# Why are my socks absorbing most of the laundry detergent perfume? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 14, 2015, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-my-socks-absorbing-most-of-the-laundry-detergent-perfume/717672 "2015-04-14T18:14:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2015, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-my-socks-absorbing-most-of-the-laundry-detergent-perfume/717672/1 "2015-04-14T18:14:41Z")
I’ve noticed lately that my socks smell _very_ strongly of the laundry detergent, and the rest of my clothes almost not at all. Any ideas why the laundry detergent perfume seems to be concentrating in my socks? It may have started with me buying the latest jug of detergent, with I _believe_ is Tide. Usually I go for the cheapest store brands. I might also have started with me getting a new laundry machine recently. Perhaps it does not rinse as much as the previous machine, and for some reason my socks need more rinsing than the rest of my clothes. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2015, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-my-socks-absorbing-most-of-the-laundry-detergent-perfume/717672/2 "2015-04-14T18:43:34Z")
Are they built to be especially absorbent? If so, they’re doing a great job. ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2015, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-my-socks-absorbing-most-of-the-laundry-detergent-perfume/717672/3 "2015-04-14T19:18:09Z")
Exactly what kind of socks are you talking about? ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2015, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-my-socks-absorbing-most-of-the-laundry-detergent-perfume/717672/4 "2015-04-14T19:35:34Z")
they stink the most so they know they need it the most. smart socks. they might have more fuzz then other clothes and so hold more stink (the perfume kind) in a smaller space. the material they are make of might hold the stink (the perfume kind) tighter than other clothes. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2015, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-my-socks-absorbing-most-of-the-laundry-detergent-perfume/717672/5 "2015-04-14T20:01:46Z")
Marxist socks? ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2015, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-my-socks-absorbing-most-of-the-laundry-detergent-perfume/717672/6 "2015-04-15T00:31:56Z")
Do you start the wash, put in detergent and then put in your clothes? Or do you put in your clothes before the detergent? Maybe you are pouring detergent directly on your socks? ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2015, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-my-socks-absorbing-most-of-the-laundry-detergent-perfume/717672/7 "2015-04-15T00:39:34Z")
what material are your socks made of? ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2015, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-my-socks-absorbing-most-of-the-laundry-detergent-perfume/717672/8 "2015-04-15T14:32:04Z")
I can’t tell what precisely they are made from. They are cheap black socks with gold ring on the toes. They aren’t silk or silk-like. Likely cotton, I guess.