Compression comes from spandex under tension. Heat relaxes spandex permanently, so the two things that kill a compression sock are a hot wash and a hot dryer. Nothing else comes close.
Wash cool on a gentle cycle, ideally in a mesh bag so the cuffs do not catch on zips. Skip the fabric softener: it coats the fiber and the sock stops wicking. Then lay the pair flat or hang it. Air drying takes a few hours and adds years.
Rotate pairs. A sock that gets a full day to recover between wears holds its shape far longer than one washed and pulled straight back on, which is most of the reason these are sold in packs of three and four.
What the fibers here need
- Bamboo viscose at about 80 percent, with nylon and spandex for recovery.
- Cotton blends run 60 to 70 percent cotton and sit thicker in a shoe.
- Nylon and spandex pairs are the thinnest and the fastest to dry.
- Every blend here loses its grip in a hot dryer.
The trade-off is durability. Viscose is weaker wet than nylon, so these pairs want a gentle cycle, cool water and air drying. A hot tumble dry will cook the spandex and the sock will never grip the same way again. The cotton blends behave the same way, with a bit more warmth and a bit more bulk in a shoe.
A short version to pin to the machine
| Step | Do this |
|---|---|
| Wash | Cool water, gentle cycle, mesh bag |
| Detergent | Mild, and no fabric softener |
| Dry | Lay flat or hang, never a hot tumble |
| Rotate | A full day of rest between wears |
| Replace | When the cuff no longer marks the leg at all |