White socks need cleaning? Whiten them again by using some simple methods

Socks: long, short, ankle highs, invisible. No matter the model or material, the color socks we wear most is indisputably white. But over time and with constant use and washing, white socks lose their whiteness, turning gray slowly.

When socks reach this stage we have two options: recycle them or throw them away. Or is still something we can to? If the socks are still wearable, we can try to whiten them again using one of the methods, described below:

Alternative methods for whitening socks

andy_5322/Flickr (CC BY-SA 2.0)

If regular washing isn't working for you, try this:

• Boil the socks: fill a pot with water, squeeze 100 ml of lemon juice and a drop of liquid laundry detergent into the water. Immerse the socks and bring the water to a boil. When boiling, lower the heat and simmer for 15 minutes. Thereafter, take out the socks using tongs, wait for them to cool down, then wring out.
• At this point, you can finish by hand-washing the socks are putting them in the washing machine with the rest of your whites.
• Use bicarbonate of soda (baking soda): fill a basin with warm water, pour in two or three tablespoons of bicarbonate of soda and soak the socks in this solution for a few hours. Wring out, then wash in the washing machine, adding another 150g of bicarbonate to the wash (directly in the drum and in the detergent dispenser drawer).

Other methods for whitening socks

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Two other products can be used to whiten socks:

• Lemon juice, which can work even without having to use boiling water. Get the juice of a lemon and pour it into a bowl of hot water. Put your socks in this solution and leave them soaking for 3 hours. Thereafter, wash them in the washing machine!
• White vinegar: this is used just like the lemon juice method above. If after 3 or 4 hours you don't see any positive changes, you can leave the socks to soak overnight before wringing them and putting them in the washing machine for a regular wash.
• Warning: none of these methods are suitable for delicate fabrics (so do not use them with wool socks, for example). These methods should be treated as "once-off " and, if successful, socks can be kept white by ensuring they are not allowd to get too dirty and are washed regularly.

Further, following "good practice" can prolong the life and whiteness of your socks: do not wear them continuously for several days in a row, and make sure that they are washed frequently. By doing so, they shouldn't need to put them on washes at high temperatures (which will wear out and damage their fibres much more quickly).