Grip socks They are not exactly spared during sports. They disappear into tight sports shoes, have to deal with heat and sweat, and are constantly stressed during a training session or match. Afterwards, they usually end up in the laundry basket without much ceremony. And let's be honest: when it comes to socks, most people don't give the wash cycle a second thought. Full drum, add detergent, and done.

With grip socks, it is wise to handle them with a little more care. Not because they need to be hand-washed or require complicated treatment, but because a grip sock is constructed differently from a regular cotton sock. In addition to the textile, there are grip zones under the foot, and the sock contains elastic sections that ensure it fits snugly around the foot.

If you throw your grip socks in the washing machine at sixty degrees every week and then into the dryer on the tropical setting, you are probably not doing the materials any favors.

Fortunately, proper maintenance is much simpler than it might sound. In this article, we explain the best way to wash grip socks, which mistakes to avoid, and what you can do yourself to keep them in good condition for as long as possible.

At first glance, a grip sock is of course still just a sock. Yet the most important difference is literally on the bottom.

The grip zones under the foot are intended to increase friction between the sock and the inside of your sports shoe. Additionally, the sock itself must stay firmly in place around the foot. After all, a grip sock that slides around your foot during sports defeats its purpose somewhat.

Therefore, various materials are combined. With GXOX, the sock consists of cotton, polyamide, and elastane, and PVC grip zones are applied to the bottom. The cotton footbed provides a soft feel under the foot, while the synthetic fibers and elastic sections contribute, among other things, to the fit and construction of the sock.

That doesn't suddenly make grip socks extremely fragile. After all, they were developed for sports. However, as with virtually all technical sportswear, unnecessarily high temperatures and aggressive handling put more strain on the materials than necessary.

Proper washing therefore actually revolves mainly around one principle: Clean your grip socks thoroughly, without treating them unnecessarily roughly.

Do you first want to know why those grip zones are under sports socks in the first place? In our blog Do grip socks really work? we explain in more detail what happens between your foot, sock, and sports shoe.

There is still sometimes the idea that grip socks should only be hand-washed. Fortunately, you don't have to sit with a basin next to the washing machine after every football training, running session, or padel match.

GXOX grip socks can simply be washed in the washing machine.

We recommend a maximum temperature of 30 degrees. For normal maintenance, that is sufficient, and at the same time, you prevent the socks from being unnecessarily exposed to higher temperatures during every wash.

A normal or gentle wash program is fine. So you don't need to look for a special three-hour program that even your washing machine manufacturer doesn't know exactly what it's intended for.

It is wise, however, to check what else is in the drum. Open zippers, Velcro, and hard parts on other garments can rub against the socks during washing. If you want to prevent this as much as possible, you can put your grip socks in a laundry bag.

It is not necessary. View it primarily as simple extra protection.

Before you throw the grip socks in the washing machine, it is best to turn them inside out.

That has two advantages. During exercise, the inside of the sock is in direct contact with your foot and therefore has to deal with the most sweat and moisture. By washing the sock inside out, precisely that side is well exposed to water and detergent during the wash cycle.

At the same time, the grip zones are on the inside during washing. As a result, they come into less direct contact with other garments in the drum.

Did you play sports outdoors? Then also check to see if there is any sand, grass, or other dirt on your socks. Especially if you walked through the locker room or along the side of the field in your grip socks after a match, there can be more stuck in there than you think.

Speaking of the latter: grip socks are made to in sports shoes to wear. The grip zones can take a lot during sports, but a walk over rough tiles or asphalt is really a different kind of endurance test.

You do not need to purchase special sports detergent to wash grip socks. A normal, mild detergent is sufficient.

Just use the recommended amount. The idea more detergent = cleaner socks That sounds logical, but unfortunately, that is not how a washing machine works. Too much detergent can actually leave residue in textiles.

We are more restrained with fabric softener.

Fabric softener makes fabrics feel softer because it affects the textile fibers and can leave a film behind. With technical sportswear, this is not always desirable, as it can affect the moisture absorption of materials, among other things.

GXOX grip socks, for example, feature an absorbent cotton footbed and breathable sections designed to function comfortably, especially during intense sports.

Therefore, our advice is simple: Skip the fabric softener.

Your grip socks probably won't send you a thank-you card, but you simply don't need one.

