Whiten stained socks in 20 minutes with 3 natural items - not vinegar or baking soda
White socks can easily become grubby and yellow, but there is a better way to naturally clean them without common stain removers like vinegar or baking soda.
How to whiten and remove stubborn stains from white socks
White socks are often difficult to keep looking pristine as they can quickly become stained or yellowed in no time at all.
The fabric on white socks is more likely to become dirty compared to coloured socks as the dyed pigments can offer a protective layer, making them more resistant to stains.
Nancy Britwhistle, an eco-friendly expert best known for winning the Great British Bakeoff and her bestselling cleaning book has shared that white socks are also more likely to stain if not washed or can even become yellow over time.
She said: “Whites will yellow either through staining or not being washed separately, and I have even had old linens and cottons that have stained yellow although they were folded and stored away."
However, Nancy shared how you can whiten grubby socks once again without using bleach or any other harmful chemicals as all you need are a few cupboard staples.
How to whiten stained or yellowing socks
You will need:
- Three tablespoons of table salt
- Three tablespoons of citric acid
- 600ml of hot water
- A large bowl
- A sunny day
Citric acid crystals are the crystalline form of an organic acid found in citrus fruits such as lemons or oranges and are a natural cleaning agent which can break down stains.
Most stains are alkaline-based which means the citric acid can easily dissolve them and also has a natural bleaching effect which can lighten the fabric.
Make sure the yellowed or stained socks are clean before treating them, and then place them in a large bowl to soak them.
Add the citric acid, salt and 600ml of boiling hot water from the kettle, then stir with a wooden spoon until the salt and citric acid crystals dissolve.
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Submerge the socks and leave them to soak for around 20 minutes or until most of the liquid has been absorbed by the fabric.
Then, take the bowl outside and place the socks on a washing line so they can naturally dry in the sun, as ultraviolet light can naturally break down stains and cause them to fade which can lead to them becoming naturally bleached.
Salt will naturally draw out dirt in the fabric when dissolved in water and then can enhance the effectiveness of sunlight to help naturally whiten socks.
Socks will be bright and white once again without having to scrub at them or use any harsh chemical cleaners, plus this solution will work with other white clothes as well as white bedding.
Nancy said: “The results will be absolutely astounding. The yellowing completely bleaches out the cotton, linen and other robust natural fibres.
“In my case, my dried pillow protectors were crisp and white and returned to their former glory and no harmful chemicals were used. No chlorine bleach or biological washing detergents required!”
