I have heard of a lot of people using the washing machine but have not built up the courage to try it myself. Everyone usually is paranoid with getting foreign additives in their tank and I do not see how a washing machine would leave no soap like residue on the sock.
I ave never used washing machine but use vinigar not bleach. the Bleach whitens the chlorophyll, vinegar wont make the sock white again but brakes down the of stuff clogging the filter.
I always used the washing machine and had my wife complain too!! So I try to wash it when she is gone but then I still forget to get it out and she finds it.