You have a match tomorrow, your favorite grip socks just came out of the washing machine and are still wet. The dryer is right next to them. We understand the temptation. Nevertheless, we advise simply to let air dry. A tumble dryer combines heat with prolonged mechanical movement. For towels, that can be wonderful, but for grip socks, it mainly creates unnecessary extra strain.

Therefore, hang or lay your grip socks in a well-ventilated area and let them dry completely before putting them on again. Placing them directly on a scorching hot radiator is also not our preferred solution for the same reason.

If you work out several times a week, the solution is actually straightforward: alternate between multiple pairs. One pair can be washed and dried at leisure while the next is ready for training. And that happens to be an excellent segue to the next topic.

There is no magic number for that. It depends mainly on what you have done with it.

After ninety minutes of football, an intensive HYROX training session, or a long running session, your socks have absorbed a considerable amount of heat and moisture. In that case, washing them after use is the most logical choice. However, if you have only worn them briefly without exercising intensively, the situation may be different.

For sports use, it is especially wise to use your common sense. Socks are in direct contact with your skin and absorb moisture during exertion. With intensive use, regular washing is therefore not only pleasant for the socks, but especially for the person who has to open the sports bag next to you in the locker room.

Anyone who exercises four or five times a week would therefore do well to alternate between multiple pairs. This way, each pair gets sufficient time to be washed and completely dried.

Incidentally, the type of grip sock you use does not have to be the same for every training session. A low model, for example, can be comfortable for fitness, running, padel, or tennis, while many footballers and hockey players opt for a mid-length version. Additionally, there are long grip socks for athletes who want to combine grip zones with a high sports sock.

This is probably one of the most interesting questions regarding the maintenance of grip socks. After all, grip zones not only take a lot of abuse during sports during their lifespan, but naturally also go into the washing machine every time.

With normal use and when following the washing instructions, grip socks are designed to be washed repeatedly. Nevertheless, every wash remains a form of strain. Incidentally, this applies to virtually every garment. Your favorite T-shirt probably doesn't look exactly the same after a hundred washes as it did the day you bought it.

With grip socks, another factor is that the grip zones are located on the outside of the fabric. High temperatures, intensive drying, and contact with hard materials are therefore things you would rather limit.

That does not mean that every damaged grip zone is automatically the result of improper washing. How intensely you exercise, the shoes you wear, how you move, and even what you do before and after a workout all influence wear and tear.

For example, if you regularly walk barefoot over a rough surface, the grip zones are directly subjected to friction for which they are not actually intended.

Washing thoroughly therefore helps especially to to limit unnecessary wear and tear. It does not make a grip sock indestructible.

A few grip zones with visible signs of wear do not mean you need to order new socks immediately. It is better to look at the bigger picture.

Does the sock still stay on your foot well? Are the grip zones still sufficiently present? Does the footbed still feel comfortable? And are there no holes in the heavily stressed areas of the sock?

When the fit clearly deteriorates, many grip zones have disappeared or are severely damaged, or holes appear, replacement may become logical.

The latter is particularly interesting, because holes in socks are by no means always caused by a poor-quality sock. The big toe and heel, for example, are subjected to a great deal of friction with every step.

We have discussed in detail in our blog why some people wear through their socks in no time, while others are hardly bothered by it. Why do you get holes in your socks?

Anyone searching online for the best way to care for sportswear might quickly get the feeling that it requires half a textile engineering degree. Fortunately, for grip socks, that is not really the case.

You don't need to buy special detergent, you don't need to wash them by hand as a matter of course, and you don't need to scrub the individual grip zones clean with a toothbrush after every workout. For GXOX grip socks, four simple rules are actually sufficient:

Wash at a maximum of 30 degrees, preferably wash them inside out, do not use fabric softener, and let them air dry.

By doing so, you do not treat the materials more harshly than necessary and give the socks the best chance to last as long as possible.

And perhaps that is ultimately the most important maintenance tip: grip socks are made to be used. Wear them during training and matches, wash them when necessary, and accept that heavily used sportswear will eventually show signs of wear.

Whether you choose a low, mid-length, or long model: the basics remain the same. A good fit, grip zones under the foot, and a design that suits the sport you practice.

View our GXOX grip sock collection and choose the version that best suits your sport.

Would you like to know more about grip socks in general? Then these articles are also interesting:

• Do grip socks really work?
• Why do your feet slide inside your shoes?
• Do grip socks prevent blisters? This is what practice and science say.
• What are GXOX grip socks
• Why do you get holes in your socks?