If your white socks have started to lose their bright, fresh appearance, this trick might be the definitive solution for you. Over time, stains, dirt, and the general wear and tear of daily life can leave our favourite white socks looking dull and lacklustre. Instead of reaching for harsh chemicals or bleach, there’s an incredibly simple and affordable way to bring them back to life, and it all comes down to one humble fruit: lemons.

Stain removal expert Nigel Bearman from Daily Poppins suggested his natural solution using this citrus fruit, which is effective against stains and helps to sanitise the socks. He said: “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."

To restore your white socks to their former glory, the process is pretty straightforward.

Simply squeeze the juice of one fresh lemon into a bucket of hot water, creating a soaking solution.

Soak your socks in this citrus solution for one to two hours, allowing the natural acids to break down stains and lift the greyness.

For particularly stubborn stains, Nigel recommends sprinkling a little salt on the damp fabric and gently rubbing it before soaking.

After the soak, just wash the socks as usual, and you should notice a significant difference in their brightness.

For even better results, trying drying them in the sun, as the combination of lemon juice and sunlight is a "perfect natural whitening duo”.

This method is incredibly low-cost, using just one lemon, which can be picked up for around 30p in most UK supermarkets.