Merino wool socks wrecked?

[philo]

Hi there,
New to walking and mistakingly put merino wool socks in washing machine with rest of wash

Supposed to be 30'c with woollyte.

Are they wrecked?

Thanks

 

[trecile]

I don't know - have you taken them out if the washer? How do they look?

 

[henrythedog]

Hi there,
New to walking and mistakingly put merino wool socks in washing machine with rest of wash

Supposed to be 30'c with woollyte.

Are they wrecked?

Thanks

I suspect you might be donating them to a small friend.

 

[Grousedoctor]

Just chatted with my seamstress wife. She said the damage, usually shrinkage, is done by the dryer not the washer. If they didn’t shrink up, which they might not have depending of the percentages of wool versus other materials, you’re probably still good to go with these socks. Have you tried them on?

 

[J Willhaus]

I put mine in the washer and dryer without issue.They are Smartwool brand. issue. What brand are the socks in question?

 

[Arctic_Alex]

Enzymes in detergents have the tendency to irreversibly damage the wool fibre's natural fat/oil which is very bad and will lead to early failure of the fabric. Temperature will make things worse.

However, that does not necessarily mean the socks are mucked up after the first mistreatment of this kind. It very much depends on the type of wool, the detergent, the washing program and whatever.

So in other words, they will be damaged and they will fail you sooner, for sure. How much sooner, one cannot tell. I would just use them as long as possible but not repeat what you have done, as damage of this kind accumulates.

100% of my socks, 80% of my general underwear and middle layers and 40% of my outer layers are more or less 100% wool these days. And I have accidentally mistreated some of the pieces badly, some of them still survived years (but they did look beaten ;-) ). It is rarely a sudden death.

The only sudden deaths of woollen clothing I encountered was with washing temperatures way too high.

 

[Arctic_Alex]

Just chatted with my seamstress wife. She said the damage, usually shrinkage, is done by the dryer not the washer. If they didn’t shrink up, which they might not have depending of the percentages of wool versus other materials, you’re probably still good to go with these socks. Have you fried them on?

There are actually two distinct kinds of damage with finer wool fabrics such as Merino socks. One is indeed shrinkage and that is mostly related to temperature and a dryer at high temp can be really bad. But the other is fabric failure. The fibres lose their softness, become brittle and the clothing develops even holes in the end. And this kind of damage starts with the usage of the wrong detergent.

 

[Rick M]

I put mine in the washer and dryer without issue.They are Smartwool brand. issue. What brand are the socks in question?

Me too. They go into the washer and dryer like a dirty shirt. In the end, all my merino socks wear out at the heels like any other sock I own, except that they last a lot longer.

 

[Turga]

Have you fried them on?

Yeah! That's the way

 

[wayfarer]

I have washed all my merino gear in a regular 40c wash for the last 10 years and have had no problems, I don't tumble dry them. Any problems I have with them are normal wear and tear.

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

"Shrinkage" in wool fabrics is mostly due to felting not to shortening of fibers. Felting is caused by barbs on the fibers interlocking. This is caused by beating, not heating so it is the tumbling in the dryer that does the dirty deed.

There is something about merino wool that makes felting less likely.

Edit: I found this video a couple of days later. It shows the process of wool shrinkage/felting.

YouTube video id: -_Pb0Abb6hc

 

[malingerer]

Just chatted with my seamstress wife. She said the damage, usually shrinkage, is done by the dryer not the washer. If they didn’t shrink up, which they might not have depending of the percentages of wool versus other materials, you’re probably still good to go with these socks. Have you fried them on?

Fried ? Good god! a new tip for drying> in with the bacon and eggs?

This must still be the silly season

and with the weather as it is , why not ?

Samarkand.

 

[Camino Chrissy]

I have definitely "fried" some of my Camino clothes in an unknown, too hot dryer.
My Smartwool socks have never shrunk, but most of mine are the more robust hiking wool, not merino. Merino is soft, but even in the Smartwool brand, my thin ones have worn out too fast, and I do not use them on Camino as I prefer more of a "cushioning" feel.

