Like most clothing items, socks are likely to fade over time. Although they may seem like a small part of your wardrobe, faded socks will make your appearance look unprofessional. If you want to extend the life of your socks so that you keep your look polished, practice some helpful strategies that will prevent your socks from fading. Although you may not be able to stop the fading process indefinitely, you will be able to slow it down considerably.

Turn your socks inside out before you wash them.

Wash your socks on your washer's gentle cycle or clean them by hand. Use a mild laundry detergent. An alternative to laundry detergent is to add a cup of white vinegar to your wash. The vinegar will clean and deodorize your socks gently. It also helps set clothing dye.

Dry your socks on your dryer's low setting. If you hang your socks to dry, avoid exposing them to direct sunlight for extended periods of time. Sunlight will fade the colors.

Wash your socks only when necessary. If you wear them for a very short time without getting them dirty or sweaty, simply air them out and place them back in the drawer. Don't store them if they smell, however.