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How to Wash Your Socks to Make Them Last

by Pivotal Digital 03 Feb 2023
How to Wash Your Socks to Make Them Last

Socks need to be washed regularly – after every use, to be precise – and they also endure friction from shoes, so naturally, they go through considerable wear and tear. If you’re wondering how to wash your socks to help make them last longer, this article has some great tips. We also cover how to keep white socks clean and how to dry socks once they’ve been washed. Read on to find out all about sock laundering and easy care.

How to wash your socks in the washing machine

First things first, make sure you separate your socks before throwing them into the washing machine. If you don’t, detergent won’t be adequately rinsed and could get caught up inside the socks, leaving a sticky residue. You can also turn them inside-out as this then encourages any lint build-up to attach itself to the inside of the sock rather than the outside. Socks have a tendency to accumulate lint at the toes and heels, and it can make them look old and scruffy.

Group socks by colour and style and run different washes for each group. For example, dark dress socks together, white sports socks together, etc. Choose a gentle, cool cycle and a mild detergent. Enzyme-based detergents can help prevent colour fading and protect the fibres from going fuzzy.

How to wash your socks by hand

Although handwashing can seem like a tedious chore compared to switching on the washing machine, socks made from delicate fibres such as cashmere, silk, and Merino wool benefit from gentle handwashing as it’s less abrasive and can keep them looking new for longer.

Simply fill a washing-up bowl with cold water, add some mild detergent and turn your socks inside-out. Soak the socks for at least 5 minutes and then swish them around in the water. Rinse them thoroughly with cold running water to get rid of all the suds. Avoid scrubbing, twisting or wringing the sock as this can cause them to stretch and colours to run.

How to clean white socks or get white socks white again

If you’re wondering how to get your socks white again, here’s the secret ingredient: baking soda. Simply add some baking soda to the detergent drawer when machine washing or sprinkle some into the water when soaking before handwashing. Baking soda deodorises bad smells, whitens and brightens laundry and has natural antibacterial properties. Although it’s a powerful cleaner, it’s still gentle on delicate fibres.

How to dry socks properly

Once you’ve washed your socks, you might be wondering what the best way to dry them is? Can you tumble dry socks? The simple answer is yes, but there are ways to do it effectively. You must first consider the material and how it will react to high heat. It’s best to check the washing instructions on the sock packaging before tossing them into the dryer. For example, cotton socks can be tumble-dried without issues, but wool socks can end up losing their shape. However, some tumble-dryers do actually have a wool setting which is a lot cooler and less harsh. When putting your socks in the dryer, always separate them from other items by placing them in a fine mesh laundry bag. It’ll help keep them protected from snagging and collecting lint.

If your socks’ washing instructions advise against tumble-drying, you’ll have to dry your socks on a washing line. While air-drying socks may seem simple enough, did you know that there’s a secret to removing excess water from freshly washed socks? Simply lay your wet socks flat on a clean towel and roll it up tightly. Press down on the towel to remove the excess water, and then hang your socks up to dry naturally. Please don’t wring your socks as this can cause them to lose their shape and elasticity.

Make sure your socks are completely dry before folding them away. If you fold them whilst damp, they’ll end up smelling musty. For ideas on how to fold your socks, check out How to Fold Your Socks the Right Way.

Should you iron your socks?

Absolutely not. A hot iron will damage the fibres and cause the socks to lose their shape and springiness over time.

How to remove lint balls and fluff from socks

Invest in a fabric shaver or defuzzer powered by batteries and gently go over the areas that are prone to lint pilling. If you follow our washing instructions above, this should help to prevent new lint balls from forming on your favourite socks.

Make sure you’re wearing the correct size socks and shoes

It’s important that you wear socks that fit. Not only will you be more comfortable, but it’ll also help your socks to last longer. If your socks are too small, they can end up with holes in the toes from where your toenails rub against the fabric. If your socks are too big, they will bunch up and rub, causing friction. It’s also essential to wear correctly sized shoes. If you find that your socks tend to wear away on the tops or sides, it’s a sign that your shoes are too small. If your shoes are too big, they’ll end up slipping at your heels and rubbing away at your socks.

Take care of your feet to take care of your socks

Pedicures may seem like an occasional luxury, but they can also help to keep your socks looking new. Sharp toenails can wear holes in the toes of your socks, and rough, calloused soles can cause friction and lead to wear and tear.

