I have cotton socks, and they are really ruff to wear, and I stopped wearing them when I started to suspect that they were causing chaffing on parts of my feet.

Are there ways to make them softer, are my socks bad, do I only have the choice of polyester socks???

  • BearOfaTime@lemm.ee
    13·
    17 days ago

    Are you sure they’re cotton? Synthetics tend to be more stiff than natural fibers like cotton.

    I haven’t had stiff cotton anything since about 1978. Companies have been pre-washing cotton since at least the mid-70’s to make it softer.

    Try washing and tumble dry on low, without completely drying them.

    • metaStatic@kbin.earth
      14·
      17 days ago

      Came here for this. Cotton took over the world because it’s initially softer than any alternative. once linen or hemp wear in they are better but that can take the whole lifetime of a cotton garment and capitalism demands you buy more sooner.

      I’ve recently in the past few years moved to bamboo socks, basically wool socks you can also wear in summer.

  • Doomsider@lemmy.world
    131·
    17 days ago

    Try some different brands, there are definitely some higher quality cottons socks compared to brands like Haines.

  • dan1101@lemm.ee
    9·
    17 days ago

    Are they too small? Try another brand. Cotton should be soft. I have some 100% Italian cotton socks and they are the softest ones I own.

  • nocturne@sopuli.xyz
    7·
    17 days ago

    Freeze them after washing them. When I was a kid we did not have a dryer, and dried clothes on a clothesline. One thing I loved about the winter was how soft my clothes felt after they froze on the line before drying.

    • Mothra@mander.xyz
      3·
      17 days ago

      Wait what? Can you explain a bit more about this method? Do you chuck the wash straight into the freezer or do you let it drip dry for a while first? Does it work on wool? I’ve never lived in a place with frost or snow so this is news for me

      • Revan343@lemmy.ca
        7·
        17 days ago

        I’m spitballing, but my guess would be the water crystals damage the fibres, softening them

      • nocturne@sopuli.xyz
        2·
        17 days ago

        When i was a kid we let nature do it, so the laundry went directly from the washer to the line. I would do the same thing with a pair of socks to test it. Once they are frozen, defrost and dry as normal.

  • blackbrook@mander.xyz
    5·
    16 days ago

    Washing in hard water can make cotton feel rougher.

    Also when cotton is damp, like if you sweat much, it tends to be abrasive. That is why hikers say ‘cotton kills’ and recommend you stay away from it in favor of wool or synthetic ‘technical’ fabrics.

    • butiloveu@lemmy.ml
      1·
      13 days ago

      If they harden up because of hard water (for example water with a high lime content). Try to put them in a bucket with water and two big scopes of citric acid powder 4h to 12h before washing them. You can get citric acid almost anywhere online (ebay, Amazon etc.) This should soften them.

      You can also use citric acid as a washing powder replacement if you don’t look for deep cleaning but softening your cotton cloth, but don’t use to much of it or too often because it can and will attack the metal parts of the washing machine.

      But usually the the motor will die before serious damaged is caused as long you don’t overdo it.

  • sparr@lemmy.worldEnglish
    2·
    16 days ago

    It will reduce their durability, but… Turn them inside out and tumble them with something small and hard.

  • Mothra@mander.xyz
    42·
    17 days ago

    Are you using softener in your wash? If not, then you should. I typically don’t like using softener but occasionally do if I know what I’m washing is going to turn out like cardboard

    • ForgotAboutDre@lemmy.world
      41·
      16 days ago

      Fabric softener is a scam. It just coats your clothes in plastic. It will lead to rougher clothes over time.

      Your likely over drying your clothes and causing them to be harder and coarser than they need to. Your then compensating with fabric softener.

        • ForgotAboutDre@lemmy.world
          1·
          16 days ago

          Too long in the dryer and they cook. Think of dryered flowers, they go brittle and scratchy when they’ve been dried. When those same flowers are fresh their petals are soft.

          • Mothra@mander.xyz
            1·
            16 days ago

            I very rarely use the dryer. Only when it’s been raining for so many days and I desperately need to wash something. Also I find when I use the dryer, the clothes that drip dry stiff and rough come out much softer.

      • 200ok@lemmy.world
        3·
        16 days ago

        Vinegar is a natural fabric softener. Soak your socks in a (white) vinegar solution (1/4 cup in a gallon bucket) over night and then wash as usual.

        It’s how I’ve softened stiff 100% cotton jeans in the past.

        Warning: this ruins anything with “stretch”. The vinegar breaks down the elastic. I’ve ruined some really nice jeans with this method. RIP.