When it comes to our clothes, socks are one of the items that get dirtiest the quickest - especially if you ever walk around without any shoes on and pick up small bits of dust and dirt from around your home and garden.
And while a quick wash is usually enough to get your socks ready to wear again, the problem can be more complicated when it comes to white socks, as they can become stained and discoloured over time.
Thanks to one laundry expert though, we no longer need to worry about using bleach or stain remover to get our white socks gleaming again - as it turns out there's one kitchen staple that can do the job for us.
According to Sarah Dempsey at My Job Quote, there are actually four ways to easily clean your white socks, and the first one will only cost you around 59p - as it's the cleaning favourite, baking soda.
Sarah told The Express that all you need to do is soak your socks in a bucket of warm water mixed with baking soda for a few hours, and then wash them as normal in your washing machine with a little more baking soda.
She said: "Baking soda can remove stubborn stains and help make white socks look super white in just one wash."
Sarah's second tip for people with grey socks that used to be white is to try using white vinegar, which can break stains away from fabric thanks to the acetic acid found in the vinegar.
"The acid in white vinegar is strong and a great cleaning tool. The acid can help to break down dirt and grime from your dirty socks," the expert added.
To clean white socks with vinegar, simply heat one litre of water and add one teaspoon of white vinegar to the water. Let your socks sit in the liquid for 30 minutes, and then wash them as normal.
If baking soda and vinegar aren't your cups of tea, then Sarah said you can also try washing up liquid - which the expert said is a "great substance" for whitening socks.
She recommended filling a bucket, sink, or tub with warm water and mixing a generous amount of liquid dish soap in the water. For this hack, you need to leave your socks to soak overnight, and then wash them as normal in the morning.
However, as washing up liquid does not contain any softening ingredients, Sarah said you can also add a cup of white vinegar to keep socks from hardening.
And for the expert's final tip, she suggested using lemon juice, which is well-known for its ability to fight tough stains and leave clothes shiny and looking brand new.
Lemon juice can also combat any bacteria left behind on garments, and works wonders on restoring the white gleam to fading socks.
Sarah said: "The acid in lemon juice is great for helping to break down harsh stains, dirt, and grime. You can easily get some of the harshest stains out of your white socks with something as simple as lemon juice.
"All you need to do is create a mixture of water and fresh lemon juice. Then, allow your socks to sit in this mixture for several hours. If the stains don't fade away completely, rub the stains with lemon juice and laundry detergent."
Once this is done, simply pop your socks in the washing machine and wash them as normal.
What's your preferred method for getting your whites sparkling again? Let us know in the comments!
