After several sports or walking sessions, your white socks can quickly become dirty and stained. To prevent these stains from becoming too stubborn, it is better to wash your socks after each use.

Here we will see what are the best washing techniques to restore white socks, like new!

Pre-Soaking

It all comes down to pre-soaking! Before washing your white socks in the machine, soak them in a bath with effective ingredients to whiten the socks.

This step is particularly important if you want to clean very dirty white socks.

How to Whiten Socks?

Lemon

Lemon juice is known for its stain-removing properties. It also helps preserve the brightness and whiteness of fabrics.

To whiten socks:

  • Soak them in a bath of hot water mixed with half a lemon's juice
    Let them soak for half an hour
  • Continue with a machine wash.

Tip: Directly in the machine, cut the half lemon into slices and place them in a textile bag. Put the bag in the drum of the machine with your socks and start the appropriate program.

Hydrogen Peroxide

More commonly known as hydrogen peroxide, hydrogen peroxide is particularly effective on stubborn stains:

  • Soak your white socks in 1 liter of warm water mixed with a quarter of hydrogen peroxide
  • Let it sit for 40 minutes
  • Rinse your socks
  • Then wash them in the machine.

Tip: To clean very dirty white socks, you can add half a cup of hydrogen peroxide to the bleach compartment of your washing machine.

Baking Soda

Baking soda helps restore the brightness of your white socks thanks to its whitening and astringent action.

To get white socks back:

  • Generously wet them
  • Sprinkle 2 tablespoons of baking soda on them
  • Rub them for a few minutes
  • Squeeze half a lemon on your socks
  • Let it sit for 10 minutes
  • Rinse
  • Dry the socks

Tip: To clean very dirty white socks, continue with a machine wash.

White Vinegar

Vinegar also has whitening effects, but it also has disinfectant and deodorizing actions.

To whiten socks:

  • Mix a cup of white vinegar in half a liter of cold water
  • Soak your socks in it
  • Let it sit for 30 to 40 minutes
  • Then rinse them
  • Put them in the washing machine.

Finally, to whiten your socks to the maximum, let them dry in the sun, which is also a natural whitener!

You now know everything about washing white socks! Here's one last tip to best preserve your socks: never use boiling water, as it could alter their elasticity and make them uncomfortable.