Getting just the right size of socks is very imperative. Too tight, and you will always come home in the evening with indentations around the legs, too loose, and you will keep pulling them up throughout the day.
Whatsoever careful we are when purchasing socks, we always get that one too tight and uncomfortable pair. We do not always get the right size. This is where stretching the socks come in.
Below is a detailed guide on how to stretch all types of socks easily, which answers all the questions you may have around it.
How to Stretch Socks?
Apply heat to the socks
Heat the pair of socks. This can be done using a hairdryer, iron, or very hot water in a basin. If the socks are colorful or woolen, it is advisable not to put them in too high temperatures. Warm water work ideally for them.
If the socks are thick, they cannot be damaged by high temperatures.
Note: if you are using iron, it should be without steam.
Remove excess water
While still hot, remove the excess water in case you used hot water. Stretch the socks while still hot and allow them to cool while still stretched.
Allow the socks to dry/cool while stretched.
The socks assume a new shape when they dry. To do this, find an object of similar size that you want the socks to attain. This could be a cup, a bottle, or even your feet. Fit the socks in the object and leave them to dry.
If you did not use water in the first step, this becomes the second step. Stretch the hot socks and allow them to cool while still stretching them. This takes less time; hence you can let them dry while holding them with your hands.
Note: stretching the socks too much damage them. Do not stretch them beyond 3 inches, as the band will completely lose elasticity.
Cooling the socks rapidly while stretched
In step 3 above, allowing the socks to cool slowly while not stretched allows them to resume the same size.
To cool the socks rapidly while stretched, place an ice cube on the stretched area to cool them down. Alternatively, deep in ice-cold water while still stretched.
That way, the socks will dry later in their new loosened size.
Note: Before using the step-by-step guide, it is important to check manufacturers’ instructions. Remember, the intention is to stretch, not to damage.
How to Loose Tight Ankle Socks?
Tight ankle socks ruin perfect days. The good news is that loosening them is pretty simple, and no special tools are required. You only need to apply heat using an iron, blow dryer, hot water, or hot dryer.
First, apply heat to the socks for about 10 minutes. Socks stretch easily when warm.
Stretch them around an object that has a shape similar to your leg. Ensure that the object used is not too large; the socks will stretch more than desired. If you do not have an object of that size, your leg, too, will work.
Lastly, remove them from the object and allow them to dry once they are cooled completely. It is imperative to fold them into balls to help maintain the new size.
How to Loose Wool Socks?
Unlike normal cotton socks, wool socks lose shape completely when exposed to too much heat. A need to stretch wool socks may arise, maybe because they were accidentally put in the machine, which made them shrink, or simply because you purchased a pair that you feel is too tight.
Whatever the cause, stretching them is easy. First, warm water and put it in a basin. Dissolve a dime-size amount of hair conditioner into the water. Hair conditioners usually have softening properties which make the yarn more relaxed.
Thirdly, soak the pair of socks into the solution and wait for a few minutes. Rinse the socks using warm water, and then squeeze the water gently without twisting them. Blot the socks in between towels to remove more water.
Finally, reshape the socks by stretching them until they are of the desired size and dry completely. Alternatively, put an object that has a similar shape and size to your leg and allow it to dry stretched.
How to Stretch Knee-high Socks?
To stretch knee-high socks, one has to be specific about the exact part that is tight. It could be the body or at the foot.
Put hot water in a basin. The water should be about the temperature of a hot bath. To stretch the body, find something to stretch the socks around. This could be a can with a similar shape and with the desired new size.
Put the body of the socks in the water. When thoroughly wet and still hot, remove it and put it around the object.
Allow the socks to dry while still around the object. When dry, remove them. They will have attained a new shape, the size of the object they were stretched over.
How to Stretch out Thigh High Socks?
While most high-thigh socks are known to keep falling for being loose, a good number of them are usually too tight. The thighs tend to stick out, and pinching is not uncommon. This happens regardless of the size of the person wearing them.
If the solid cloth is too tight, cutting off the tight solid cloth band is one of the solutions. If the high-thigh socks have a plastic top, they still hold as it is usually non-slip. If they don’t have it, use safety pins to attach it to another pair of fishnet that is full leg worn in the inside works.
Alternatively, you can attach them with a garter belt after cutting off the top. Even without cutting, using garter belts works. Hold the top of the socks with the belt. The belt helps ease the pressing nature of the thigh-high socks at the top.
Note: Before cutting out the top part, inspect the socks’ material keenly. Some of the materials run after being cut, damaging them.
If that is the material in your thigh socks, consider taking them to a more experienced person to cut it out for you.
Do Socks Stretch Out Over Time?
Yes. Socks stretch out over time. In fact, some socks tend to stretch out during the day. This explains why one wears a very tight pair of socks in the morning, but it is of no concern during the day.
Over time, socks fibers are pulled. They begin to lose their ability to stay tight. The knitting, too, may loosen. For most socks, the elastic material starts to be less effective over time. This happens naturally due to frequent washing.
Some socks without much elasticity tend to loosen completely, especially if they are small for your feet.
Why Shouldn’t You Wear Tight Socks?
Other than feeling uncomfortable, tight socks have many other disadvantages. They include;
- Constricting free circulation of blood causes the ankles to swell. Tight socks also raise the risk of Edema, which is swelling due to the accumulation of fluids.
- Raising the risk of varicose veins. If one already has the problem, it is more likely to worsen.
- Awaken a pre-existing leg condition.
- Legs become numb around the constrictions due to poor blood circulation. The condition is even worse for people who spend most of the time sitted.
- Development of bunions, hammertoes, or worse ingrown toenails.
- Cause athletes’ feet due to sweating. The damp conditions allow the occurrence of fungal infections as fungi thrive well. This may also cause rashes on the feet.
- Where the socks hold firmly, sock band lines are formed. This causes redness and irritation on the skin.
How Should Socks Fit?
While too tight socks have so many disadvantages, too loose socks, on the other hand, may cause harmful wrinkles. They are capable of pinching the skin and even causing blisters. This explains why socks should just fit properly.
Now, how should socks fit? Most people have had trouble telling if the socks fit them properly or are too tight.
Getting the right pair is all about the feel. Ensure that the toe seams are at the top of the toes and also lay flat. There should not be pinching or bunching. If the socks cramp on the toes, they are too small for your feet. The heel of the socks, too, should be at your heel. They should not stick outside your shoe or slide down. If some of the signs of tight socks are noticed, take immediate action to loosen them.
To avoid rubbing on the skin, they should be a little smaller than your feet and be flexible to stretch. To get just the right size, the circumference of the feet should be about an inch smaller than your feet. The length of the socks, too, should be about half an inch smaller.
Conclusion
Wearing socks in the morning or before leaving the house during the day is one of the most common routines for most people. Sometimes we are so used to it that we do not give it much thought.
Some socks types tend to shrink after they are washed. This is why it is also vital to keep the size in check.
Limiting the amount of time you spend on socks is another key tip. You can also use socks with no elasticity for low activity, for example, wearing them around the house for warmth.
