Restore stained white socks with effective natural ingredient - not vinegar or baking soda
White socks can quickly develop stains that will not wash away, but there is a natural laundry method to restore them using a cheap ingredient you likely have in your kitchen cupboard.
It can be frustrating taking laundry out of the washing machine only to discover that your socks are still dirty, but there is a simple cleaning solution to get them sparkling white again.
White socks tend to be trickier to clean than other clothing as they will begin to turn a dingy dull colour when exposed to sweat as the protein and salt in the stain will react to the fabric.
Sweat stains will not budge on white fabric no matter how many times you wash them but it is important to not use bleach as it can react to the amino acids in sweat and likely make the stain worse.
However, Henry Lee, an expert from Monfoot, has shared that the best way to brighten white socks and get them clean again is to use a simple and natural laundry method.
Henry said: “Lemon juice, with its natural bleaching properties, can work wonders in whitening your socks when used in boiling. It's a simple, natural, and cost-effective method that you'll find surprisingly effective.”
How does it work?
It may sound strange, but lemon juice is one of the best ways to restore white socks as it contains citric acid which can dissolve sweat and dirt stains.
Boiling the socks in lemon juice will enhance the effectiveness of lemon juice as the heat will open up the fibres to allow the citric acid to penetrate more deeply to get rid of particularly stubborn stains.
Lemon juice is also naturally antibacterial and deodorising so you will have bright white socks once again without too much effort.
How to use lemon juice to restore white socks and get rid of stains
All you need to do is place your socks in a basin or big bowl filled with warm water and lemon juice, then leave the socks to soak for up to two hours.
Henry said: “This soaking process allows the acidity in the lemon juice to break down the stains, paving the way for brighter whites”
Once the time is up fill a pot of water and a generous amount of lemon amount of lemon juice, then bring the mixture to a boil.
When the mixture is boiling, add your white socks and let them soil in the solution for roughly 15 minutes. Henry said: “The heat combined with lemon juice works to lift the stains and restore the brightness of your socks.”
After the time is up, be careful removing the socks from the hot as they will be very hot, then simply hang them out to dry.
If you can, hang the white socks outside on a sunny day as sunlight will enhance the effects of the citric acid in lemon juice. The ultraviolet in sunlight is a natural bleaching agent and will further help break down stains and brighten the fabrics.
Once the socks are dry they should look brand new and be bright, clean and stain-free without having to use harsh chemical cleaner that could have damaged the fabric.
