Grip socks work hard. Here is how to wash them so the grips keep doing their job for many classes.
1. Turn them inside out
This protects the silicone grips from rubbing against zips, jeans and towels in the machine. It also gets the inside of the sock, where the sweat is, cleaner.
2. Wash at 30°C
A gentle 30°C cycle cleans them well. Hot washes soften the silicone and loosen the bond with the fabric over time. Skip fabric softener: it leaves a film on the grips that makes them less grippy.
3. Air dry, never tumble dry
The dryer is the number one reason grips peel or crack. Hang them or lay them flat. Cotton-blend socks dry overnight.
4. No ironing, no bleach
Heat and bleach both damage silicone. If you want to freshen up light colours, a pre-soak in cold water with a little regular detergent does the job.
How often should you wash them?
After every class. A sweaty sock loses grip, and fresh socks are the whole point of hygiene rules at the studio. Having two or three pairs in rotation makes this easy, which is also why we made our grip socks cheaper in bundles: 10% off two pairs, 17% off three.