How to Wash Stockings by Hand and in a Machine
To wash stockings, hand wash them in cool water with mild liquid detergent: soak 5 to 10 minutes, swish gently, rinse until clear and press out water in a towel, never wringing. In a machine, use a mesh laundry bag on a cold delicate cycle. Dry flat or draped in the shade, not in direct sun.
Most stockings are knitted from fine stretch yarns, and the stretch is the first thing to go. Heat, rubbing, harsh detergent and twisting all shorten its life. This is the routine we'd follow at home.
How often should you wash stockings?
After every wear. Waist-high stockings sit against your skin from waist to toe and pick up sweat and skin oils, even on a cool day. Washing also helps the knit spring back to shape before the next wear. Rewearing an unwashed pair, especially in Chennai or Kolkata humidity, is the quickest route to a smell that won't wash out later.
Two more habits are worth starting:
- Wash new pairs once before the first wear, as you would any piece worn against the skin.
- Wash black and skin-colour pairs separately for the first few washes. Dark dyes can release a little colour early on, and a skin shade picks it up easily. If you have the 1 Skin + 1 Black pack, that means two small washes rather than one.
How to hand wash stockings
Hand washing is the gentlest option and takes about 15 minutes, most of it soaking.
- Fill a bucket or basin with cool or lukewarm water, comfortable on your hand and never hot. Hot water is hard on elastic.
- Dissolve a small amount of mild liquid detergent before the stockings go in, roughly half a teaspoon per litre. Powder detergent can leave grains trapped in fine knit; a liquid made for delicates or woollens is ideal.
- Turn the stockings inside out and push them under the water. Soak for 5 to 10 minutes, not overnight.
- Swish and squeeze. Press the soapy water through the fabric with your palms, paying attention to the feet and the gusset. No brush, no rubbing the fabric against itself.
- Rinse twice in clean, cool water, or until no suds appear when you squeeze.
- Press, don't wring. Squeeze gently, lay the pair flat on a dry towel, roll the towel up and press down. Twisting stockings like a wet dupatta stretches the knit unevenly.
- Dry in the shade, flat on a rack or folded over a rod at the middle. Don't peg them by the toes or hang them by the waistband.
Can you wash stockings in a washing machine?
Yes, with protection. Front-loaders and top-loaders both work if you follow a few rules:
- Put each pair in its own mesh laundry bag, zipped shut.
- Choose the delicate, wool or hand-wash cycle, cold water and the lowest spin your machine allows.
- Wash with other light, soft items only. Keep stockings away from jeans, bras with hooks, anything with zips or Velcro, and heavy towels.
- Skip fabric softener and bleach. Softener leaves a coating on stretch fibres that can affect stretch and grip; bleach weakens them.
- Take them out as soon as the cycle ends. Left damp in the drum, they crease and start to smell.
| What to know | Hand wash | Machine wash |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Every pair, especially fleece-lined | Busy weeks, when you're washing several pairs |
| Water | Cool or lukewarm | Cold, delicate or wool cycle |
| Protection | Your hands, rings off | Mesh bag, one pair per bag |
| Removing water | Towel press | Lowest spin setting |
| Main risk | Very low | Snags from other clothes, stretch from spinning |
How to dry stockings without ruining the stretch
Drying does more damage than washing if you get it wrong. Strong sun fades colour and ages elastic, so dry stockings in the shade or indoors. Never put them in a tumble dryer, iron them, or leave them on a room heater, geyser pipe or hot balcony railing.
In the monsoon, dry them indoors under a ceiling fan with a window open; a regular pair laid flat usually dries overnight. Make sure the feet and gusset are completely dry before you fold them, as that's where a musty smell starts. Our guide to monsoon care for shapewear and stockings has more on drying in damp weather.
Caring for fleece linings and silicone grip bands
Fleece-lined winter stockings need a little extra care. Hand wash them, keep the water cool and make sure detergent is fully dissolved, because residue left in the fleece makes it feel stiff. Press out water firmly in a towel, then dry them inside out for part of the time so the lining airs properly. Expect them to take longer to dry than a thin pair, often a full day in a Delhi winter, so plan your rotation around it.
The silicone grip band on waist-high styles like our anti-scratch stretchable stockings works best when it's clean. Body oil, lotion and detergent build-up all reduce grip. While washing, rub the band gently between soapy fingertips, then rinse it well. Never dry the pair hanging from the band.
How to store stockings so they don't snag
- Fold each pair in half lengthwise, then roll it from the toe toward the waistband.
- Keep them in a cloth pouch or their own drawer section, away from jewellery, hooks, hair clips and Velcro.
- Check for small snags before storing. A tiny dab of clear nail polish at the end of a small run can stop it spreading further.
- Before packing winter pairs away in March, wash them, dry them completely and store them in a breathable cotton bag, not a sealed plastic one.
Cool water, mild liquid detergent, no wringing, shade drying and a pouch for storage: that's the whole routine, and it helps a pair keep its stretch for longer. For more on preventing damage while you're wearing them, read how to stop stockings from tearing, or browse the stockings collection when it's time for fresh pairs.
Frequently asked questions
Can I wash stockings with shampoo?
Yes, a small amount of mild shampoo works when you're travelling or out of delicate detergent. Rinse thoroughly so no residue stays in the knit or on the grip band.
Can you put stockings in a dryer?
No. Dryer heat weakens stretch yarns and can make the waistband lose its hold. Dry them flat or draped in the shade.
Why do my stockings smell even after washing?
Usually they dried too slowly in humid air, or were folded before the feet and gusset were fully dry. Rinse well, dry under a fan with good airflow and wear each pair only once between washes.
Should I use fabric softener on stockings?
It's best to skip it. Softener can leave a coating on stretch fibres and on the silicone grip band, which may affect how well they stretch and stay up.