CLOUDLINE SOCK CARE AND LAUNDRY INSTRUCTIONS

Every CloudLine sock is trail-tested and refined until it is worthy of our lifetime guarantee. Giving your socks the proper care will make sure you get the best performance with every wear. Below are the best ways to keep your socks fresh at home and on the trail.

Muddy trail runner wearing Cloudline socks sitting on bumper to take of shoes after run.

GET 'EM DIRTY

Your Cloudline socks are meant to get dirty, so you can attack muddy trails with ease. Merino wool naturally resists odor so your socks stay fresh longer between washings so you can go hard on multi-day trips with fewer pairs.

MACHINE WASHING MERINO WOOL SOCKS

We wash and preshrink every sock before it's packaged for a consistent comfy fit after every wash.

Cloudline socks in a laundry basket turned inside out and ready to go in the washing machine.

STEP ONE

TURN SOCKS INSIDE OUT

Merino wool and synthetic fibers can begin to pill due to abrasion in the wash, and turning the socks inside out prevents this. It's also a good idea to close any zippers and velcro closures to keep them from snagging your favorite socks.

Cloudline socks in Washing Machine.

STEP TWO

WASH ON COLD OR WARM

Cloudline socks can be washed with other laundry of like color. Never use Bleach and avoid using fabric softener. Merino wool is naturally incredibly soft, and fabric softener can inhibit your socks ability to wick moisture.

Cloudline socks in the dryer.

STEP THREE

TUMBLE DRY ON LOW HEAT

While we preshrink every socks during production, exposing your socks to high heat can still cause shrinking over many washes. Thanks to merino's quick drying fibers tumble drying on low to medium heat works great.

Quick drying merino also makes Cloudline socks easy to line-dry, a green alternative to the dryer.

WASHING SOCKS ON THE TRAIL

Cloudline merino wool socks naturally resist odors and usually won't need to be washed on weekend trips. If you're on a thru-hike or backpacking for several weeks you may want to use this method to wash your socks and clothing on the trail. 

THINGS YOU'LL NEED

  • Watertight Dry Bag: if you don't have a dry bag, improvise by reusing a ziplock or cooking pot.
  • Biodegradable Soap: we recommend Sea to Summit's Laundry Wash Leaves or a powdered detergent. Both are light-weight options that won't leak in your pack.
  • Water: pre-fill a large water bottle and your wash bag half full of water.

Important: always dispose of soapy or dirty water at least 200 yards from any water sources.

Hiker demonstrating how to wash socks on the trail with a dry sack.

Step One

THE WASH CYCLE

Add your socks, clothes, and soap to the water and seal the bag. Shake and agitate the bag for several minutes. Then let everything soak for 15 minutes and agitate again. Properly discard the dirty water at least 200 yards from water sources.

Hiker demonstrating how to rinse socks after washing using a dry bag.

Step Two

THE RINSE CYCLE

Refill your bag with clean water  from your water bottle and shake to rinse. Again, properly dispose of the dirty water at least 200 yards from water sources. Repeat if necessary.

Cloudline socks line drying in camp.

Step Three

LINE DRYING

Gently squeeze your wet socks and clothes to remove as much moisture as you can. Then hang them to dry. If drying near the campfire be sure to keep them far enough away from the heat so they don't shrink.

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