 

[Anamiri]

Hi there,
New to walking and mistakingly put merino wool socks in washing machine with rest of wash

Supposed to be 30'c with woollyte.

Are they wrecked?

Thanks

Depends on the temperature, and the type of machine. Agitator types will felt wool easily especially if hot. (that is how I deliberately felt items). Revolving drum types usually dont. But dont put them in a hot dryer as well.

 

[Tigger]

Hum, 🤓 am I the only one wearing Darn Tough socks? They are Merino wool, machine wash and dry, and guaranteed for life.

 

[philo]

Depends on the temperature, and the type of machine. Agitator types will felt wool easily especially if hot. (that is how I deliberately felt items). Revolving drum types usually dont. But dont put them in a hot dryer as well.

40'c revolving drum, just air drying at the minute.

What do you mean by deliberately felting?

 

[Texas Walker]

Just in case it's not too late: I never put any hiking socks into the dryer. Even the synthetic ones shrink in that environment. (BTW I gave away my Darn Tough socks because they made my feet sweat too much and caused problems for me. but YMMV!) I have an "albergue dryer" rack which comes out on wash day every week for the hiking socks and the merino shirts if any were in the wash.

 

[Anamiri]

40'c revolving drum, just air drying at the minute.

What do you mean by deliberately felting?

If you have ever seen felted slippers, bags or even the occasional vest - they are made from a created wool fabric, usually knitted, which is deliberately made large, then felted, and dried around a form. An agitator washing machine is the easiest way to achieve this, or you can do it manually with elbow grease and a stick.
They then retain that shape.
Felted shoes and slippers are popular, but I've also created laptop bags, and other structured bags as well.
I am a knitwear designer, and mainly make non felted garments, but many crafters also learn the skill of felting as the base is a knitted item to begin with. I normally knit the item, embellish with wool embroidery, and then felt.
The trick is that it takes a while to know how much larger to make the original item in order to achieve the final shape - very important for footwear.

 

[Arctic_Alex]

One thing we should all keep in mind though is that most socks advertised as Merino socks are not pure Merino socks. Some should in all fairness better be called "socks with Merino wool" and not "socks made from Merino wool". This is done for reasons of stability in thinner socks and unfortunately for reasons of washing/handling convenience.
The fabrics used by different manufacturers vary from roughly 50% wool to in rare cases 100%. This can explain the different experiences people make with products called "Merino socks".
Darn Tough for example on average contain only 56%yarn made from Merino. The rest is various synthetic materials such as polyester and nylon. Such a material does not behave like wool when washed and lacks a lot of good properties typical for woolen fabrics.
Many Smartwool products are in the 65% or 75% range.
So compare a sock that is made of almost 50% polyester and nylon to a sock that has 25% synthetic materials and most of the latter is located at the the welt/cuff as elastane and at the ribbing. Then around your feet one sock will not feel/behave like a woolen sock, the other will.

When it comes to Merino socks, I go for thicker socks as with those the need to blend in synthetic materials for stability is much less pronounced. For me, even on hot days heat and sweat are less of a problem in thicker socks with a low synthetics content than in thinner socks with a higher synthetic content.

 

[Kirkie]

We do not have a dryer, which is just as well, as it is one gadget I would not use. I remember so well a guest from another continent looking in dismay at a most expensive designer woollen jumper that came out the size of a doll's garment. She packed it anyway, saying it would do for a child...
I do put my camino socks into the washing machine at the same programme as wayfarer wrote of above, when they need to be washed. They are my everyday socks, by the way. As soon as I can, socks are put away till boot time comes around again.

 

[philo]

Just in case it's not too late: I never put any hiking socks into the dryer. Even the synthetic ones shrink in that environment. (BTW I gave away my Darn Tough socks because they made my feet sweat too much and caused problems for me. but YMMV!) I have an "albergue dryer" rack which comes out on wash day every week for the hiking socks and the merino shirts if any were in the wash.

They are air drying

 

[t2andreo]

Just for reference, my thick Smart Wool hiking and thiner Smart Wool casual wear socks are all washed in cold water with most all my other clothing. They also go into a front-load spin dryer - but never on more than medium heat. In fact, if the load is small, light heat or low heat is used.