Who knew there was so much information on sock care? We hope you enjoyed getting clued up on sock laundering and feel confident in keeping your socks looking and feeling great from now on. Why not check out our latest men’s or women’s business and casual socks to top up your collection? We stock many sought-after brands, including Falke, Pantherella and Marcoliani, with luxurious fabrics such as cashmere, silk, Merino wool and Egyptian cotton.

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Welcome to SocksFox

SocksFox.com is owned and operated by Zapzero Ltd (referred to in these terms as SocksFox). We provide access to the socksfox.com website ('website') and sell our products to you subject to the following terms and conditions. The following terms and conditions of sale constitute a binding agreement between SocksFox and its customers, which applies to all purchases made on the website, by telephone or email.

  You agree to review these terms and conditions prior to placing future orders to ensure you are aware of the current terms and conditions in place at that time. You agree not to change these terms of sale from the form presented by us. All other terms and conditions including those in any order submitted by you are expressly excluded and shall have no effect.

1. Your Account

When you use the website, you are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your account and password. You should contact us immediately if you have any reason to believe that your password is being, or is likely to be, used in an unauthorised manner.

Please ensure that the details you provide us with are full and correct. Let us know immediately if any changes need to be made to correct the information you provided on registering.

SocksFox reserves the right to refuse access to the website, terminate an account, remove or edit content, or cancel an order at our discretion. If we cancel an order, any payment made will be returned to you.

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We take the security of our customers and website very seriously. We will only collect information about you that you have specifically and knowingly provided, for example your contact details and card information. This information will be used to deliver your ordered products to you, process your payments and communicate with you about your orders.

Zapzero Ltd, socksfox.com utilises a to offer secure communications by encrypting all data to and from our site. The padlock helps you know that you are on an authenticated legitimate website and that your transactions will be secured.

Your payment details and credit card numbers will only be shared with our payment providers Braintree or PayPal for the purpose of processing your orders. When you place an order via our website SocksFox will not be privy to your credit and debit card information. If you place your order by telephone as soon as your payment has been inputted your card details will be securely destroyed and disposed of. SocksFox does not store any credit or debit card information.

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View our Privacy information page for more information.

 

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SocksFox will send you an order confirmation email confirming receipt and details of your order. Your order represents an offer to SocksFox to purchase a product which is accepted by us when we dispatch that product to you.

Only when we dispatch the goods together with a dispatch note will a binding contract be entered. Any products on the same order which have not been dispatched as yet do not form part of that contract.

You can review the details of the orders you have placed and their current status by logging into Your Account. If you choose to shop as a guest you will not be able to review the details of your current or previous orders. 

 

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Our email newsletter (usually sent fortnightly) and occasionally the website offer promotions, which may require the use of a discount code. Our policy is that only one discount code to be allowed per order.

All discount codes and product special offers unless stated otherwise, will end at 12 noon GMT or BST (whichever is applicable) on the date specified. For all discount codes and offers the end time is always based on GMT or BST. 

The United Kingdom is the governing jurisdiction for SocksFox.

A SocksFox e-gift card discount code can be used across the site, on one occasion only and is valid for six months from the date of e-gift card dispatch.

 

5. 60 Day No Quibble Returns

You may return any items purchased from us for whatever reason, even if you just change your mind, as long as you send them back within 60 days of receiving them. Products must be returned in their original condition, unworn with tags attached and the packaging undamaged and complete.

To ensure you order the correct size and colour of an item we would advise the following. As different Countries and Brands have their own size systems, before placing an order we advise that you check the size guide provided for each item in the Size Guide tab to ensure you are ordering the correct size. Colour swatch samples and photographs are provided as a guide only. The colour you see on your screen may not be an accurate representation of the item's actual colour due to inconsistencies in how display screens reproduce colours. Ordering the wrong size or a colour not being to your liking does not mean that the item is classed as being faulty.

The cost of return postage for damaged, faulty items or if we have made an error will be refunded to you. Return postage for items you choose to return will not be refunded.

When returning products we advise you use Royal Mail First or Second Class and obtain proof of postage. If you are returning items from overseas we advise you use the equivalent Airmail service provided by your countries postal service and obtain proof of postage. If you choose to return items by a tracked service or courier you need to gain approval from SocksFox, otherwise we will only refund the amount it would have cost to return the items by Royal Mail First or Second Class or the equivalent Airmail service.

For Customs duties on Returned items please also refer to section 8 Customs of our Terms and Conditions.

Gift cards are non-returnable & cannot be refunded.

For more information on our Returns and Cancellation policy please see here.

 

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All prices quoted are for new products. All prices are based on the Great British Pound (GBP / £) but, for your convenience, can be displayed in the Euro or US Dollar equivalents at ruling exchange rates on the website.

