Practical tips! Avoid socks that become harder after washing

When socks are first produced, the distance between the yarns is relatively far, and the fibers can be fully opened, resulting in a fluffy and soft state. It is precisely because these fibers can be fully opened that the socks have a certain degree of fluffiness!
The feet are where the human body sweats relatively more, so the socks will often be soaked in sweat. The inorganic salts in the sweat will absorb moisture, which aggravates the adhesion of the socks, making it impossible for the fine fibers on the socks to fully open, so the socks will become wet and hard.
The usage rate of socks is high, so in daily life, the frequency of washing is also high. After repeated washing, the fibers of the socks will lose their original shape under the action of external forces, and the fibers that usually maintain softness and fluffiness will break and fall off. In this way, the parts that are often rubbed will age or even disappear, which is why the toes and heels of socks are prone to holes.

The tap water we use daily is hard water, which contains a large amount of minerals, such as magnesium ions and calcium ions. When the tap water is boiled, it will become soft water. Therefore, the white substance precipitated at the bottom of the kettle is scale, and its main component is calcium carbonate. Washing socks with hard water, that is, cold water, will make these minerals penetrate into the fibers of the socks. Over time, the socks will become hard and no longer soft and fluffy.
Traditional laundry detergents and washing powders contain chemical substances, such as fluorescent brighteners, hydrolases, phosphorus, etc. These chemicals will remain in the fibers. If they are not cleaned properly, they will not only cause the socks to become hard, but also endanger your health. After washing clothes, you can touch the clothes that have been drained with your hands. If you feel sticky, it means that there are residual and unclean chemical components on the socks.
Although socks will become harder and harder after washing, you still have to wash them frequently. In order to make them soft, you can add some fabric softener to make the fibers of the socks soft again, so that the socks will not be hard naturally.
As mentioned earlier, one of the reasons why socks become hard is hard water, so when drying them, try to wring out the socks as much as possible to minimize the content of hard water in the socks.
Sometimes, socks become hard because of exposure to the sun. Because they contain cotton or cotton blends, excessive sun exposure will make the cotton fibers very dry and hard, so you can put the socks in a ventilated place to dry.
This is also for the cause of hard water. After washing the socks, you can soak them in lemon water. The acid in lemon can effectively neutralize the calcium ions in the hard water, and the socks will become soft.