Why you should not wear the same pair of socks more than once

It might seem harmless to slip on yesterday’s socks, especially if they don’t look dirty, but re-wearing the same pair can lead to more than just bad odour.

From trapping bacteria and sweat to increasing the risk of infections and skin irritation, dirty socks can quietly harm your feet.

According to research done by Primrose Freestone, who is a senior lecturer in clinical microbiology at the University of Leicester, she reveals that our feet are home to a microscopic rainforest of bacteria and fungi, typically containing up to 1,000 different bacterial and fungal species.

“The foot also has a more diverse range of fungi living on it than any other region of the human body,” she explains.

Cutting down the smell

To cut down on smelly feet and reduce the number of bacteria growing on your feet and in your socks, it’s a good idea to avoid wearing socks or shoes that make the feet sweat.

“Washing your feet twice daily may help reduce foot odour by inhibiting bacterial growth.  Foot antiperspirants can also help, as these stop the sweat, thereby inhibiting bacterial growth,” she adds.

Meanwhile, it’s also possible to buy socks that are directly antimicrobial to the foot bacteria.  Antimicrobial socks, which contain heavy metals such as silver or zinc, can kill the bacteria that cause foot odour.

In addition, she reveals that antimicrobial socks might therefore be exempt from the single-use rule depending on their capacity to kill bacteria and fungi and prevent sweat accumulation.

But for those who wear socks that are made out of cotton, wool, or synthetic fibres, it’s best to only wear them once to prevent smelly feet and avoid foot infections.

It’s also important to make sure you’re washing your socks properly between uses. If your feet aren’t unusually smelly, it’s fine to wash them in warm water that’s between 30 and 40°C with a mild detergent.

Enzyme-containing detergent

However, not all bacteria and fungi will be killed using this method. So to thoroughly sanitise socks, use an enzyme-containing detergent and wash at a temperature of 60°C. The enzymes help to detach microbes from the socks, while the high temperature kills them.

She further explains that if a low-temperature wash is unavoidable, then ironing the socks with a hot steam iron is more than enough to kill any residual bacteria and inactivate the spores of any fungi, including the one that causes athlete’s foot.

Drying the socks outdoors is also a good idea, as the UV radiation in sunlight is antimicrobial to most sock bacteria and fungi.

While socks might be a commonly re-worn clothing item, as a microbiologist, she maintains that it is best to change your socks daily to

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