How to Make Your Socks Last Longer

Are your socks constantly getting holes in them? Walk, walk, walk, walk. Your feet are the two hardest working parts of your body. That means your shoes and socks rack up a lot of miles too. So it only makes sense that your shoes and socks wear out often, maybe more often than you'd like. There are three easy things you can do to help reduce this problem. Read this informative article and find out how to make your socks last longer.

1. Wear the Right-Size Socks for Your Feet
Buying socks is an easy task because your sock size is usually your shoe size. If you have wide feet like I do, or skinny feet, though, it can sometimes be a challenge. Socks that are too small make the fabric stretch over abrasion points such as the heel and toe. The rubbing will create holes. Socks that are too big tend to bunch up. Your shoes rub on the extra fabric, and, in no time, another pair of socks heads to the rag bag. The fabric on socks that fit your feet correctly should fit closely to the toes, arch and heels, but not stretch to fit over them. To make your socks last longer, you may find that choosing a size bigger will help accommodate wide feet, while going down a size might fit your skinny feet better.

2. Wear the Right-Size Shoes for Your Socks
Just like wearing socks that are too small causes abrasion spots that create holes, shoes that are too tight do the same thing. Places where your shoe rubs against the sock- commonly at the heel and the toe- will wear through quickly. Keep this warning in mind if you try to wear a pair of thick socks in shoes that don't have enough room too.

To make your socks last longer, you shouldn't wear loose, "sloppy" shoes, shoes that are stretched out, or untied shoes either. The loose-fitting shoes allow your feet to move around too much. All this motion lets your feet rub against the shoe and causes wear spots and holes.

3. Wash Your Socks Correctly
To make the fabric last longer, brush any debris off the outside. Then, turn your socks inside out before you launder them. This will remove the dead skin cells and other debris from the inside. Use chlorine bleach only if the manufacturer recommends it as it can weaken the fabric. Wash your socks using the hottest water temperature that is safe for the fabric. Choose the right cycle
as well. Wool socks, for example, need a gentle cycle, cold or warm water, and a mild detergent.
And when you dry your socks, air drying is the best choice because dryer heat ruins the elasticity.

Resources
http://www.frugaltips.org/save-money-by-6.html
http://planetgreen.discovery.com/fashion-beauty/extend-sock-life.html
http://www.hosieryassociation.com/general/faqs.htm