How to wash your horse riding socks

Your riding socks put in plenty of work, from days in the saddle to jobs around the yard. A little care at wash time helps you keep them ready for the next outing.

This guide covers our regular riding socks and the cotton Free Rein Shorty collection. The fabrics differ, but both current labels carry the same washing instructions. Always check the label on your own pair.

The washing instructions at a glance

• Wash at a maximum of 40°C on a very gentle cycle.
• Do not bleach.
• Do not tumble dry.
• Do not iron.
• Do not dry clean.

The temperature is only one part of the washing instructions. The two bars beneath the wash symbol also matter: they indicate a very gentle washing process. Choose a suitable delicate setting rather than a standard, vigorous cotton programme.

The small jobs before washing

Loose mud, bits of bedding and grit often come home with riding kit. Removing them before washing keeps those extra passengers out of the machine. Pairing the socks at the same time can save the familiar hunt for the missing one afterwards.

Washing with similar colours is a useful starting point. Turning socks inside out and using a mesh laundry bag are optional ways to reduce rubbing against other items and help keep pairs together. Open hook-and-loop fastenings and other items that could catch the knit are worth keeping separate.

A gentle cycle matters as well as temperature

Both labels specify a very gentle cycle at no more than 40°C, with bleach-free detergent used according to its dosing instructions. Stain removers need the same label check: the label says not to bleach, including oxygen bleach.

An overloaded drum leaves the socks less room to move. If there is stubborn dirt, follow the detergent manufacturer's guidance and the sock's care label rather than increasing the temperature or choosing a harsher cycle.

Air drying, without the tumble dryer

The crossed-out tumble-drying symbol applies even to a low-heat setting. Air drying on a rack is the alternative. Gently easing the socks back into shape is enough; twisting or pulling hard on the cuffs adds strain that they do not need.

There is no need to iron them. Once fully dry, they are ready to be paired up and put away for the next ride.

What the care symbols mean

The wash tub tells you the maximum temperature and the type of wash. The crossed-out triangle means no bleach; the crossed-out square containing a circle means no tumble drying. The crossed-out iron and circle mean no ironing and no dry cleaning.

Two fabric types, the same care routine

Free Rein Shorty cotton socks: 80% cotton and 20% elastane.

Our regular riding socks: the leg is 95% polyamide and 5% elastane. The foot is 60% Coolmax®, 35% polyamide and 5% elastane.

The leg and foot of our regular socks have different compositions, so there is no single fibre percentage for the whole sock on this label. Follow the care instructions for the complete pair: both labels specify a very gentle wash at up to 40°C, with no bleach, tumble drying, ironing or dry cleaning.

A quick reminder for laundry day

Very gentle wash, maximum 40°C, then air dry. No bleach, tumble drying, ironing or dry cleaning. Always let the label on your pair have the final say.

The GINETEX care-symbol guide explains the symbols. Our Free Rein Shorty collection and sock finder have the product information when it is time to choose another pair.