How to Wash Compression Socks: Washing, Drying and Replacement
To wash compression socks, wash them each day you wear them, by hand or on a gentle machine cycle, with mild soap or a mild detergent. Rinse them well, skip bleach and fabric softener, and let them air dry. The same steps apply when you wash compression stockings. If the care label on your pair says something different, follow the label. Careful washing helps a pair last, but the fabric still wears out, so this guide also covers when to replace a pair and why a second pair helps.
How often to wash compression socks
Wash them every day you wear them. MedlinePlus says to wash compression stockings each day with mild soap and water (MedlinePlus). The manufacturer medi says the same for its own stockings: wash them every evening after you take them off. It gives two reasons: hygiene, and that its stockings regain their elasticity after washing and drying (medi care advice).
Can you wear a pair twice between washes? None of the care advice we read gives a number of wears. It says daily, so plan on daily. If a doctor or nurse gave you a different routine, follow theirs.
How to hand wash compression socks
Hand washing is what the manufacturer SIGVARIS recommends for its stockings. One step at a time:
- Turn the sock inside out. SIGVARIS recommends this to protect the garment.
- Fill a clean sink or basin with cold water and add a little mild soap or detergent.
- Move the sock gently through the water. There is no need to scrub.
- Rinse well in clean water until no soap is left.
- Do not wring or twist it. Roll it in a clean towel and press gently, then take it out of the damp towel.
- Air dry it away from direct heat.
This store's product pages say cold water, while SIGVARIS suggests lukewarm for its own stockings, so a pair from another maker may differ. On the towel, medi and two NHS leaflets describe pressing or rolling the water out, but NHS inform says not to squeeze it out, so keep it gentle.
Can compression socks go in the washing machine?
Yes, if your label allows it. This store's product pages say to machine wash cold on a gentle cycle. SIGVARIS allows a gentle cycle with the garment inside out, and NHS inform lists the delicate cycle as an option.
- Check the label to confirm your pair can go in the machine.
- Turn the socks inside out.
- Use a laundry net if you have one. medi sells a laundry net for gentle machine washing. It is an extra, not a must.
- Keep the load simple. Wash a new pair on its own the first time. After that, medi suggests washing separately or with the same colors.
- Choose the gentle or delicate cycle with cold water and a mild detergent. Leave out bleach and fabric softener.
- Take the socks out when the cycle ends and air dry them.
medi gives 30 or 40 degrees Celsius (about 86 or 104 degrees Fahrenheit) for its own stockings, warmer than this store's cold wash. It is one more reason to go by the label on your own pair.
What soap to use and what to avoid
- Use mild soap or mild detergent. MedlinePlus says mild soap and water, SIGVARIS says a mild detergent, and medi says a simple color detergent without brighteners.
- Skip bleach. This store's product pages say do not bleach, and SIGVARIS agrees.
- Skip fabric softener. SIGVARIS and medi both rule it out.
SIGVARIS and medi each suggest their own washing liquid, which is manufacturer advice about products they sell. MedlinePlus asks only for mild soap. What about dish soap? None of the care advice we read mentions it either way, so stick with mild soap or detergent unless your label says otherwise.
How to dry compression socks
Air dry them. It is the one method that fits all the care advice we read, including this store's product pages. Follow your garment's instructions about laying it flat or hanging it to air dry. If the label is missing or unclear, ask the store to confirm the care instructions for your pair.
Keep them off radiators and heaters and out of direct sun. medi warns against both, and the Kingston and Richmond leaflet says they may damage the elastic fibers.
What about the dryer? Advice differs. NHS inform says not to use a tumble dryer, and SIGVARIS's US care page says to avoid tumble drying. medi says its own stockings can go in on a gentle cycle or low setting. With advice split like this, air drying is the safe default. If you would like to use a dryer, check the care label on your own pair first and do what it says.
Here is how the main sources line up. Where any of them differs from your care label, the label wins.
Wash each day with mild soap and water. Rinse and air dry. Have 2 pairs if you can. Replace every 3 to 6 months.
Wash by hand or on a delicate cycle. Dry naturally, away from direct heat.
Hand wash, or gentle cycle inside out. Lukewarm water, mild detergent. No bleach or fabric softener. Air dry.
Wash every evening. Gentle cycle or by hand. No fabric softener. Do not wring. Keep from sun and radiators.
