I have cotton socks, and they are really ruff to wear, and I stopped wearing them when I started to suspect that they were causing chaffing on parts of my feet.

Are there ways to make them softer, are my socks bad, do I only have the choice of polyester socks???

  • Mothra@mander.xyz
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    39 minutes ago

    Are you using softener in your wash? If not, then you should. I typically don’t like using softener but occasionally do if I know what I’m washing is going to turn out like cardboard

  • Doomsider@lemmy.world
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    6 hours ago

    Try some different brands, there are definitely some higher quality cottons socks compared to brands like Haines.

  • dan1101
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    5 hours ago

    Are they too small? Try another brand. Cotton should be soft. I have some 100% Italian cotton socks and they are the softest ones I own.

  • nocturne@sopuli.xyz
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    5 hours ago

    Freeze them after washing them. When I was a kid we did not have a dryer, and dried clothes on a clothesline. One thing I loved about the winter was how soft my clothes felt after they froze on the line before drying.

    • Mothra@mander.xyz
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      42 minutes ago

      Wait what? Can you explain a bit more about this method? Do you chuck the wash straight into the freezer or do you let it drip dry for a while first? Does it work on wool? I’ve never lived in a place with frost or snow so this is news for me

  • BearOfaTime
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    6 hours ago

    Are you sure they’re cotton? Synthetics tend to be more stiff than natural fibers like cotton.

    I haven’t had stiff cotton anything since about 1978. Companies have been pre-washing cotton since at least the mid-70’s to make it softer.

    Try washing and tumble dry on low, without completely drying them.

    • metaStatic@kbin.earth
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      3 hours ago

      Came here for this. Cotton took over the world because it’s initially softer than any alternative. once linen or hemp wear in they are better but that can take the whole lifetime of a cotton garment and capitalism demands you buy more sooner.

      I’ve recently in the past few years moved to bamboo socks, basically wool socks you can also wear in summer.