We’ve all been there – your trusty pair of grip socks that help you maintain traction on the field just don’t seem as grippy as they used to. The grip dots on the bottom of your socks seem to have lost their stickiness and you find yourself sliding around on the grass.
Don’t despair! With a few simple tricks, you can restore the stickiness to your grip socks and get your game back on track.
Let’s get started.
How To Make Your Grip Socks Sticky Again?
Fortunately, restoring grip to your socks again is easy. Here are simple, homemade solutions to make your grip socks sticky again:
1. Wash With Baking Soda
Baking soda is mildly abrasive and will help remove the dirt and oil buildup from the sock dots. Add 1⁄4 cup of baking soda to your regular detergent and wash the socks in cold water on a gentle cycle.
Avoid using fabric softener – it leaves a coating that reduces grip.
Air dry the socks instead of machine drying them. The heat from the dryer can damage the adhesive on the dots. Once fully dry, your socks should feel sticky again.
2. Spot Clean With Rubbing Alcohol
For socks that need just a little extra grip, try this quick spot-cleaning trick. Dip a cotton ball in some rubbing alcohol and gently rub it over the bottom dots on the socks.
The alcohol will dissolve the oils and dirt, restoring friction. Rinse the socks well in cold water afterwards to remove any residue. Lay flat to dry.
3. Apply New Adhesive Dots
If your socks have reached the point where the original grip dots are entirely worn out, apply new adhesive traction dots. You can find grip dot replacements at some shoe repair shops or online.
Simply peel and stick the adhesive dots over the old ones according to the placement on the socks. Choose dots made of silicone or rubber for the best non-slip effect.
With new traction dots, your socks will feel like new again.
4. Pro Tip: Replace Your Grip Socks Annually
To maximize the life of your grip socks and avoid losing stickiness quickly, replace them about once a year. That’s usually the average lifespan of grip sock adhesives with regular use.
Rotate between multiple pairs so you aren’t wearing the same socks every game. Always wash them properly by turning them inside out, washing them in cold water and line drying them.
Why Do Grip Socks Lose Their Stickiness?
Grip socks have small silicone or rubber dots on the bottom that help create friction between your feet and the playing surface. Over time, these grip dots accumulate dirt, oil, and debris from the field.
The buildup starts minimizing the traction and stickiness of the socks.
Additionally, with repeated use and washing, the adhesive on the dots can start to wear out. Both these factors lead to clean-looking but slippery socks.
==>>Related article: How to wash grip socks?
Final Thoughts
Don’t let slippery, worn-out grip socks sabotage your plays and moves. With these handy tricks, you can easily regain traction and stick to the field again.
Remember to wash regularly, spot clean as needed, and replace the adhesive dots once they are too far gone. Your socks will be back to gripping and allowing you to cut, pivot and sprint like normal.
We hope these tips help restore the grip on your socks and get your soccer game back on track. If you have any other tricks for revitalizing grippy socks, please share in the comments below! We’d love to hear your solutions.
You should also read my article about the best sport grip socks here.
