How to Whiten Socks: 7 Clever Hacks for a Brilliant Clean

Do you have a pile of dirty socks you need to whiten? Then you've come to the right place! Learn how to whiten socks with white vinegar, baking soda, hydrogen peroxide, and lemon juice using a few simple methods.

How to Whiten Socks

Dirt and white don't mix. While it's easy to keep your white clothes away from dirt, this isn't as easy for socks. Socks get dirty, dingy, and just plain gross. When you need to get socks clean, you've got to grab:

• White vinegar or cleaning vinegar
• Hydrogen peroxide
• Bleach
• Lemon juice
• Dawn dish soap
• Plastic bag

Related: Find methods to brighten even your dingiest whites without bleach.

How to Whiten Socks With Baking Soda

Rather than throwing your kid's heavily stained white socks in the trash, soak them in baking soda.

1. Fill your sink with warm water.
2. Sprinkle in a good amount of baking soda.
3. Add the socks and allow them to soak for a few hours.
4. Wring out the socks and throw them in the wash.
5. Add a cup of baking soda with your normal detergent.
6. Add a cup of white vinegar to the rinse for softening.

How to Get Socks White Again With Boiling Water

Another foolproof method for how to get your socks white is using boiling water.

1. Add ½ cup of lemon juice, Dawn dish soap, and water to a large pan.
2. Add your socks.
3. Bring the water to a boil.
4. Allow the socks to boil for 20 minutes.
5. Wash socks as normal.

How to Whiten Socks With White Vinegar

The acetic acid in white vinegar or cleaning vinegar works great to break up and remove dinge from your white socks. For this method:

1. Boil several cups of water in a large container.
2. Add your dirty socks.
3. Add one cup of white vinegar.
4. Soak the socks overnight.

Whitening Socks With Hydrogen Peroxide

Hydrogen peroxide 3% is a great whitener for socks. Grab your dirty socks and get ready to have a laundry rumble.

1. Add a cup of hydrogen peroxide to a gallon of warm water.
2. Add your socks.
3. Soak them for 30-60 minutes.
4. Throw your socks into the washer.
5. Add ½ cup of peroxide to the bleach dispenser.
6. Wash as normal.

Using Bleach to Whiten Socks

When it comes to whitening socks, most people reach for the bleach. In addition to just adding bleach to the laundry, it's helpful to do a prewash.

1. Fill the sink or a pan with warm water.
2. Add 4 tablespoons of bleach to the water.
3. Add a few drops of Dawn.
4. Allow the socks to soak for 10-15 minutes-longer for really dingy socks.
5. After the soak, wash as normal.

How to Whiten Socks With Laundry Detergent

A little lemon juice and detergent are all you need to get closer to whiter socks.

1. Wet the socks with a bit of warm water and lemon juice.
2. Add a drop of laundry soap and work it into the socks.
3. Focus on the filthy areas.
4. Put the socks in a plastic bag and tie it shut.
5. Let them sit overnight.
6. Wash as normal.

Whiten Socks With a Dish Detergent Tab

You might think that dish detergent tabs are just for your dishwasher, and they do a good job on yellowed plastic containers, but they can also do an amazing job whitening your socks.

1. Fill a sink or bucket with warm water.
2. Add your socks.
3. Submerge dishwasher tablets.
4. Allow them to soak for a few hours to overnight.
5. Pull them out of the mixture.
6. Wash as normal.

Learn How to Whiten Socks With Ease

Looking to get your white socks looking like new? Several methods work great to get your socks shiny white again. Laundry tips are great for keeping dirty socks in your drawers and out of the trash.