How To Remove Smell From Socks
Socks are part an important commodity in our daily dressing code, but they can produce bad odors if not cleaned well. Your socks may smell musty, sweaty, or just plain bad and whatever the situation, it’s always easy to get your socks fresh again. Here is what you will learn in this guide. There are very simple steps you need to follow if you want to get rid of those hard-to-get smells from your socks and ensure they smell as good as new. In this section, I will outline simple washing, treatment, and methods of avoiding unpleasant smells.
Understanding the Causes of Sock Odor
Now, this brings us to the question of why all socks have to develop that unpleasant smell in the first place. Here are the primary culprits.Sweat and Bacteria: Sweat is considered the number one culprit for sock stench. This is so because when you sweat, your feet together with bacteria cause an odor due to the chemicals released. Socks retain this moisture giving bacteria a perfect place to grow. So, you must use the best socks for sweaty socks in order to keep your feet fresh.
Fungal Infections: Some of the diseases that one is likely to get include athlete’s foot which causes persistent odors. Itchiness is experienced due to fungal infections and can lead to a bad smell.
Poor Sock Material: Most synthetic materials are less absorbent than natural materials and this is mainly because they stack and do not circulate air hence they tend to retain bad odors. The option of the material often matters to a great extent.
Improper Washing: Even after stretching them through the washing process, you may not have eradicated all odors because the remnant on the socks may at times be more permanent than the actual odor-causing bacteria when you did not wash them well enough or you used the wrong detergent.
Effective Methods for Removing Odor from Socks
Having looked at the causes of sock odor, we have to learn how to prevent and eliminate it.1. Pre-Treat with Vinegar
If you really want effective results then you must know how to wash your socks. These are the advantages of taking your socks for washing without first eliminating the odor; Vinegar has a natural ability to deodorize.How to Use:
Mix equal parts of water and white vinegar in a basin and mix it in it.
Submerge the socks in the solution keeping them immersed for half an hour.
Add them to the washing basin – gently swirl around the clothes, and then rinse them under cold tap water – wash as you normally would.
2. Baking Soda Boost
Baking soda is another great smell-removing product that can be used together with your normal washing process.How to Use:
To soak up the odors, use half a cup of baking soda and pour it directly into the washing machine with the detergent.
The socks should be washed in water that is as hot as the material will allow it to be washed in.
In order to make your socks even fresher you can add several spoons of baking soda into your socks before washing them.
3. Use Antibacterial Laundry Detergent
It is best to change to an antibacterial soap laundry detergent to remove the germs that cause stench on the sock.How to Use:
Select a detergent that will be appropriate to confront the bacteria as well as the smells.
Use the label specially prepared for the best results several times on the label.
Also, adopt the best method of washing your socks.
4. Dry Thoroughly
The inability to dry will lead to the formation of sock odors and hence should be done diligently. Wet hosiery provides an environment favorable to the growth of bacteria and fungus.How to Use:
Make sure you dry your socks before putting them away in your shoe organizers.
Ideally, what should be done is to hang them under the sun to dry since the sun’s rays can also kill bacteria.
If you use a dryer ensure that the socks are dried properly to a very high temperature.
5. Freeze Your Socks
Freezing is a quite infrequent method, which, however, can be effective in the extermination of bacteria responsible for the smell.How to Use:
To clean your socks put them in a plastic bag and freeze them during the night.
Freezing has a very positive effect since many bacteria and fungi which cause odor will be eliminated by the cold.
After taking off the Socks from the freezer you should wash and dry your socks like any regular cloth.
6. Use a Sock Spray
The use of Sock sprays that are applied with the sole purpose of eliminating odors can be a convenience to get rid of the problem.How to Use:
Wash your socks and, after they’re dry, apply a commercial sock-scenting agent or a simple water-and-essential-oil solution.
Ensure they are dried before wearing or even storing because they may shrink.
Preventative Measures to Avoid Sock Odor
Preventive measures can be more helpful than having to deal with additional treatments in order to do away with sock odor.Choose Quality Fabric: You need to select the right type of sock material depending on the circumstances prevailing on them.
Choose a sock that is made of natural fibers such as cotton or merino wool since they tend to breathe well and they do not retain too much sweat on the feet. Merino wool socks are the best option in order to avoid smell.
Maintain Good Foot Hygiene: You should clean your feet often, and make sure that they are dry as this will help to prevent odor. If irritation occurs they should use over-the-counter antifungal foot powder.
Rotate Your Socks: Do not wear socks for consecutive days, if possible. Allow each pair a little time between uses to ‘breathe’.
Wear Breathable Shoes: Select shoes that are made from materials that are not very inclined to absorb moisture so that your feet will not sweat.
Use Foot Powder: It also indicates that by using foot powder before donning the socks, the foot area can be made to retain less sweat hence the odor.