Compression garments are medical devices, and how you wash and handle them determines how long they keep working. The elastic fibers that create graduated compression break down with body oils, heat, and harsh detergents, which means a garment can look perfectly intact while delivering noticeably less compression than it did when new.

The routine is simple: wash after every wear, use gentle detergent, skip the heat, and replace on schedule.

Washing

• Wash after every wear - body oils, lotions, and skin residue degrade elastic fibers. This is the single most important habit.
• Use lukewarm water - hot water damages elastic. Lukewarm or cool is right.
• Use a gentle detergent - a mild detergent made for delicates, or a detergent formulated for compression garments. Avoid bleach, fabric softener, and anything with optical brighteners.
• Hand wash or machine wash gentle - if machine washing, use a mesh laundry bag on a delicate cycle to protect the knit from snagging.
• Do not wring or twist - press the water out gently, or roll the garment in a towel.

Drying

• Air dry - lay flat or hang away from direct heat and sunlight.
• No tumble dryer - heat is the fastest way to destroy calibrated compression. If a garment says it can be tumble dried, use the lowest heat setting available.
• No radiators or hair dryers - direct heat damages elastic fibers in the same way.

Most garments dry overnight. If you wear compression daily, having two pairs to alternate makes this straightforward and extends the life of both.

Silicone top bands

Thigh highs with a silicone band need the band kept clean to hold properly. Wipe it with a damp cloth and let it dry fully. Do not apply lotion, oil, or powder to the skin where the band sits, which is what usually causes a band to slip. If the band has stopped gripping, cleaning it will often restore it.

Putting them on

• Apply in the morning - before swelling accumulates, ideally before getting out of bed.
• Start with dry skin and dry garments - damp skin makes application much harder.
• Turn the garment inside out to the heel - position the heel, then roll the garment up the leg rather than pulling from the top.
• Smooth as you go - do not let the fabric bunch or fold, since folds create pressure points.
• Use a donning aid for firmer compression - 20-30 mmHg and above are considerably easier to apply with the right tool, and an aid also protects the garment from fingernail damage.
• Consider grip gloves - they give purchase on the fabric without snagging it.

Nails, jewelry, and snags

Rings, long or rough fingernails, and rough heel skin are the most common causes of runs and snags. File nails smooth, remove rings before application, and keep heels moisturized at night, not in the morning before you put the garment on.

When to replace

Compression garments lose calibrated pressure through normal use. Replace them every three to six months with daily wear, or sooner if you notice any of the following.

• The garment goes on too easily - the clearest sign the elastic has relaxed.
• It slides down or bunches - where it previously stayed in place.
• Symptoms return - swelling, aching, or heaviness that the garment used to control.
• Visible thinning, runs, or holes - a damaged knit no longer distributes pressure evenly.

If a clinician has prescribed a wear and replacement schedule, follow theirs. And if you experience numbness, tingling, increasing pain, or any change in skin color or condition, stop wearing the garment and contact a healthcare professional.