Nothing is more frustrating than having to repeatedly wash white socks and the stain still not coming out, but there is a simple way to get them clean again. White socks are made with absorbent fabric to keep your feet cool but this also means any sweat, oil or even being washed with dark laundry will cause them to become discoloured. 

Some people use bleach to keep white clothes looking pristine, but the harsh chemicals can react with sweat and cause the fabric to turn a dingy yellow instead of whitening them. However, Christopher Bevans, a fashion design expert and founder of Socks Wiki, has shared there is a really easy to way to revive stained white socks as all you need is some lemon juice and sunlight.

He said: “Restoring the whiteness of socks using lemon juice is a natural and eco-friendly method. Lemon juice contains citric acid, which acts as a natural bleaching agent.”

It might sound bizarre, but the lemon juice has natural bleaching and anti-bacterial properties as it contains citric acid, which will help get white socks clean again. 

Citric acid breaks down grease, sweat, and dirt, which loosens the stains to make them easier to wash away. Lemon juice also removes unpleasant odours and brightens fabric, all while being a natural ingredient that many people already have in their kitchen cupboard.

Summer is the perfect time to wash white socks as citric acid naturally reacts to the ultraviolet in sunlight, which will enhance the bleaching and cleaning effect. 

It is an old-school but very effective way to whiten clothes and remove tough stains without having to use any harsh chemicals or spend lots of money at a laundry cleaner.

How to wash white socks properly with lemon juice 

All you need to do is fill a bathtub or basin with boiling hot water and add a generous amount of lemon juice. Then, add your white socks to the cleaning solution. 

It tends to be best to use fresh lemons if you can as the citric acid will be more potent but it is also fine to use bottled lemon juice. 

Leave your socks to soak for a few hours, but it is best to leave them overnight if you can to give the citric time to break down the stain. 

When the time is up, scrunch up the white socks to remove the excess water and them stick them in the washing machine. Simply use your regular laundry detergent and place them on a hot wash cycle. 

After washing, hang your socks outside to dry, and let the sunlight work its magic to make your socks brighter, fresher, and spotless in just one wash.