How to whiten socks instantly and remove stains with natural methods instead of bleach

May 24, 2023

While losing socks in the laundry is a conundrum many might never find the answer to, Mrs Hinch fans have come up with an effective and cheap hack for getting socks as white as possible using a normal wash.

Writing on the Mrs Hinch Cleaning Tips Facebook page, Louise Stone asked: "What is the best thing to use to get white socks white again?

"So frustrating when brand new white socks come out the wash still looking grubby. I have to throw them away. Any ideas?"

Rather than using the bleaching approach, many group members suggested it was best to stay away from that chemical product and use dishwasher tablets instead.

Over the past few months, the humble dishwashing tablet has become a huge cleaning trend since 2020.

READ MORE: ‘Bad techniques’ to avoid when doing laundry as they do ‘more harm than good’

This staple kitchen item has been used to improve the appearance of everything from ovens to shower screens and even washing machines themselves.

The latest cleaning dilemma this cleaning staple can be used on is dirty and grimey strained socks.

Kerina Storer said: "I used to use bleach but some people on here said it was bad for the material so I tried using a dishwasher tablet in the wash and it worked so well."

Joe Robinson wrote: "Dishwasher tablets. Depending on how many socks you’re washing and how badly stained they are add one to two tablets to the drum. No need for detergent."

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Kirsty Clarke commented: "A friend of mine has two boys who love to run around outside in their socks and the one thing she always does is add a dishwasher tablet to the washing machine. All marks are gone every time."

Jolanta Peak said: "I use always use a dishwasher tablet on my whites including socks and wash at 60 minimum."

Marsha Stevens wrote: "Tried this all ways for me, you can't a dishwasher tablet. It's the best thing for stained white laundry. Been doing it for years and has never affected machine and instantly whitens sock without having to soak it overnight."

Kayleigh Brown replied: "My son has white Nike socks. I always wash them at 40C with a dishwasher tablet and no washing powder. Works every time."

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For those looking for another alternative to whitening socks without having to use bleach, Sarah Dempsey at Myjobquote.co.uk suggests using baking soda and white vinegar.

She said: "Baking soda can help make white socks look super white in just one wash. The acid in white vinegar is strong and a great cleaning tool. It can help to break down dirt and grime from your dirty socks."

Express.co.uk even put baking soda and white vinegar to the test on dirty stained white socks and the results were amazing.

To boost the cleaning power it is recommended to put the white socks outside to dry. Line drying outside in the sun will help as the UV rays naturally bleach clothing.