Cleaning expert and TikTok creator Chantel Mila has revealed her go-to method for tackling heavily stained white and bright socks, promising they will look "new again" after following her routine. The technique relies on everyday household items and includes an extra scrubbing step before the socks go into the washing machine.
The soaking solution
Begin by filling a large bowl or bucket with warm water and submerging the soiled socks. Add a quarter cup of laundry detergent to lift dirt and body oils embedded deep within the fibres, followed by a quarter cup of bicarbonate of soda to break down grime. Then add one teaspoon of washing-up liquid to target oil-based stains.
Leave the socks to soak for one hour. Once the soaking time is complete, remove the socks from the solution so the stains are no longer submerged.
The crucial extra step
Sprinkle the most heavily affected areas with additional bicarbonate of soda and scrub the socks together. Chantel stressed not to skip this step, saying in the video's caption: "This method is my go-to! When I saw Aston running around on grass and mud in his white socks this weekend, I knew I needed to do this this week. The before and after speak for themselves!"
After scrubbing, the socks can be put through a normal wash cycle. Chantel said: "Look at the difference."
Why it works and extra tips
Bicarbonate of soda can boost the effectiveness of detergents, helping to brighten faded whites and eliminate unwanted odours from garments. Washing-up liquid helps target oil-based stains and lift them from the fibres.
For particularly stubborn stains, a paste made from bicarbonate of soda and warm water can be applied directly to the affected areas as a spot treatment. To prevent discolouration in white clothing, experts at Currys recommend checking the quantities of detergent and fabric softener used during a laundry cycle. They also advised against using a tumble dryer when treating stained garments, writing: "If you've got whites that have yellow stains, don't tumble dry. Always air dry. The simple reason is that the heat from the tumble dryer will simply lock in stains even more."
