How to wash bamboo socks so they last longest

Short answer: Wash at 40 degrees, turn the socks inside out, skip the fabric softener and dry them on low heat. These four habits extend their life more than anything else you can do, and none of them costs anything extra.

40 degrees is enough

Grease, sweat and dirt from your feet loosen at 40 degrees. A higher temperature does not make socks noticeably cleaner, but it wears out fibres and elastic faster. Bamboo viscose is a soft material and does best with a gentle wash. Use a regular detergent without bleach. Read more about washing and care.

Inside out

Friction in the washing machine hits the side of the fabric that faces out. Turn the sock and the rubbing hits the inside instead, so the colour on the outside lasts longer. It also reduces pilling. Water and detergent reach the side that sat against your skin all day more easily.

Fabric softener is the worst

Fabric softener leaves a thin film on the fibres. That film stops the sock from moving moisture away from the skin, which is the whole reason to choose bamboo socks. After a few washes with softener the sock still feels soft, but it no longer keeps your foot dry. Leave it out.

Heat ruins the elastic

The elastic in the cuff loses its stretch from heat, not from normal wear. A tumble dryer on high can make a new sock slack at the top in a short time. Dry on low heat or hang the socks up. On a drying rack they are usually dry overnight because the fabric is thin.

Sort by colour

Dark socks can release a little colour in the first washes. Wash black and navy separately from light colours. That keeps the black socks deep black and stops the light ones turning grey. It matters most while the socks are new, because the first dye sits loosest in the fibres.

Use a laundry bag

Socks easily go missing in the machine or get stuck in the rubber seal. A laundry bag keeps them together and protects the fabric from zips and buttons on other clothes. It also makes pairing them easier afterwards. Keep one bag per colour group, so sorting happens when the socks come off.

Do not overload the machine

An overloaded machine washes less well because clothes cannot move freely in the water. They also rub harder against each other, which wears thin socks. Leave a hand's width of space in the drum. You get cleaner socks and less wear without needing a higher temperature.

Rotation means a longer life

The more pairs you rotate between, the fewer washes each pair gets. With only three pairs in use, each goes in the machine every second or third day. With ten pairs of the same model the wear spreads evenly, and topping up later is easy. See all bamboo socks for men.

Storage

Fold socks together in pairs instead of rolling them with one sock pulled over the other. When the cuff is stretched around the whole bundle in the drawer, it loses its stretch before the sock is even worn. Lay them flat or folded once. See also all bamboo socks for women.

Frequently asked questions

What temperature should bamboo socks be washed at?

40 degrees. That is enough to remove grease, sweat and dirt without putting needless strain on the fibres and on the elastic in the cuff.

Can socks be washed at 60 degrees?

Yes, but only now and then, for example after illness. For everyday washing 60 degrees does more harm than good, and the socks do not get noticeably cleaner.