Whether you’re an aspiring tennis pro or you just like the white socks/white trainers combo that screams summer vibes, there’s one thing you have probably been forced to contend with especially in the hot summer months: white socks that go brown and grubby over time.
But according to footwear manufacturers, there is a way to magically revive tired, stained white socks using one common kitchen ingredient. If you want your socks whiter than white again, you should turn to lemon juice, according to SockShop.co.uk.
While you can use the tried and tested cleaning hacks like baking soda or vinegar on stained socks, lemon juice is one of the most effective ways of cleaning stained clothing, says SockShop. This is due to lemon juice’s powers as a ‘natural bleach’, while it also has both antibacterial and antiseptic properties. In short, it’s great at tackling all the nasty germs that dwell on hot summer feet and ruin socks in the process.
The firm explains: “You may have noticed already that lemon juice crops up time and again for its stain removal powers. This is because the acid found in lemons is antibacterial, antiseptic and acts as a natural bleach.
“Even just dropping your greying socks into a warm bowl of water infused with the juice of a freshly squeezed lemon for 2-3 hours can work wonders. After they’ve undergone their citric soak, pop your socks in the machine for a regular wash and voila.”
You can also combine lemon juice with hand soap. It adds: “Of course, you can’t go far wrong by using some simple laundry soap on tired white socks. The trick is to soak your socks in warm water with a squeeze of lemon juice before lathering them up with laundry soap. Then transfer them into a plastic bag, tie it up, and leave them overnight. The next day, simply take them out of the bag and wash them as normal. Having undergone this whole process they should come out snow white.”
Of course, as with many things, baking soda, also known as bicarbonate of soda, is still effective at tackling dirty socks too.
SockShop adds: “Baking soda is a great weapon in your armoury for tackling less-than-fresh white socks. There are a few ways to use it. Your best bet is to give your socks a soak in a warm sink filled with a liberal sprinkling of baking soda for several hours. Then, after wringing them dry, wash them in your machine by adding 150-200 ml of baking soda to the detergent drawer, along with your normal powder or liquid. Get your sunglasses at the ready because those bad boys are going to be gleaming!”