I prefer to pull the socks out when they are still damp and hang dry. That might be the trick - not letting them get too dry in the mechanical dryer.

I have not had a problem yet. While the casual socks DO appear to shrink slightly, they stretch back to form as soon as I put them on.

Hope this helps.

Tom

 

[C clearly]

I wash my 100% Merino items (several well-known brand names) in an agitator machine at medium heat, and partially dry them in a tumble drier. I notice no significant shrinkage or damage.

 

[Steve Taylor]

Hi there,
New to walking and mistakingly put merino wool socks in washing machine with rest of wash

Supposed to be 30'c with woollyte.

Are they wrecked?

Thanks

In my experience of washing Bridgedale merino socks, no problem putting them in the washing machine, though I only set it to 30C.

 

[Laura M]

Hum, 🤓 am I the only one wearing Darn Tough socks? They are Merino wool, machine wash and dry, and guaranteed for life.

Hi there,
I also wear Darn Tough socks. I machine wash them on medium heat, and air dry.

 

[BiggPapa]

We have been wearing REI Merino Wool (80%) socks for 5+ years. They are cold water washed & dried with other laundry on regular hot cycle. Never had shrinkage or decreased longevity. Cold water wash & over night dry when on the Camino with our problems.

 

[Tom Cartwright]

Hi there,
New to walking and mistakingly put merino wool socks in washing machine with rest of wash

Supposed to be 30'c with woollyte.

Are they wrecked?

Thanks

I have always washed mine with all my other cloths and dried them too...smartwool socks..never any problems...same on the trail with all kinds of soap including black soap....wear like iron

 

[woody66]

Always wash mine with everything else at 40C !
Not had a problem yet!

 

[Rita Flower]

In my experience of washing Bridgedale merino socks, no problem putting them in the washing machine, though I only set it to 30C.

Hello Steve from one Bridgedale aficionado to another. You are the first one I have met in this forum.
Bridgedale, cold wash with other clothes, air dry ….. except when my other half pops them in the dryer from time to time - and even then not destroyed. perhaps just a little ‘worse for wear’.
PS. So far I have never worn out the heals on my Bridgedales even though I wear them at home as well as in Camino.

 

[dreaming]

I wear Macpac thick merino wool sox. I wash them with all my other clothes cold water wash delicate cycle and hang them on the line. They have lasted for years.

 

[Jenyat53]

I have had good fortune re-stretching wool by soaking said article in hair conditioner, then stretching by hand and laying flat to dry.

 

[Joe Macky]

I prefer fine merino with low percentage of synthetic fibre. It’s very personal as this thread demonstrates, but for me the combo of these, Vaseline and altra lone peaks equals happy feet.

Almost always Icebreaker brand. Usually cold or warm hand wash although sometimes on Camino they go in with a group machine wash. Line dry and if not fully dry when I put them on they soon will be. I take 2 pair and together they last the life of a shoe, around 1000km. Not too bad. Then I take them back to Icebreaker and they replace them free. This is their policy in New Zealand. Commendable.

Biggest problem with socks I have is losing one of a pair. Where they go is what I want to know. Their replacements are the only ones I’ve had to pay for in 5 years.

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

I found this video today. I edited my original post above to include it too. It shows the process of wool shrinkage/felting.

YouTube video id: -_Pb0Abb6hc

 

[mrosenlof]

I've been wearing merino stuff for about 15 years or so. It goes in the wash. Sometimes in the dryer, I try not to do the dryer, but don't fret if it happens. Smartwool, icebreaker, some Aussie brand sold by Rivendell bicycles in the US.

 

[MarthaC1]

Hi there,
New to walking and mistakingly put merino wool socks in washing machine with rest of wash

Supposed to be 30'c with woollyte.

Are they wrecked?

Thanks

I have pairs that are several years old that have always gone through the washer and dryer. Still fine.

 

[Vlak]

Hi there,
New to walking and mistakingly put merino wool socks in washing machine with rest of wash

Supposed to be 30'c with woollyte.

