Now that I am selling more of my Measured Steps socks, I thought I would put up a post about caring for them. I typically use high quality German sock yarns when I knit. They are a superwash wool/nylon blend, which means that you can machine wash, gentle cycle and tumble dry on the lowest heat setting if you so desire. But, I always recommend to hand wash, lay flat to dry or drape over a towel bar. I use mild shampoo and lukewarm water, let them soak in the sink while I take a shower, rinse and squeeze out water, roll in a towel and press on it get out even more water. An occasional rinse with hair conditioner is nice too. If you lay them on a heat vent, they will dry overnight. You can wear them two times before washing if you let them air out between wearings.
They should not shrink appreciably in the washing machine and dryer if you follow the instructions from the yarn company, but there is abrasion in washer agitation and tumble drying which can cause the wool to pill and look worn sooner than if you hand washed your socks. If you insist on machine washing, turn them inside out and put them in a lingerie bag to keep them from rubbing and getting snagged on things. The good thing about the yarn is you won’t ruin your socks if they end up the the washer/dryer by accident, but if you treat them kindly you will keep them looking their best and lasting longer. I also recommend not walking around in your stocking feet in the house. Put some slippers on,e specially if you have rugs (friction again). Keep your toenails trimmed to help keep the toes from wearing out. Yes your socks will eventually wear out, but I usually get 3-4 years of frequent wear out of a pair of socks made with good quality sock yarn.