Horrified at results of one wash! (pic attached)

[IsabelleSE19]

Bought DD some new socks at Next on Saturday - on Sunday she decided to wear odd socks, so one of the new ones but not the other of the pair. Having washed one today and gone to put it back with its brand new unwashed pair, I was shocked to see the difference in colour and size. It was washed in Sainsburys non-bio powder and Sainsburys fabric softener, then tumble-dried.

Is this just one of these things, or should I take them back, or should I be using a different detergent or not tumble-drying?! Advice welcome!

I didn't think you could tumble dry socks as they shrink

I didn't know that! That would explain the size change - could that have faded the colour as well?

I learned this lesson the hard way! You don’t tumble dry socks havent you noticed all your other socks shrinking?

It’s not like socks are particularly size - specific - does it matter?

I think that’s drying. I try really hard not to tumble any of the following until I think they are edging towards the end of their lifespan anyway, then I go for it:
School/cotton rich tights, socks, leggings, t shirts, pyjamas, bras, jeggings with stretch, school sweatshirts/jersey cardigans, hoodies.

Things I do tumble are sheets and towels, non-stretch jeans, cotton shirts and school skirts/trousers/pinafores.

I think it’s the fabrics with the lyrca/elastic element which don’t survive the heat of the dryer well, or jersey fabrics. They seem to loose their shape so easily.

Yikes! We tumble dry all socks (usually Sainsbury's, Primark, sports direct cheapies) and have never experienced any noticeable shrinkage.
Are we just lucky? or is our dryer crap

I always tumble dry socks!

This will be why all the socks in my house have shrunk

The difference in size is definitely the tumble dryer.

The difference in colour is you not separating your colours! In order to keep the colour your washes need to be similar colours. I usually do white, light coloured (that would be your socks) and dark coloured.

We always tumblr dry socks and this hasn't happened to any of ours?

One lot of DH's socks shrunk so they don't go in any more, but all the others have been okay. I don't put tights or bras in but pretty much everything else unless the label says not to.

I don't separate darks from colours - maybe that's what's done it.

I don't tumble dry socks. Nor do I tumble DH's pants because he claims that they shrank too!

I tumble socks all the time. They do look smaller when they come out but they stretch to fit once they are on.

I can tell if something will shrink in the dryer so buy a little larger. After they've been dried, shrinkage is minimal.

There isn't much that doesn't end up in the tumble dryer in the winter. My leggings come to mind. I hang those near a radiator while everything else is drying.

I often buy socks bigger so i can tumble dry them

Ahhh now I know why some of socks shrink. Not sure I’ll change though - then have to hang them out.

Life is too short not to tumble dry socks.
Yes they shrink a little but the size range on them is usually sufficient to stretch back.
I tumble dry most things although proper wool is a big no, even on the wool setting.
Sportswear, underwear and collared shirts also gets hung up.

I was thinking about buying a tumbler dryer, quick change of mind now.
I'll carry on with my ancient clothes horse.

I don't tumble dry socks for this reason.

However I once returned some PJs to Next because despite having been washed at the right temp and not tumble dried they were lots smaller than the other unworn pairs in the pack, so I'd say they have form for shrinkage!

Of course socks can be tumble dried: you just put them in a bag. I wash tights / stockings in the washing machine too!

Our socks shrink in the dryer too so now I always buy a size bigger than needed.

Def need to separate colours + darks. Orange/yellow is a bugger for this ime.

Don't use non-bio unless you have to. It tends to fade clothes.

Of course socks can be tumble dried: you just put them in a bag.

Does that stop them shrinking?!

I find that next children’s items do shrink pretty bad 😬 and not always the quality you’d expect. My son has had boxers and socks that have shrunk significantly after one wash. Other brands don’t seem as mad surprisingly! I’ve also recently had socks from next and they were ruined, shrunk, got all thin and ropey after a few weeks.

I’ve read that you shouldn’t tumble socks but the amount of socks I we go through I dry them all in the dryer.