Lotions, creams and ointments
Let any lotion dry fully before you put your socks on. MedlinePlus says to let it dry first, and the Kingston and Richmond leaflet gives the reason: a build-up of cream on stockings can damage the fabric. This store's product pages add a caution to avoid petroleum-based creams or lotions on your legs before putting your socks on, because they degrade the fabric.
If you use an ointment on your legs, NHS inform says to wash the stockings every day. If a cream or ointment was prescribed, keep using it as directed and ask your doctor or pharmacist how to time it around your socks.
What to do with a new pair
Wash it before you wear it. Healthwise, on MyHealth Alberta, says to hand wash new stockings after you buy them, because it makes them more flexible and easier to put on. NHS inform says to wash them on their own the first time. Keep the label or leaflet too, since it is your care guide for that pair.
If a new pair does not fit, this store's returns policy says opened or gently worn items may be returned within 30 days of delivery if they are laundered first. Clearance, Final Sale and Non-Returnable items are excluded.
How long compression socks last
MedlinePlus says to replace your stockings every 3 to 6 months "so that they maintain their compression and support" (MedlinePlus). The Kingston and Richmond leaflet gives the same window and says it depends on the make. If your doctor or nurse gave you a schedule, use theirs.
The reason is the fabric: a Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS leaflet says old stockings lose their elasticity and will not work as well. None of the sources gives a home test for how much pressure a pair has left, so go by the calendar, not the look of the sock. It helps to note the month you start each pair. Between replacements, check for:
- Damage. An NHS leaflet from Leeds says to examine your stockings daily for signs of damage.
- A looser fit. The Kingston and Richmond leaflet warns that tugging hard can stretch or tear the fabric and leave it too loose. The Sandwell leaflet says weight loss can do the same.
- A tighter fit. If your legs have grown larger, stockings that are too tight may cause skin damage, the Sandwell leaflet says.
If the fit has changed, measure again and check the size chart on the product page. If no listed size fits all your measurements, ask a trained fitter. To protect the fabric when you put your socks on, medi suggests rubber gloves and taking off rings and bracelets. For socks that slip, see our guide to keeping compression stockings up.
Why two pairs help
Daily washing is easier when a dry pair is waiting. That is why MedlinePlus says to have 2 pairs if you can: wear one each day, and wash and dry the other. NHS inform and Healthwise give the same advice.
For a second pair, start from the pressure level you wear now, unless your doctor has changed it. Measure again and check your current measurements against the size chart for that style, because sizes can differ between models. Compression is not right for every leg, so if you do not know your level yet, ask your doctor or pharmacist first. Our guide to compression levels explains each range.
The A501W, A501M and A505M are also sold as 3 pairs for $29.99, less than two single pairs. Sizes shown are the listed range, so check the product page for your size and color. Our guides to wide calf sizing and men's compression socks go further on fit.
Quick decision guide
FAQ
Can compression socks go in the washing machine?
Yes, if your care label allows it. Use a gentle cycle in cold water with a mild detergent, turn them inside out, leave out bleach and fabric softener, and air dry afterward.
Can you put compression socks in the dryer?
Advice differs. NHS inform and SIGVARIS's US care page say not to tumble dry, while medi says its own stockings can go in on a gentle or low setting. Air drying fits all the care advice we read, so it is the safe default. Check the care label on your own pair before using a dryer.
Can you wear compression socks more than once before washing?
None of the care advice we read gives a number of wears. MedlinePlus says to wash compression stockings each day, and a second pair makes that easier.
Does washing make compression socks lose their pressure?
medi says its own stockings regain their elasticity after washing and drying, which is the maker's statement about its stockings, not every pair. The fabric still wears out over time, which is why MedlinePlus says to replace stockings every 3 to 6 months. Follow the care label on your pair.
Can I wash compression socks with dish soap?
None of the care advice we read mentions dish soap either way. MedlinePlus says mild soap and SIGVARIS says a mild detergent, so stick with those unless your care label says otherwise.
This article is general information, not medical advice. Talk to your doctor about whether graduated compression fits your situation, especially if you have a circulatory condition, diabetes, or are pregnant.
Lorea Lastiri is an SEO consultant who writes the medical-compression guides for Absolute Support, working from published clinical sources and the store's own sizing data. She also helps online stores help shoppers find answers in their store.