White socks will be sparkling clean again when washed with 1 natural item

It's a common annoyance when white socks turn dull and discoloured, but there's a simple laundry trick to restore their original brightness. White socks are notoriously tricky to clean as they're more prone to absorbing stains due to their light fabric, and the acid in dirt or body oils can cause the fibres to turn a dingy grey colour.

Laundry expert Mark Walker, from Denver Wash and Fold, revealed that the best way to rejuvenate white socks isn't through harsh chemicals, but by adding baking soda to your washing machine. He advised: "If you're not a bleach person, don't panic. There are plenty of ways to get white socks white again without harsh chemicals. Baking soda is one great DIY option."

So how does it work? Baking soda is alkaline and can neutralise acidic stains caused by body oils, bacteria or dirt, breaking them down and making them much easier to clean.

It also naturally has a gritty texture which helps physically scrub the stains from fabric while in the washing machine to help restore white socks. Adding baking soda to the washing machine also softens the water and enhances the effectiveness of your laundry detergent, resulting in brighter socks.

Firstly, fill a clean sink with warm water, then pour in a generous amount of baking soda. Add your dirty white socks to the water and let them soak for three to four hours.

Squeeze out the socks, pop them in the washing machine and add a cup of baking soda mixed with your usual detergent in the washing machine drawer. If you like, you can add white vinegar to the fabric softener compartment as it naturally relaxes the fibres to soften socks.

Once the socks have been washed, hang them outside to dry in the sun as the ultraviolet rays are a natural bleaching agent which will lighten white fabric and help kill bacteria to disinfect them.

If you can't hang socks outside, put them in a dryer on a gentle low setting or hang them on an indoor drying rack in a well-ventilated room near an open window. After the socks have dried, they should be fully restored and as white as the day you bought them.