Care Instructions for Untreated Merino Wool Socks

Merino socks are the best for outdoor socks or active wear, but they do have a few small drawbacks we've accepted in the name of the best bloody performance socks for going longer...

We haven't chemically debrided the scales of our wool or coated it in a resin like many brands do (TEC or Superwash Treatments), so that our untreated, superfine merino wool retains its natural performance and a dry-on-skin, low-moisture outer surface for low blisters, moisture, smell and more.

By following some simple care instructions for Merino socks, you'll get all the benefits without any negatives, and your socks will last a heck of a lot longer.

*This info is specifically tailored for our Merino bland toe socks but can also be 100% applied to ALL Merino socks.

Care Instructions for Merino Socks

Cleaning & Drying Merino Socks

Wash

1. Machine wash on gentle cycle in cold water (or hand wash). The water temp should ideally be below 30°C

2. Use mild soap. Never wash with bleach or fabric softener.

Dry:

3. Hang or lay flat to dry.

*Don't hang them too close to a fire (they may shrink)
**Do not tumble dry or dry clean

Other:
Do not bleach or iron

Deep Cleans

It's really helpful to do a deep clean every now and then. Whether it is after a lot of use, or perhaps an exceptionally muddy hike or ultramarathon, or maybe they've got gunked up with strapping tape glue or vaseline...

Check out our recent blog post, which briefly explains how to run a deep clean on your merino socks to get rid of that stained, stiff-looking sock and bring it back to life: Creepers Deep Clean.

Foot care for toe sock longevity

Do keep your nails trimmed. Because merino socks, and particularly merino toe socks, hug the curvature of your toes, any sharp or elongated bits of nail sticking out will make holes in your socks quickly.

When possible, keep your nails regularly trimmed and filed.

Why are they different?

Merino socks are typically the sock of choice for the outdoors. For running, hiking, rucking or even bird watching... they're are made to get dirty, wet and well used, so it's important we clean them well and care for them to make them last.

The care instructions for merino socks are simple. They're not complicated. So don't be scared to invest in some good socks for the outdoors!

Creepers socks, as with most merino socks, have the best of both worlds, with about half the content being ultra-fine Merino and the other half made up of fibers to help wick moisture, add elasticity, strength and more.

Merino wool has different properties to petroleum-based fibers such as CoolMax and nylon. It is fantastic at drawing moisture away from your feet by absorbing up to 30% of its weight. Unlike most other fabrics, this also means they lock away the smell molecules, which is how our merino socks help your socks and feet smell less!

Eventually though, they need to be cleaned and all the dirt, grime and locked-away smell washed out.

What the fluff?! Why are Merino Socks Fluffy After the First Wear?

This is very normal for all socks and particularly those with natural wool fibers blended in.

You'll notice in your first 1-2 wears, that fluff comes off the socks! For the uninitiated, this can cause some real concerns about quality and durability but never fear. With high-quality merino yarn, the loose fibres in the twist shed in the first wear, and this is completely normal for merino wool socks; after the first few wears, it stops. It has no impact of quality or longevity.

How should you manage pilling on Merino Socks?

Are your merino socks pilling? This happens to all wool clothing and socks in particular, where there is the most friction out of any article of clothing due to the close, constant contact with your shoes. This happens gradually, particularly in the areas of high friction in socks. Pilling is when small little balls form on the surface and can make clothes look worn and shabby.

What can you do to remove pilling on merino socks?

You can use a fabric shaver or sweater comb to remove them. We find this easiest to do when wearing the socks.

Below is an example of a pair that had a little pilling after a tonne of marathon training with a shoe fit that wasn't quite right (excess heel movement). The right sock was taken off with the lint shaver, and as his customer said, "The difference between lint shaved and not is ridiculous".

Follow these care and washing instructions for Merino toe socks for a longer-lasting, more comfortable pair of socks!