### Author:  [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)
#### Post date: [April 24, 2007, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/socks-a-n-opinion-solicited/401511/1 "2007-04-24T21:19:51Z")
I just bought 2 plastic bags full of socks in bulk from k-mart.
Do I wear em first, or wash em first, then wear em?
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### Author:  [@Lord\_Il\_Palazzo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Il_Palazzo)
#### Post date: [April 24, 2007, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/socks-a-n-opinion-solicited/401511/2 "2007-04-24T21:23:17Z")
They came in sealed plastic bags. What’s the need to wash them first? Just go ahead and wear them.
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### Author:  [@FatBaldGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FatBaldGuy)
#### Post date: [April 24, 2007, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/socks-a-n-opinion-solicited/401511/3 "2007-04-24T21:23:36Z")
**Bosda** , don’t you know we’re not allowed to talk about socks on this board?
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### Author:  [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)
#### Post date: [April 24, 2007, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/socks-a-n-opinion-solicited/401511/4 "2007-04-24T21:24:03Z")
Yes. 😃
1. Wash and wear one bag.
2. Wear and wash the other bag.
3. Report your findings here.
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### Author:  [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)
#### Post date: [April 24, 2007, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/socks-a-n-opinion-solicited/401511/5 "2007-04-24T21:28:27Z")
[QUOTE=Duckster]
Yes. 😃
1. Wash and wear one bag.
2. Wear and wash the other bag.
3. Report your findings here.
[/QUOTE]
\
I need a _better_ answer, Duck-Entity. :dubious:
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### Author:  [@Pleonast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pleonast)
#### Post date: [April 24, 2007, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/socks-a-n-opinion-solicited/401511/6 "2007-04-24T21:32:01Z")
[QUOTE=Duckster]
Yes. 😃
1. Wash and wear one bag.
2. Wear and wash the other bag.
3. Report your findings here.
[/QUOTE]
For a proper blind study, someone else needs to wash one bag, but not the other (the control bag). They should give you a random pair each day for you to wear. Keep notes on how the socks performed. At the end of the study, when all socks have been worn, your collaborator should reveal to you which bag each pair came from and the washing status.
Then report back to us. If you can make a hypothesis and defend it well, we may grant you a degree Straight Dope Sockology.
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### Author:  [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)
#### Post date: [April 24, 2007, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/socks-a-n-opinion-solicited/401511/7 "2007-04-24T21:33:32Z")
I prefer to wear them right out of the bag. The cushiness diminishes after the first washing.
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### Author:  [@Cowboy8467](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cowboy8467)
#### Post date: [April 24, 2007, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/socks-a-n-opinion-solicited/401511/8 "2007-04-24T21:44:55Z")
Indeed. There is nothing quite like a fresh out of the bag sock 😛
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### Author:  [@Bobotheoptimist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bobotheoptimist)
#### Post date: [April 24, 2007, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/socks-a-n-opinion-solicited/401511/9 "2007-04-24T21:50:32Z")
Wash one sock from each pair, wear on alternating feet.
Seriously tho - straight from the bag is the way to go.
Mmmm, fresh socks.
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### Author:  [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)
#### Post date: [April 24, 2007, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/socks-a-n-opinion-solicited/401511/10 "2007-04-24T22:25:07Z")
[QUOTE=Pleonast]
For a proper blind study, someone else needs to wash one bag, but not the other (the control bag). They should give you a random pair each day for you to wear. Keep notes on how the socks performed. At the end of the study, when all socks have been worn, your collaborator should reveal to you which bag each pair came from and the washing status.
Then report back to us. If you can make a hypothesis and defend it well, we may grant you a degree Straight Dope Sockology.
[/QUOTE]
Don’t let my Pop see this. He buys a certain number of pairs of socks and ensures that they all get washed the exact same number of times. He lost one sock out of the bunch and had to give all the remaining ones to Mom because he couldn’t live with them anymore. He also has a system for making sure his underwear all gets washed the same number of times, to insure that it all wears out at exactly the same pace.
Yes, he’s retired and slightly nuts.
To answer the OP, I always wear stuff immediately and wash it when it’s dirty.
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### Author:  [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)
#### Post date: [April 24, 2007, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/socks-a-n-opinion-solicited/401511/11 "2007-04-24T22:40:34Z")
It’s fine to wear them before washing. However, many socks will shed some fiber when new, which will get all over your feet (doesn’t hurt anything, just looks strange). Washing them first will minimize this.
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### Author:  [@BoBettie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BoBettie)
#### Post date: [April 24, 2007, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/socks-a-n-opinion-solicited/401511/12 "2007-04-24T23:40:36Z")
Wow, is this the first time you’ve ever bought socks? If not, what did you do in the past? Did it work out or did your feet fall off from your decision?
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### Author:  [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)
#### Post date: [April 24, 2007, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/socks-a-n-opinion-solicited/401511/13 "2007-04-24T23:44:18Z")
Yes, fresh sock cushiness is wonderful. Don’t wash 'em first. And wear them inside out - they’re much more comfortable that way.
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### Author:  [@Waverly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Waverly)
#### Post date: [April 25, 2007, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/socks-a-n-opinion-solicited/401511/14 "2007-04-25T01:26:08Z")
Do what you want, but I’m going to interrupt this silly thread with some rather serious advice. You do not know what kind of detergent, sizing, dyes, or bleaches were used during manufacture and you do not know how well they rinsed out. I don’t think anyone has given half a fuckall to the lack of control there is on amounts of chemicals remaining on new clothes. Want to try something fun? Ask a manufacturer what EH&S control they have for their overseas contract manufacturers and see if you get a response back from a corporate attorney. I have.
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### Author:  [@Sapo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sapo)
#### Post date: [April 25, 2007, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/socks-a-n-opinion-solicited/401511/15 "2007-04-25T02:22:39Z")
Wash everything before wearing it. Maybe Joe from loom 7 was sick that day and wiped his nose on your new socks. No really. New clothes just stink to high heavens of all kinds of chemicals. Wash
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### Author:  [@Green\_Cymbeline](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Cymbeline)
#### Post date: [April 25, 2007, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/socks-a-n-opinion-solicited/401511/16 "2007-04-25T03:55:28Z")
I never ever wear clothes before washing them. For something like socks that come in a sealed bag, they usually have that chemical/factory smell, and are kind of stiff/crusty. They need a nice wash and dry to soften them up.
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### Author:  [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)
#### Post date: [April 25, 2007, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/socks-a-n-opinion-solicited/401511/17 "2007-04-25T04:00:40Z")
[QUOTE=Bosda Di’Chi of Tricor]
\
I need a _better_ answer, Duck-Entity. :dubious:
[/QUOTE]
The correct term is THWAP!
And your momma wears army boots!
\<\\>
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### Author:  [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)
#### Post date: [April 25, 2007, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/socks-a-n-opinion-solicited/401511/18 "2007-04-25T04:08:45Z")
Wash. Then wear. Then shoes.
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### Author:  [@Lunar\_Saltlick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lunar_Saltlick)
#### Post date: [April 25, 2007, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/socks-a-n-opinion-solicited/401511/19 "2007-04-25T13:45:24Z")
Throw away the socks. Wear the plastic bags.
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### Author:  [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)
#### Post date: [April 25, 2007, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/socks-a-n-opinion-solicited/401511/20 "2007-04-25T19:55:04Z")
[QUOTE=Lunar Saltlick]
Throw away the socks. Wear the plastic bags.
[/QUOTE]
Okay, this is making me giggle.
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