If you think hard about it, the life of a sock is full of struggles. Their life is more demanding than any other article of clothing you wear. Socks put on a lot of miles, even more than the average shoe.
With all that, it’s easy to see how socks can wear out fast. The question is, when’s the right time to let even your most comfortable socks go and replace them with a new one?
Here are some factors that influence just how long your socks can last and what you can do to prolong their life.
How You Wear Your Socks
Prolonging the life of your socks mostly depends on how you wear them. Make sure that each pair fits you properly. If your socks are too small for your feet, then they become more stretched out, which puts a lot of stress on the fabric. On the other hand, socks that are too big will bunch up in your shoes, creating undue friction against the fabric!
If you don’t want to add more wear and tear to your socks, make sure they fit you perfectly and that you trim your toenails regularly.
Where You Wear Your Socks
Walking around the house without shoes and just wearing your favourite green ribbed socks may not be a good idea. Without you knowing it, you’re actually shortening the life of your socks.
Certain floor surfaces at home can cause a lot of friction that may contribute to your socks becoming worn out. Carpeted floors are an excellent example of flooring that creates a lot of friction.
On the other hand, older unpolished wooden flooring often has tiny nails and splinters that can damage the fabric and even poke holes in your socks. As such, it’s best to stick with walking on smooth surfaces if you want to take good care of your socks.
Also, many physical activities can also impact the structure and integrity of your socks. Running, athletic sports, and other activities that require a lot of steps can cause socks to develop holes faster. Try wearing synthetic socks built for sports instead of your average cotton or polyester pair.
How You Wash Your Socks
The more delicate the socks, the more careful you need to be when washing them. Brand new socks usually come with washing instructions that you would do well to follow. It really depends on the material used and the quality of the fabric.
If you want to take good care of your socks, try hand-washing and line drying them. As mentioned above, socks don’t do well when subjected to a lot of friction—which is exactly what happens when you machine wash your socks.
When you hand wash, let the socks soak for 15-30 minutes, then take them out of the water and ring them out gently. Refill your sink with fresh warm water and plop your delicates back in and swirl them around gently until all the detergent is gone.
If you must use a washing machine, wash your socks inside out with cold water in the gentle cycle. Never attempt to dry clean or iron your socks.
Conclusion
With proper care and being mindful of how you use them, you can increase the longevity of your socks. However, remember that no matter how you try, they will not last forever—but it’s good to keep them in good shape as long as you can!
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