Are they wrecked?

Thanks

My husband and I have been traveling around Europe for 5 months now, including the Camino Portugese. Our merino socks have been in and out of washing machines and dryers numerous times and are still going strong. They are by far the best socks to have on in my opinion.

 

[John Pearce]

I have walked many Camino’s and have for most of my many years suffered stink foot problems then a friend put me onto British army arctic sock ( undyed )that are 70% wool and 30% polyester. My feet love them no more bromadrosis and I have used them on all my Camino’s without problems (In high summer) The real plus side is I just paid £26 pounds for 6 pairs
from cjmilitarysurplus_4 on eBay.co.uk Also the ones I bought where supposed to be used, not so they are new, but can’t guarantee that.
I think the fact that they are quite thick ( hand wash ) means they truly wick the moisture very well.

 

[John Pearce]

I have machine washed the sock before ,but air dried them or they shrink.

 

[JCarpenter]

If they look too small put on a pair of cotton socks, then put socks on damp and wear them about. Voila! Larger socks again. (Method care of the platoon sergeant, USMC, at very high volume, blood vessels bulging, followed by "maggot"). It worked.

 

[truthseeker]

Just chatted with my seamstress wife. She said the damage, usually shrinkage, is done by the dryer not the washer. If they didn’t shrink up, which they might not have depending of the percentages of wool versus other materials, you’re probably still good to go with these socks. Have you tried them on?

I have always washed my merino wool socks and other garments in the washer but NEVER dry them in the dryer!

 

[CWBuff]

Both my Darn Toughs and Injingiis (3 pairs ea.) survived my CF with going to washers & dryers numerous times with no issues once so ever

 

[mattythedog]

I put mine in the washer and dryer without issue.They are Smartwool brand. issue. What brand are the socks in question?

I second that. Every now and then my Smartwools, which I regularly put in medium temperature wash, get inadvertently put into the dryer. No shrinkage or ill effects are noted. I do generally try to just hang dry them. Same for Darntoughs. LL bean heavy wool hikers have shrunk in my dryer, but remain wearable.

 

[Trischm]

Hi there,
New to walking and mistakingly put merino wool socks in washing machine with rest of wash

Supposed to be 30'c with woollyte.

Are they wrecked?

Thanks

Interesting question. I wear Smart wool Merino socks and just was in cold water normal wash and throw in dryer without any problems. no shrinkage or no lost shape. Good luck.

 

[chinacat]

With wool, it’s often the fast spin which causes the damage.

It’s possible to stretch shrunken wool items by soaking them in a vinegar solution. This can be a pain for larger items but might be worth it for a pair of socks.
I did understand how this works, once upon a time, but I’ve forgotten the Chemistry (or might it be Physics? 🤷🏼‍♀️ ).


And, @Kirkie , I’d never give a tumble dryer house-room either … for so many reasons …

 

[John Pearce]

Sorry, just read the rules about advertising a product. I was just trying to help people find good cheap socks. I have no association with the business except I buy socks from them.
Keep on walking and don’t look back. I just follow the yellow brick road. (Arrow)

 

[trecile]

Sorry, just read the rules about advertising a product. I was just trying to help people find good cheap socks. I have no association with the business except I buy socks from them.

It's perfectly okay to mention products that you like, and it makes it easier for others if you provide a link.

 

[Ussasx]

Do Clothes have Care Instructions. Pah!
I'm a guy that lives alone with one approach to laundry - mixed load wash and dry! EVERYTHING.

I have had the occasional color run - Looking at you bright red Columbia Silver Ridge Shirt

My 1000 Mile Fusion dual layer socks have done a couple years and almost their proclaimed life with no issues at all. And I wash them at 40 and tumble dry them pretty much weekly (i walk a lot!)

My Forclaz Merino Pants the same. Though one pair of my current three are getting pretty thin.

I probably do not recommend my approach, but I'm sure if mine survives an occasional mishap yours will be fine.

PS - if i bought the £300 Icebreaker RealFleece pure merino wool jacket i may take a little more care of it...