The secret to getting more than a few wearings out of expensive and delicate socks like the cashmere and silk argyles in the photo (they were courtesy of Kabbaz Kelly - profligate though I might be $80 socks are too dear for my wardrobe) is cold water, and plenty of it. For heat is the killer of expensive hose, whether wool, cashmere, silk or cotton.
Even after a man has been playing in the mud, socks come perfectly clean washed in cold water on the delicates cycle. That is still more true if they are washed in Persil Universal Powder, a laundry detergent that is optimized for cold water (find it at Amazon).
Once the washer has finished its job, do not use the dryer. Always hang socks to dry. A rack located directly under the laundry room fan is ideal as the moving air under the fan dries them quickly and without the stiffness that occurs for some reason when they are hung in still air (the fan should be turned on if that was not obvious).
And that is the best way to wash socks.
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Maintenance: How to Wash Socks
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6 comments:
I add that socks be washed inside out, and that new socks be washed before their first wear so as to prevent premature wear.
After a spin in the washer on delicate, I roll socks in a towel, then give them 10 minutes on "air fluff" in the dryer. NO HEAT just spin and that does not do any damage. You need a washer/dryer that can handle delicate fabrics. Then hang to finish the drying process. The dryer we have with the special "air fluff" option cuts the hang-drying process in half.
+1 on air fluff option on a dryer. My dryer has it and was 1 bar above the cheapest whirlpool at sears.
I also always wash my woolen and fine cotton socks inside out in cold. I take the additional step of putting wool socks in a mesh laundry bag. It must work, because I am still wearing some woolen socks I bought in 1983!
good comments ! As usual Mr. Kabbaz had a lot of knowledge about socks and underwear, but all other comments are very good.
usual people don't care about washing socks in the proper way, but to do it right they must give it the same attention they have when the wash sweaters..
Tumble dryer?
I wouldn't even put a handkerchief in one.
Patience gentlemen.
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