I have cotton socks, and they are really ruff to wear, and I stopped wearing them when I started to suspect that they were causing chaffing on parts of my feet.
Are there ways to make them softer, are my socks bad, do I only have the choice of polyester socks???
Are you sure they’re cotton? Synthetics tend to be more stiff than natural fibers like cotton.
I haven’t had stiff cotton anything since about 1978. Companies have been pre-washing cotton since at least the mid-70’s to make it softer.
Try washing and tumble dry on low, without completely drying them.
have u tried good ole fashion wool?
Agreed. My wool socks are soft and warm, everything else feels like sandpaper in comparison.
That’s what I should’ve went with! Will consider this for the future!
Try some different brands, there are definitely some higher quality cottons socks compared to brands like Haines.
Are they too small? Try another brand. Cotton should be soft. I have some 100% Italian cotton socks and they are the softest ones I own.
If anything, they are too big.
Maybe the brand was just junk.
Washing in hard water can make cotton feel rougher.
Also when cotton is damp, like if you sweat much, it tends to be abrasive. That is why hikers say ‘cotton kills’ and recommend you stay away from it in favor of wool or synthetic ‘technical’ fabrics.
If they harden up because of hard water (for example water with a high lime content). Try to put them in a bucket with water and two big scopes of citric acid powder 4h to 12h before washing them. You can get citric acid almost anywhere online (ebay, Amazon etc.) This should soften them.
You can also use citric acid as a washing powder replacement if you don’t look for deep cleaning but softening your cotton cloth, but don’t use to much of it or too often because it can and will attack the metal parts of the washing machine.
But usually the the motor will die before serious damaged is caused as long you don’t overdo it.
It will reduce their durability, but… Turn them inside out and tumble them with something small and hard.
These are pricey, but you will be happy. Got these 4-years ago and they’re strong, soft, no holes.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08DMVRTG9/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Are you using softener in your wash? If not, then you should. I typically don’t like using softener but occasionally do if I know what I’m washing is going to turn out like cardboard
Fabric softener is a scam. It just coats your clothes in plastic. It will lead to rougher clothes over time.
Your likely over drying your clothes and causing them to be harder and coarser than they need to. Your then compensating with fabric softener.
Interesting. Can you explain how am I over drying my clothes?
Too long in the dryer and they cook. Think of dryered flowers, they go brittle and scratchy when they’ve been dried. When those same flowers are fresh their petals are soft.
I very rarely use the dryer. Only when it’s been raining for so many days and I desperately need to wash something. Also I find when I use the dryer, the clothes that drip dry stiff and rough come out much softer.
Also using dryer makes clothes softer.
Yup I agree with you on that one.
All my other cottons come out wonderfully.
I am hesitant to buy softener just for socks, but it makes sense
Vinegar is a natural fabric softener. Soak your socks in a (white) vinegar solution (1/4 cup in a gallon bucket) over night and then wash as usual.
It’s how I’ve softened stiff 100% cotton jeans in the past.
Warning: this ruins anything with “stretch”. The vinegar breaks down the elastic. I’ve ruined some really nice jeans with this method. RIP.
Bamboo socks are really nice, should try those if you haven’t already
…. we’re confident these socks aren’t being stiffened with bodily fluid?
they are being washed weekly?
As in, you wear a different pair each day and wash them all once a week? Or you have one pair that you wear for seven days between washings?
I feel like this line of questions is obvious, different each day.
It seems obvious to me too, but the internet is full of people missing simple information like this who don’t realize it until someone points it out to them.
