Caring for Your Socks and Apparel
Due to the natural crimp in wool fibers, our socks will shrink up to 10% when first washed. We have allowed for this shrinkage with our sizing, which is why your new socks may look a little bigger than expected when they arrive.
Caring properly for your Lindner products will ensure they last for years to come.
We’ve created a handy how-to guide below, to help you care for our socks, accessories and apparel.
For further tips and information about caring for wool products, please visit the Woolmark website.
In addition to properly caring for your socks, there are a few key reasons that socks wear out quickly. To learn more see Reasons Why Socks Wear Out.
MERINO SOCKS
WASHING
To help care for your merino socks, they should be washed separately, or in a hosiery and lingerie wash bag so they do not catch on other garments.
For all socks, excluding our 100% pure merino Stringybark* socks, we recommend a cold machine wash on a wool or woollens cycle setting, using a mild wool detergent. Faster cycles are better as some front loaders have long cycles and may even heat their own water, so beware it doesn’t get too hot.
Alternatively, our merino socks can be hand washed using a gentle laundry soap.
DRYING
Tumble dryers and dry cleaning should be avoided, as they will cause your socks to shrink. Air drying in the shade is best, as direct, intense sunshine or drying close to heaters can also shrink the wool.
If you have accidentally shrunk your socks, never fear, you can try to stretch them out whilst they are wet.
MERINO APPAREL AND ACCESSORIES
WASHING
When washing merino beanies, scarves, and tees and rugby tops we recommend following the same instructions for washing merino socks, as listed above.
DRYING
As with our merino socks, tumble dryers and dry cleaning should be avoided as they will cause your merino beanies, scarves, tees and rugby tops to shrink.
Air drying in the shade on a flat surface is best, as drying on a clothesline or hanger can cause wool products to stretch and become misshapen. For best results, we recommend laying them on a clean, light or white lint-free towel.
MERINO AND ALPACA BLEND SOCKS
WASHING
As alpaca fleece is a hair fiber, our alpaca farmers recommend the best way to care for our local merino and alpaca blend and local alpaca products is to hand wash them in shampoo (any hair shampoo will do, as long as it doesn’t have color pigments).
DRYING
Tumble dryers and dry cleaning should be avoided when drying our merino and alpaca blend products to avoid shrinkage. As with our merino products, air drying in the shade is best.
STORAGE
Storing wool products in dark cupboards over summer or if not used for an extended period of time makes them easy targets for wool moths or carpet beetles.
As you reach for your favourite garment, it sometimes leads to finding a small hole or patch of holes. It looks like a manufacturing flaw initially but on closer inspection, pin sized holes reveal a slightly eaten patch of material that quickly falls apart when pressure is applied. To read more, please see Do Moths Really Eat Wool?
To avoid pesky bugs, mold, and general wear and tear, it is recommended that wool socks and apparel are stored for extended periods in airtight vacuum sealed packs, 100% cotton or wool cloth bags (with moth balls or other pest deterrents) or sealed storage bins. Apparel should also be folded, not hung, to prevent it becoming misshapen.
For further information about storing wool products, please visit the Woolmark website.