appealing considering just how costly a decent pair of compression socks may be. Here is the best way to wash compression socks.
The Importance of Washing Your Compression Socks Daily
Firstly it is imperative that you wash your compression socks after every use. For most people that use compression socks, the socks will be worn throughout the day and will start to lose elasticity and build up dirt and oils that will ruin the integrity of the socks.
By washing the garment every day you are taking proper care of your compression garments and will help the material to stay in a good condition and thus prolong the lifespan and amount of time that you can continue to use the socks.
How to Wash Compression Socks in the Washing Machine
There is the debate of whether or not you should wash your compression socks in a washing machine. Now, a lot of people warn against machine washing, but it is understandable that some people simply may not have the time to hand wash their compression socks after every use.
Luckily, washing compression socks in a washing machine is very easy. However, you do have to take more care than if you were to wash your socks by hand. The first step to washing your compression socks by machine is inspecting the bands of your socks.
Compression socks have several elastic bands throughout the socks that are susceptible to picking up dirt and oils more than the rest of the sock due to the proximity to the skin. It is vital that you take the time to hand wash these parts of the socks as it can be easy for them to be missed when in the washing machine. Before you do decide to machine wash, invest in a fabric bag that you can wash the socks in, these bags are commonly sold to wash bras with and are very easy to find.
You shouldn’t clean the socks on anything stronger than a cool water to warm water wash, as overheating the socks may ruin the structure of the material, and in fact a cool water gentle cycle is the best way. You should also be very minimal with which cleaning products that you select to wash the socks with. Don’t use anything too powerful as the compression fabric is extremely sensitive and could be ruined, this means avoid using bleach and heavy fabric softeners.
Though you can wash them in a washing machine, drying them in a dryer must be avoided completely as this will shrink the fabric and make them unusable.
Washing Compression Socks By Hand
Washing by hand is actually a very straightforward process. It is recommended that you learn how to wash compression socks in cold water, because as previously stated, washing in hot water may ruin the structural integrity of the compression fabric.
When it comes to products, there are a lot that are available online and cater specifically to the needs of compression socks. However, if this is not accessible to you, then you can use some common mild detergent in order to make sure that your socks receive a deep clean.
The detergent should not be placed directly onto the fabric, instead it should be mixed into the water and massaged in when the socks are submerged. You should take the time to carefully massage the socks by hand and allow them to sit in the water, make sure that you pay more attention to the elastic areas of the sock, because they are far more susceptible to picking up any dirt and oil. Make sure that you rinse the socks out and then let them sit out and air dry, this will mean that the material will return back to its elastic state.
It is important to wash your compression socks after every use and when you begin to notice that the socks are losing their elasticity, replace them.
