How to Wash Compression Stockings by Hand? | Care Steps That Keep Them Working

One hot-water wash or one run through the dryer can shrink the elastic fibers enough that a stocking stops doing its job — expensive if your doctor prescribed a specific compression level. Hand-washing takes about five minutes and protects the most important part of the garment. Some makers allow machine washing on a gentle cycle in a mesh bag, so check the label first.

What Water Temperature And Detergent Should You Use?

Use lukewarm water and a mild liquid detergent — medi’s guidance for compression garments and Sigvaris’s cleaning guide both set water at roughly 30°C to 40°C, and both warn against harsh detergents, bleach, and fabric softener.

Fill a sink or basin with lukewarm water and add a small amount of mild detergent. Swish the water so the detergent distributes before you put the stockings in, because dumping detergent directly onto the fabric can leave concentrated spots. Bathroom-temperature water is a safe default when you don’t have a thermometer.

If your water comes out of the tap too hot to hold your hand in comfortably, it’s too hot for the stockings. Fabric softener is the biggest hidden risk: it coats the elastic fibers and, over time, reduces the compression the stocking was engineered to deliver. Skip it entirely.

Step-By-Step: How To Wash Compression Stockings by Hand

Turn the stockings inside out, submerge them in the lukewarm water, and wash gently for about a minute — no scrubbing, no twisting, no wringing.

1. Turn the stockings inside out. Some manufacturers recommend this to protect the outer fabric and any decorative details.
2. Fill a basin with lukewarm water and add a small amount of mild detergent.
3. Submerge the stockings and press them down with your hands so the water soaks through.
4. Squeeze gently through the fabric a few times — no rubbing, no twisting.
5. Drain the basin and refill with clean lukewarm water. Rinse until the water runs clear and no suds remain.
6. Lay the stockings flat on a clean towel and roll the towel up, pressing lightly to pull out excess water.
7. Lay them flat or hang them to air-dry in a shaded, ventilated spot.

Once the stockings are hanging and no longer dripping, you’re finished — they should feel soft and smooth, with no soapy slickness when you rub the fabric between your fingers. If they still feel slick, rinse once more.

The towel-roll method moves water out without the stress that wringing puts on elastic fibers. Squeezing water out with your hands works too — just do it without twisting. If you want to match your detergent to the fabric rather than guess, this roundup of detergents tested on compression stockings covers which formulas stay mild enough for elastic fibers.

How Often Should You Wash Compression Stockings?

Wash them after every wear — daily for most people. Skin oils, sweat, and lotion residue break down elastic fibers over time, and clean stockings hold their compression far better than ones worn for a week straight. Daily washing also matters for skin health, since compression garments sit tight against the leg for hours.

If you wear yours every day, buy two pairs and rotate them so one can dry fully while you wear the other — that habit extends the usable life of both pairs more than any single care trick. Sigvaris’s cleaning guide, the NHS compression hosiery guidance from Royal Devon, and medi’s compression garment care FAQ all point to the same routine: regular gentle washing, thorough rinsing, air drying.

What You Should Never Do To Compression Stockings

Never wring, twist, bleach, iron, dry clean, or tumble dry compression stockings — and never dry them on a radiator, heater, or in direct sun. Per the manufacturer guidance, each damages the elastic fibers that create the compression. Non-obvious things to watch:

• Fabric softener — it coats elastic fibers and reduces compression.
• Bleach and harsh detergents — they degrade the fabric over repeated washes.
• Washing machine cycles with heat or agitation, unless the label explicitly allows a gentle machine wash in a mesh bag.
• Lotions and ointments on silicone top bands — they can degrade the silicone. Apply skin care, let it absorb, then put the stockings on.
• Drying in direct sunlight or near a heat source — start looking here if your stockings keep losing their grip.

When in doubt, the garment label and the brand’s own instruction sheet override every general rule, because care recommendations vary by manufacturer, model, and textile construction.