Stain expert's 30p natural hack for brighter white socks that pros swear by

It’s easy to forget about your stained and musty socks until the sun comes out and they’re on display – luckily a cleaning expert has shared some top tips on how to keep them crisp and white.

With the weather continuing to heat up and more of us putting our legs on display, our white socks are no longer hidden under jeans or trousers. Imperfections like greyness, stains and dullness are now much more readily visible – which is a fast track way to ruin your outfit.
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Of course, it’s tempting to reach straight for harsh chemicals or bleach in an attempt to freshen them back up. However, this may not be the best idea for their longevity.

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Depending on the material of your white clothing, bleach can cause yellowing and even damage the fibres of the fabric, making them more susceptible to tears.

Instead, Nigel Bearman, a stain removal expert at home cleaning company Daily Poppins, says there’s an easier, more natural, and cheaper way to get them white again. All you need are some lemons.

‌Nigel explains, “Lemon juice contains natural citric acid, which acts as a gentle bleach and stain remover. It brightens fabric and helps eliminate bacteria, all while being safe for most whites and kinder to the environment than chemical alternatives.”

If you don't have any lemons lying around at home, not to worry. The fruit can be picked up from Sainsbury's for just 30p.

How to bring your white socks back to life

‌First, squeeze the juice of one fresh lemon into a bucket of hot water. Then place your white socks in and let them soak for 1-2 hours. For particularly stubborn stains, you can sprinkle some salt on the damp fabric and gently rub before soaking. After soaking, wash socks as usual.

As a bonus tip, you can also dry your socks outside in the sun. This is because UV rays naturally enhance whitening by breaking down the chemical bonds in stains.

Nigel adds: "This method is low-cost, eco-friendly and easy to do regularly. The combination of lemon and sunlight is a perfect natural whitening duo."

‌If you want to make your whites extra-white, then you can also add a splash of white vinegar to your rinse cycle. This will help soften the fabric and remove deep odours.

Another recommendation is to be careful to avoid using chlorine bleach too often as it weakens fibres over time. You can also use lemon juice works on other white fabrics, including T-shirts to bedsheets. If you want to be safe, make sure to test it on a small piece of the fabric first.