How to wash grip socks so the grip lasts

A pair of grip socks rarely wears out at the fabric first. It is the grip that goes, and in almost every case the cause is heat.

Here is how to wash them so the grip keeps working.

The short version

1. Turn them inside out.
2. Machine wash cold.
3. Line dry.
4. Never tumble dry.

Why inside out

The grip is silicone moulded onto the sole. Turning the sock inside out means the grip is not rubbing against zips, buttons and the drum of the machine for the whole cycle. It also stops the grips catching on other clothes.

Why cold

Heat softens silicone. A hot wash, repeated every week, loosens the bond between the grip and the fabric, and the edges start to lift. A cold or 30 degree cycle cleans a pair of socks perfectly well.

Why never tumble dry

The dryer is the biggest cause of worn-out grips. It combines high heat with constant rubbing, which is exactly what silicone does not like. Hang them up instead; a thin pair of socks dries in a few hours.

A few more things that help

• Skip fabric softener. It can leave a film on the grip that makes it less tacky.
• Wash them after every class. Sweat and studio dust sitting on the sole make the grip less effective between washes.
• Rotate two or three pairs if you go to class several times a week. Each pair gets washed less often and lasts longer.

When to replace them

When the grip is flat, cracked or peeling at the edges, or when the sock starts to slide on the foot bar, it is time for a new pair. Worn grips are a safety issue on a reformer, not just a cosmetic one.

Ours

Our care instructions for Daisy Co. socks are exactly this: cold machine wash inside out, line dry, and do not tumble dry the grips. See the full range in The Posey Collective.