How to Wash Socks in the Sink

Co-authored by Jessica Gibson

Last Updated: May 27, 2020 References Tested

Whether you're traveling or your washing machine is on the fritz, being able to wash your socks in the sink is a very useful skill to have. Unlike most clothes, socks are able to withstand a lot, so don't worry about not having the right detergent or scrubbing them too hard. As long as you have some type of soap and somewhere to hang the socks when you're done washing them, you'll have freshly washed socks in no time!

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Filling the Sink with Soapy Water

1
Clean out the sink to remove grime. Your socks won't get clean if you wash them in a dirty sink so take a minute to wipe out the sink. Rinse the sink and rub the sides and bottom with a soapy cloth or sponge. To save time, spray the sink with an all-purpose cleaner instead of using soap. Then, rinse the sink thoroughly.^{[1]
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Tip: If you want to deodorize the sink, rinse it and sprinkle baking soda over the bottom and sides. Soak several paper towels in vinegar and lay them over the baking soda. Wait 20 minutes before you throw away the paper towels and rinse out the sink with soapy water.
2
Put the stopper in the sink and fill it half-full with lukewarm water. Avoid using hot water, which can dry out your hands and shrink your socks if they're made of wool or all-cotton. Instead, fill the sink half-full with lukewarm water.^{[2]
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- If you're using laundry detergent, it should dissolve easily in lukewarm water. If you don't have liquid detergent, it's fine to use liquid dish soap.
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3
Squirt in a coin-sized amount of detergent or soap. You don't need specialized soap to wash socks in the sink. Use your standard laundry detergent or liquid dish soap. You can even use shampoo in a pinch! Add the soap directly to the sink of lukewarm water.^{[3]
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- Use a bar of soap if you can't find liquid detergent or soap. To use it, get the socks wet and rub the bar against the sock. Then, use your hands to work the soap into a lather on the sock.
- If you're only washing a couple of socks, use just a few drops of soap.
4
Swish the water with your hands so the water suds. Swirl the water in the sink so the detergent, soap, or shampoo dissolves and mixes with the water. Keep swishing until you see a few bubbles form.^{[4]
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- Although it's easier to dissolve liquid detergent or soap in water, you can use powdered laundry detergent.

Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

Soaking and Scrubbing

1
Place the socks sink and push them so they're submerged in the water. If any of the socks are balled up, unroll them so they're flat. This makes them easier to clean and they'll dry faster if they aren't wadded up. Press down so the socks absorb the soapy water.^{[5]
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- Wash as many socks as you need to, but don't overcrowd the sink, especially if it's small. If you have a lot of socks to wash or they're really dirty, wash them in batches.
2
Soak the socks for a minute or up to overnight. The soaking time really depends on how much time you have to spare and how dirty your socks are. If they're lightly soiled and you're just freshening them up, soak the socks for just a minute. If your socks are really smelly or dirty, soak them for as long as you can.^{[6]
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- You may not be able to soak the socks for very long if you need to be able to use the sink soon!
3
Scrub the socks against each other to loosen dirt. Hold a wet sock in each hand and rub them against each other in the soapy water. Keep scrubbing the socks until the socks look cleaner. The water might turn gray or yellow as you get the dirt and sweat out of the socks..^{[7]
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Tip: If you have a small, ridged drainboard for the sink, set it into the soaking water and rub the socks against the ridges. The drainboard acts like a washboard to loosen dirt.

Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Rinsing and Drying the Socks

1
Drain the water from the sink and rinse it well with clean water. Once you've washed the socks, squeeze the water out of them and set them to the side of your sink. Then, lift up the plug to drain the dirty water from the sink. Use a cup or your hands to rinse the dirty water from the sides of the sink using fresh water.^{[8]
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Put the plug in the sink and fill it half-full of cool water. This is what you'll use to rinse the soapy water out of the socks, so don't put more detergent or soap into the sink.^{[9]
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- If your socks feel really soapy, plan on rinsing them more than once.
3
Submerge the socks and swish them around to remove the soap. Take the clean socks and press down on them so they absorb the clean water. Use your hands to squeeze and swish the socks to remove the soap.^{[10]
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- You may need to refill the sink a few times if your socks still smell like soap or feel sudsy.
- If you washed a lot of socks, rinse them in batches so you don't make the sink water too soapy.
4
Drain the sink and squeeze the water from the socks. When the socks don't feel soapy anymore, pull the plug to drain the water. Then, squeeze the socks without wringing them and set them aside.^{[11]
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- Try to get as much water out of the socks as you can to speed up the drying time.
- Wringing or twisting the socks can pull and damage the fibers, so use a gentle squeezing motion to get the water out.
Tip: To get even more moisture out of the socks, lay them flat on a dry towel and roll the towel up. Then, stand on the towel so your weight forces more water out of the socks.
5
Hang the socks from a drying rack or towel bar to air dry. You could also drape the socks over the shower rod if you're short on space. Keep in mind that the drying time for your socks depends on what they're made of. Synthetics or synthetic blends dry faster than wool or all-cotton. Your socks may take anywhere from 30 minutes to a few hours to dry.^{[12]
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- If you have access to a dryer, toss them in and turn on the machine. If you're just drying a few socks, check them after about 5 minutes to see if they're thoroughly dry.
- Turn on a fan in the room or hang the socks outside if the weather is hot and dry. These can speed up the drying time.