White socks can easily become dirty and dingy due to the lighter fabric (Image: Getty)
Nothing is worse than taking white clothes out of the washing machine only to discover they are still an unsightly grey colour, and socks tend to be the most difficult to get clean again.
Stains show up more on lighter fabric and it is also more absorbent, which is why it is tricky to once they have gotten dirty.
It may seem like common sense to simply use bleach to get socks white again, but it can damage the fabric and lead to holes or tears if used too much.
Henry Lee, an expert from , has shared that to get them looking “as good as new, or maybe even better” is easy as long as you use lemon juice.
He said: “Harnessing the power of lemon juice can effectively and combat stubborn stains.
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A simple way to whiten socks is to use lemon juice (Image: Getty)
“This natural ingredient, easily found in your kitchen, is a potent cleaning agent that can work wonders.”
It may seem strange, but lemon juice contains citric acid, a natural bleaching compound which can break down stains and make fabric look brighter.
What is amazing about lemon juice is that it is able to deeply penetrate sock fibres so it will work to remove even the toughest stains like grass, sweat, food and grease.
How to use lemon juice to wash white socks
Lemon juice will be the most effective if combined with heat, so it is best to presoak your socks before sticking them in the washing machine.
All you need to do is place your white socks in a basin filled with warm water for roughly 30 minutes. This will help loosen the stains and make it easier to wash the socks.
Next, one method to whiten dirty socks is the boiling method. Add your socks to a pot, pour in a generous amount of lemon juice and water, then bring the solution to a boil on the stove.
The best way to dry socks after treating them with lemon juice (Image: Getty)
Let the socks boil for 15 minutes and it should completely remove stains to clean them again. Rinse the socks with cold water and then hang them up to dry.
Alternatively, you can add lemon juice to the drum of your washing machine then put them on a hot washing cycle which should also remove the stains.
No matter how you wash your socks, make sure to hang them outside after treating them with lemon juice, as sunlight will react to the citric acid which will also help brighten them.
Henry said: “The sun’s natural bleaching effect will help enhance the whiteness of your socks.”
Once you take the socks off your laundry line they should be stain free, completely white and smell fresh since they were washed naturally.