I use powdered laundry detergent from Sam’s Club. I get a bucket of it every once in a while. Lasts a long time.
I add Chlorox liquid color-safe bleach and Downey fabric softener in the final rinse - most washers these days have automatic final rinse additions.
By the time the spin cycle is over they’re usually cowed into submission.
Best wishes getting your corralled and trained.
Thank you for the help! Mama says she’s gonna retrain me in getting socks under control. Being Mama is always right I may be able to quit going out in the backyard and digging holes to bury those single found socks after washing. With all the tips have received today; may never have to dig another sock hole. That will be good. The squirrels will be less confused. Them critters were digging up the socks and when they didn’t find a pair, the squirrels would leave the socks on top of the ground and Papa would make me go bury the socks twice, sometimes eight or twelve times before would get the socks deep enough in the ground where the squirrels would not dig them back up. I think the dog is helping to dig them up. I haven’t caught the dog yet. Have the cat watching the dog though and I’ll report back if the cat seeing anything.