How to wash grip socks and keep the grip

Washing grip socks seems simple. Yet it often goes wrong: the socks end up in a 60-degree wash, disappear into the tumble dryer, and a few weeks later the studs suddenly grip less on the mat or the reformer. Nine times out of ten it is not the sock, it is the washing routine.

The good news is that the right routine takes very little effort. In this article you will read how to wash grip socks without damaging the grip, why the tumble dryer is the biggest culprit, how often to wash them and how to tell when a pair is due for replacement.

Can you wash grip socks?

Yes, grip socks can simply go in the washing machine. You do not need to wash them by hand, as long as you remember two things: keep the temperature low and stay away from the dryer. The studs on the sole are silicone, bonded to the fabric under heat. That bond is exactly what you want to protect. At 30 degrees nothing happens to it. At 60 degrees, or worse, in a dryer, it does.

Why the dryer wrecks the grip

It comes down to heat. Silicone itself can take quite a bit, but the bond between stud and fabric cannot. In a dryer the studs are exposed to hot air for a long time while the sock tumbles against the drum. The edges come loose, the surface turns hard and smooth, and sometimes a stud tears at the base. One round in the dryer does not ruin a sock. Ten do.

The heat affects something else too: the elastane. That is the material behind the snug fit and the light compression. Elastane loses its stretch at high temperatures. A sock that has lost its stretch starts shifting around your foot during your exercises. And a shifting sock does not grip, however good the studs still look.

How to wash grip socks: the routine

Turn your socks inside out before they go into the machine. That way the studs do not rub against zips, buttons and rough fabric for the whole cycle. Wash at 30 degrees with your normal detergent, preferably on a delicate cycle or simply with similar laundry.

Skip the fabric softener. Softener leaves a thin film on everything it touches, including the silicone studs. On a towel that feels soft. On a grip sock it works like an invisible film that makes the studs slippery. The grip you are missing is literally sitting under a layer of softener, and it builds up with every wash.

Dry them in the air. Hang them over a rack or lay them flat, out of direct sunlight. Thanks to the thin blend of cotton, polyamide and elastane they are usually dry within a night. Wash them in the evening after class and they are ready the next morning.

How often should you wash grip socks?

After every class, just like regular sports socks. You wear them without shoes on a mat or reformer used by other people, so fresh socks are nicer for you and for the studio. If you train three times a week, you will quickly notice one pair is not enough. With two or three pairs in rotation, each pair gets time to dry properly and everything wears more slowly. Not coincidentally, that is how most people order our Pilates grip socks: from three pairs, shipping is free.

When do you replace a pair?

With weekly use and the right washing routine, a good pair easily lasts six to twelve months. You notice grip loss with your feet before you see it with your eyes. You slide a fraction in a lunge, you brace your toes where you did not need to before, you correct small shifts that were not there before. Then turn the sock over and look at the sole. Studs that have turned shiny and flat, edges coming loose or bare patches in the pattern tell you enough.

If a pair slips after just a few weeks, washing is usually not the problem; the sock is. Why that happens so often with budget pairs is covered in why cheap grip socks slip.

Frequently asked questions about washing grip socks

Can grip socks go in the washing machine?

Yes. Wash them at 30 degrees, inside out and without fabric softener. A delicate cycle is ideal, but a normal wash at low temperature works too. Hand washing is not necessary.

Can grip socks go in the dryer?

No. The heat in the dryer attacks the bond of the silicone studs and wrecks the elastane that keeps the sock around your foot. Always air dry grip socks. They are usually dry within a night.

Why do grip socks lose their grip?

Three causes are most common: heat from the dryer or a wash that is too hot, a layer of fabric softener on the studs, and normal wear after months of use. The first two are prevented with the right washing routine. The third comes with the territory and is the signal for a new pair.

How long do grip socks last?

A quality pair lasts around six to twelve months at two to three classes a week, provided you wash at 30 degrees and skip the dryer. Rotate between several pairs and you stretch that further.

Ready for a fresh pair?

With the right routine, good grip socks last a long time. And if your current pair is worn out, the next one is ready. Take a look at our non-slip socks with an extended grip pattern from heel to toe, designed in the Netherlands and worn in Dutch studios. A tip for frequent washers: Chocolate Brown keeps looking fresh even after months of washing. €18.95 a pair, free shipping from three pairs.

Keep reading

Want to know more? Read why cheap grip socks slip or discover the best grip socks for Pilates.