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The prices on our website are the same whether you purchase from within the United Kingdom (UK) or from outside of the UK. Within the UK all prices include VAT. For purchases made outside of the UK prices do not have VAT included; the item price you see is the price you will pay.  

All purchases must be paid in full before dispatch. SocksFox will continue to own, and reserve the right to repossess any goods sold from the website until payment has been received and cleared in full.

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7. Dispatch and Delivery

SocksFox aims to dispatch items the same or next working day. If demand exceeds our stock holding dispatch may be delayed by around 7 working days. If this applies to your order or there is an availability issue we will be in touch by email. At SocksFox, offering an extensive range of styles, colours and sizes at competitive prices to customers in both the UK and Worldwide is what sets us apart from many other retailers. To be able to do this we are unable to hold in stock all items all of the time and in our experience most customers are happy to wait. If immediate dispatch is a priority for you please contact us for current availability.

The postal service selected to deliver your order will be the best one to ensure a successful delivery and a signature may be required as part of that service. All packages are sent using a tracked service. Information on how your package is progressing can be obtained by contacting the SocksFox Customer Service Team.

Estimated Delivery Times: UK Standard Delivery: 2-3 working days; Europe Standard Delivery: 5-7 working days; Rest of the World Delivery: 8-13 working days.

For packages being sent to Europe and the Rest of the World once a package arrives in the destination country for many orders the national postal service will complete the final delivery. If your order has not been delivered by 10 working days from the date of dispatch, 15 working days for Europe & Rest of the World, please contact us and we will look into what has happened to your package.

Whilst most International deliveries are made successfully within the above timeframes unfortunately this is not always the case due to circumstances outside of our control. Sometimes delivery may take up to 6 weeks and for this reason a package is not deemed to be lost until 6 weeks from dispatch have passed.

Non delivery of a package (UK or International) cannot be investigated after 10 weeks from the dispatch date due to carrier tracking limitations. SocksFox will not provide a replacement package or refund if first contact has not been until after 10 weeks from dispatch. 

Any delivery dates are given in good faith. Zapzero Ltd accepts no liability for delays resulting from occurrences outside its control. These include, but are not limited to acts of God, strikes, lockouts and delays by suppliers. Your products will be dispatched to the shipping address as stated in your order confirmation email. It is your responsibility to ensure the shipping address for this order is correct.

It is the customer's responsibility to inform us of any change of delivery address immediately. Unless instructed otherwise your order will be dispatched to the shipping address as shown in the order confirmation email you will have been sent.  SocksFox accepts no liability for dispatch made to the wrong address. Please note that if you request delivery of your order to a designated place (for example in the porch, by the green bin, over the hedge) for if you are out when delivery is attempted and subsequently the order goes missing SocksFox does not accept responsibility for non-receipt.

If delivery of an order is not achieved due to refusal at the delivery destination as nominated by the customer, when the shipment is returned to us a charge will be deducted from your refund to cover any return costs incurred by us.

Please note that due to U.S. Trademark Restrictions we are unable to sell any Burlington items to customers with a U.S. shipping address.

8. Customs

For items ordered for delivery overseas you as the recipient are deemed the importer and you may be liable for local customs, import duties or taxes ('duty'). The amount of duty depends on the type and value of goods and some items can be imported without paying any duty.

For all packages destined for delivery outside of the United Kingdom it is a legal requirement that SocksFox declares the full value of the goods (not including delivery costs).

Each country's customs policies are different and you should contact your local customs office for more information. Any additional costs for clearing customs must be paid by you. Unfortunately we have no control over these costs and cannot predict what they may be.

SocksFox will not be responsible for any local customs, import duties or taxes that may be levied when the goods enter the country of destination.

When returning any goods from overseas, please clearly mark the package on the outside with 'RETURNED GOODS' Unfortunately if any incoming customs charges are incurred as a result of this message not being added a charge will be deducted from your refund to cover the costs incurred by us.

If delivery of a shipment is not possible due to import duties not being paid, when the shipment is returned to us a charge will be deducted from your refund to cover any return costs incurred by us.

 

9. Your Statutory Rights

Your statutory rights are not affected by these terms.

 

10. Zapzero Ltd  

Please do not send any returns to the address below, see here for the SocksFox returns address.

Registered Office Address:
1-4 London Road
Spalding
Lincolnshire
PE11 2TA
United Kingdom

Registered in England and Wales: 4805063

VAT Registration: 843357028

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