Compression comes from the stretch in the fabric. Everything below is about protecting that stretch, because once it goes it does not come back.
Do
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Wash in cold water, on a gentle or delicates cycle, or by hand.
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Turn them inside out before washing.
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Use a mesh laundry bag if you have one. It stops them being stretched by heavier items.
- Use a mild, neutral detergent.
- Wash with like colours.
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Air dry, flat or hanging, out of direct sun and away from a radiator.
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Fasten zips on other items in the same load. Zips snag knit fabric.
Do not
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No hot water. Heat damages the elastane that creates the compression.
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No tumble dryer. This is the fastest way to ruin a pair.
- No bleach or harsh detergents.
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No fabric softener. It coats the fibres and reduces their ability to recover.
- No ironing.
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Do not wring them out. Press the water out between a towel instead.
If your care label says something different from this page, follow the more cautious instruction, which is cold wash and air dry. We are updating our printed cards and one older batch went out with a dryer instruction on it. Cold and air dry is always the safe answer.
How often
After each full day of wear. Compression garments work best clean, and the fibres recover between wears. This is the real argument for owning two pairs: one on, one drying.
How long they last
With cold washing and air drying, a pair holds its compression through months of regular wear. Hot washing or tumble drying can take that down to a few weeks. If a pair has gone slack and no longer feels firm at the ankle, it has reached the end of its life.
