There is nothing nicer than putting on a pair of brand-new socks, nice and fluffy, soft, and comfy. Unfortunately, neither our socks nor those of our clients tend to stay that way for long.
Although as live-in carers we may not have a lot of free time, there are some things we can do to keep those socks fluffy and soft.
Adding socks to the general wash can damage the sock fabric as well as increase the accumulation of lint. Adding socks to the general is in fact the fastest way to have them wear out. If you do not accumulate enough socks to wash in one cycle, then consider washing them separately by hand.
By doing this you will preserve the outer weave of the sock fabric. You will also effectively remove built up sweat and oil which gets trapped inside socks.
If you absolutely must wash with a general load, then consider using a mesh bag for them. This will help to prevent the fabric getting damaged, and possibly prevent the socks from disappearing into the depths of the washer.
For hand washing socks you should opt for mild detergent in small amounts. Large amounts of detergents will be difficult to rinse out and the socks will not become soft and fluffy again.
Fabric softener hampers the moisture-wicking properties of the sock fabric and eventually will destroy it altogether. Likewise, bleach and harsh chemicals will damage the sock fabric.
Use cold water as much as possible because heat can shrink and damage the elasticity of the socks. For this reason, you should also never put them into a dryer as the heat will ruin them. Gently squeeze the socks and hang out to dry.
No matter how much your client asks for their socks to be ironed, you should avoid this at all costs. Even the lowest setting will damage the elastic and the socks will lose their shape and secure fit. You also risk the socks catching fire because the yarn used in socks is highly flammable.
If you want to keep those socks soft and fluffy you should add half a cup of distilled white vinegar to the final rinse. Add it to the last rinse if you are washing by hand, then squeeze the socks out and hang them up to dry.
Vinegar helps to remove any odor-causing bacteria and will leave you with soft, fluffy socks once again.
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