Medity Health

May 8th, 2025

Whether you just got a pair of compression stockings or have been using them for years, taking care of your compression garments is of the utmost importance. Not only do you have to keep your socks clean, but you also have to ensure they're keeping their elasticity to get the therapy that you need.

In this article, we'll be walking you through how to wash your garments along with a few tips on how to best care for them.

Although you can wash compression stockings by hand, we typically recommend that you machine wash stockings since it's a much easier process. Here's what you need to do to machine wash your garments:

1. If there are any dirt spots (particularly in the silicone bands), hand wash these areas first
2. Set your washing machine to either a cold or warm cycle, depending on the manufacturer's instructions (if you're not sure, just reach out!)
3. Place the socks in the washer and add a mild soap or detergent
4. After the wash completes, remove the socks and gently squeeze or press any excess water from them
5. Either dry them by laying them flat in a dry location away from excessive heat or tumble dry the garments in the dryer if the care instructions for the garment allows for it

Wash your compression garment daily to maintain size, shape, and therapeutic effectiveness. When washing your garment, we recommend using a gentle cycle and warm water.

If washing by hand, fill a small bucket of water with a mild detergent and let the garment soak for a few minutes. Gently rub the fibers of the garment and rinse away the detergent.

Make sure you use a mild detergent when washing your compression garments. We typically recommend using a laundry detergent which is designed for compression garments, but any mild detergent will work.

Most importantly, stay away from whiteners, brighteners, or softeners when cleaning your garments. These can damage the fibers in your garment, preventing you from getting the compression you need and potentially causing irreparable damage to it.

To avoid snags or fabric pulls in the washing machine, we recommend washing your garments in a laundry bag. You can simply put your garments in the laundry bag prior to washing and then put the laundry bag in the wash like you would your regular clothing.

If you're going to use a machine dryer, set it to a gentle cycle and low heat because excessive heat exposure can weaken or damage the elastic fibers in the garment.

If you air dry your garments, you should avoid pulling, stretching, or wringing out the residual water from the garment. Gently squeeze out excess water and roll the garment in a dry towel to remove as much water as possible. Do not dry your garments in the sun or on a heater.

To give you time to wash your garments in between washes, we recommend having at least two sets of garments, so you can wash one and wear one. Not only does it help give you time to wash your garments, having multiple sets allows your garments to have time to relax and regain their shape between wears.

Now that we've gone through some of our top tips, we also wanted to cover a few things that you should avoid when taking care of your compression garments.

1. Avoid wringing out the compression garment since this can damage the stocking
2. Avoid pulling on or stretching the socks during the washing process since this can affect how they fit
3. Avoid placing them near excessive heat since this can damage the elastic and hurt the therapy that the socks provide

Overall, taking care of your compression garments is an important step in ensuring they maintain their effectiveness for a long time. Following the guidelines above will give you a great start to taking care of your garments and maximizing your compression therapy!

If you have any questions about how to take care of your garments, you can reach out to us at support@medityhealth.com or give us a call at (866) 945-4766.

We'll be more than happy to assist you in any way that we can!

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