Should You Wash Your Socks Inside Out?

Most likely, your biggest worry when it comes to washing your socks is ensuring that both parts of a pair of socks get reunited after a spin through the washing machine and dryer. But perhaps you're also wondering whether you should wash your socks inside out or right side in—and which method ensures the cleanest, best-smelling socks after a full wash.

Fortunately, we have the answer: Check out why you may want to make the effort to flip your socks for a better clean.

What Makes Your Socks Dirtiest?

It may seem like the outside of your socks is the dirtiest part, because as you wander around your home, it accumulates crumbs, dust mites, bacteria, and other ick. In fact, a British mattress company swabbed socks that had been worn all day long, and found that your socks are likely even dirtier than your remote control (and your remote control is 20 times dirtier than your toilet).

But inside the socks is just as gross, thanks to the 250,000 sweat glands in your feet—plus all those skin cells your feet slough off each day. The moisture from the sweat can help bacteria and fungus grow and thrive on your socks—potentially leading not just to smelly feet, but also to athlete's foot and other common foot ailments.

Why You Should Wash Socks Inside Out

So with both sides of socks potentially pretty gross, which side should face out for the wash? The inside seems to be the best choice, given that it's what touches your skin all day long and holds most of the odor (plus all those dead skin cells).

Turning socks inside out will ensure that the detergent and agitation hit the smelliest parts of your sock hardest, and helps wash away the odor-causing bacteria and other dangerous microbes. That reduces the risk that you'll end up with less-than-fresh socks and smelly feet.

Turning socks inside out can also help reduce the amount of friction on the outside of the fabric (which is what shows), helping preserve any patterns or colors and minimizing any stains if you accidentally put your white socks in with a red shirt. It helps keep your socks looking newer longer. And it will also help reduce the amount of lint your socks collect.

Inside-out socks for the laundry win!

Tips for Getting Your Socks Clean

Many sock manufacturers recommend washing their socks with warm or cool water on a delicate setting, using a gentle detergent. But you may need to put a bit more work into it if your socks are truly smelly and dirty.

Turn your socks inside out, and follow these tips to ensure your socks get nice and clean every time.

Consider a presoak

If your socks are particularly vile, presoaking them in a gentle detergent (or perhaps some laundry-safe bleach, if your socks are on the sturdier side, like athletic socks) can help remove stubborn stains and smells.

Use laundry stain removers

Laundry stain removers can be used to help remove stubborn stains, or use the household products recommended in our Stain Removal Chart if you know which kind of stain it is. (For instance, you can dab on nail polish remover if nail polish is the stain in question.)

Machine-wash according to the manufacturer's directions

Generally, a mild detergent, cool water, and a gentle cycle are the name of the game, but obviously, your basic athletic socks can probably stand up to a bit more wear and tear than a pair of cashmere socks (and will likely benefit from higher temperatures and a stronger wash to help remove microbes).

To help keep socks together, consider using a clothespin to connect each pair, or throw them into a delicates bag—which can help you avoid too much friction on your socks.

Consider drying them outdoors

A tumble through the dryer works fine for most socks—though wool socks will likely require line-drying to avoid shrinkage.

However, if you're serious about reducing the bacteria count in your socks, consider line-drying them in the sunshine. (And since they're inside out, you'll minimize any potential bleaching from the sun.)