Washing hack to make socks white again and can remove ‘stains’

People took to the comment section of the post, with one person writing: “Serious suggestion: dish soap. I use it to get chain grease off everything.

“I dont wear socks where grease is apparent (which is another option I suppose) but soaps like Dawn are specifically formulated to deal with grease. Dawn is even the soap of choice to clean off wildlife affected by oil spills.”

A second added: “Have found working stain remover into them, then steeping, then washing at 40c or 60c works. So long as you do it ASAP.

“Exception is if it’s been raining and they get muck from the road. Then they are grey for good. Never found a way to undo road grime.”

A third suggested a method that would also work for white lace too, and said: “I found a method for white shoe laces that should work well for white socks too.

“Soak them by hand in cold water (don’t do hot, as I was told it will set the stains rather than remove them) and wash with either blue dish soap or blue detergent (blue cleaners help bring out the white).

“Then repeat the soaking and cleaning with blue soap but add bleach to your water, and let them sit in the bleach for ~20-30 min. When you rinse them out they should be as bright as new.”

Another advised: “Murphys Oil Soap on the grease stain. Rub grease marked fabric against itself, or with your fingernail. A bit of warm water helps.

“As far as the mud, a little bit of baking soda has helped me keep em white. Avoid hot water. Kills the elastic.”

Do you have any tips?