Putting on support hose is easier when you turn them inside out first, then work them up your leg in small sections rather than pulling from the top. This technique prevents bunching, protects the fabric, and ensures even compression. Most people struggle because they try to slide the stockings on like regular socks, but the tight elastic makes that nearly impossible.
The Inside-Out Method
Sit on a sturdy chair or the edge of your bed with your feet flat on the floor. Hold the top of the stocking with one hand, then reach inside with your other hand and grab the heel pocket. Pull your hand back out through the stocking, turning it inside out down to the heel. You should now be holding what looks like a short foot-shaped pouch with the rest of the fabric neatly folded around it.
Slide your toes into the foot of the stocking as far as they’ll go. Center your heel into the heel pocket and pull the fabric snugly around it. This is the foundation for the whole process. If your heel is off-center, the stocking will twist as you pull it up and you’ll need to start over.
Now use both hands to grasp the folded fabric about 5 centimeters (roughly 2 inches) below the fold line. Pull that section up and over your ankle. From there, keep grasping the fabric about 5 centimeters below the fold and pulling up in short increments. Work it over your calf, smoothing as you go, until the stocking reaches its final position, whether that’s just below or above the knee. Run your hands over the entire stocking to smooth out any wrinkles or bunched areas.
Prepare Your Skin First
Your legs need to be completely dry before you put on support hose. Moisture makes the fabric cling and bunch instead of gliding smoothly. If you’ve just showered, pat your legs dry thoroughly. Avoid applying any lotion or cream to your legs before putting on the stockings. Moisturizers make the fabric nearly impossible to slide into position and can degrade the elastic over time. Instead, apply any moisturizer at night after you remove the stockings.
A light dusting of cornstarch or talcum powder on your legs can reduce friction and help the fabric slide more easily, especially in warm weather when your skin tends to be slightly damp.
Tools That Make It Easier
If you have limited hand strength, arthritis, or trouble bending, a few simple tools can help. Rubber-grippped donning gloves are the most popular option. They give you a textured surface to grip the fabric without pinching or pulling, and they protect the stocking from fingernails. These are widely available at medical supply stores.
For people who truly can’t reach their feet, metal or plastic donning frames hold the stocking open so you can step into it and pull it up using handles. Silk liner socks, worn underneath, let the compression fabric slide over your foot with much less resistance. You remove the liner through the open toe once the stocking is in place.
Why Wrinkles and Folding Matter
The most common mistake is leaving wrinkles in the fabric or folding down the top band when it feels too tight. Both create concentrated pressure points instead of the even, graduated compression the stocking is designed to deliver. A fold at the top essentially acts like a tourniquet, restricting blood flow in exactly the spot where circulation should be moving freely. In older adults or people with fragile skin, uneven pressure from bunched fabric can actually break down the skin and cause ulcers. Take the extra 30 seconds to smooth out every wrinkle, and if the top band feels uncomfortably tight, you likely need a different size rather than a fold-down fix.
Getting the Right Size
Support hose only work properly if they fit. Stockings that are too tight can cause numbness, skin damage, or nerve compression, particularly around the bony bump just below the outside of your knee. Stockings that are too loose won’t provide meaningful compression.
Measure your legs first thing in the morning before any swelling develops. You’ll need three measurements: the circumference of your ankle at its narrowest point, the widest part of your calf, and (for thigh-high stockings) the widest part of your thigh. Compare these numbers to the sizing chart for the specific brand you’re buying, since sizes vary between manufacturers.
Choosing a Compression Level
Support hose come in different pressure levels measured in millimeters of mercury (mmHg). The number tells you how firmly the stocking squeezes your leg.
- 10 to 15 mmHg (light): Effective for preventing minor leg swelling during long periods of sitting or standing. This is often enough for everyday tiredness and achiness in the legs.
- 15 to 20 mmHg (moderate): Significantly reduces swelling from occupational standing or sitting. A good choice for travel, mild varicose veins, or pregnancy-related leg discomfort.
- 20 to 30 mmHg (firm): Typically prescribed for moderate varicose veins, after blood clots, or following vein procedures. Research shows this level is especially effective for people who sit most of the workday.
Higher levels exist (30 to 40 mmHg and above) but are generally prescribed and fitted by a healthcare provider. For most people buying support hose over the counter, 15 to 20 mmHg handles the job.
When Support Hose Are Not Safe
Compression stockings are not appropriate for everyone. People with significant peripheral artery disease, where blood flow to the legs is already restricted, risk serious complications including skin breakdown and tissue death. Severe heart failure is another contraindication, as the added pressure pushes fluid back toward an already overtaxed heart. Advanced diabetic neuropathy, where you’ve lost sensation in your feet and lower legs, is also dangerous because you can’t feel if the stockings are causing damage. If you have any of these conditions, get clearance before using compression of any level.
Even without these conditions, watch for warning signs after you put on your stockings: numbness, tingling, increased pain, skin color changes, or new skin irritation. Any of these mean you should remove the stockings and reassess the fit.
Washing and Replacing Your Stockings
The elastic fibers that create compression break down with wear, body oils, and sweat. Washing your stockings daily is ideal, but every two days is the minimum. Use a mild detergent or even dish soap. Never use fabric softener or bleach, both of which destroy the elastic. Hand washing is gentlest, but a machine on the delicate cycle works too.
After washing, lay the stockings on a towel and roll gently to squeeze out excess water. Hang them loosely to air dry or lay them flat over a vent. Never put them in the dryer or use any direct heat source. Even with perfect care, support hose lose their compression over time. Plan to replace them every 3 to 6 months, or sooner if they start sliding down or feel noticeably looser than when new.