'I tried Mrs Hinch's sock cleaning technique and was floored'
If you're sick of binning white socks because they end up looking dirty really quickly, fear not, because one mum has got the perfect answer to your prayers
Danielle is a Social News Reporter for the social newsdesk, serving titles including The Mirror. She previously worked as a Lifestyle Writer for The Mirror. She has a special interest in books, feminism, stories from the LGBTQ+ community, and fashion. She's also worked for Reach PLC's InYourArea team as a Senior Community Content Curator.
If you've ever looked at your white sock collection and wondered how on earth they got so mucky, this one is for you. You may have only walked around your house in your socks, but for how dirty they look, you may as well have walked through mud. Whether it's dye from your shoes, or a sign you need to mop the kitchen floor again, you' may need to give them some extra cleaning love to get them looking good as new rather than chucking them in the bin.
Fear not, though, as a mum on a Mrs Hinch Cleaning Tips Facebook group brought to my attention the fact that white socks can be rejuvenated with a simple soak.
Mrs Hinch has got aspiring cleaning gurus up and down the country desperate to try out her tried-and-tested hacks, and fans also impart their knowledge on social media to help those who wouldn't otherwise have a clue.
A bit like internet parents, they share their wisdom with millennials like me, who frankly, sometimes, just don't have a clue what they're doing.
But that's okay, because what's the internet for if not a cleaning hack or two? And the one I spotted suggested putting gross white socks in Napisan after they had gone through a normal wash. Admittedly (and I don't know how), none of my socks look that bad, so I put a pair through their paces to ensure I was giving the Napisan a fair grilling.
After spending some time in the garden in just my socks, getting them nice and muddy, and making myself feel rather nauseous, they were ready for the wash. And truthfully, it didn't even touch the sides. I needed something else, and thankfully, I had the Napisan on hand, ready for my socks to be soaked in.
I left them in 65g of Napisan, as recommended on the packet, for 24 hours, which is actually longer than recommended, but I wanted to give the hack from the Facebook page a whirl to see whether it was actually going to work for me.
Truthfully, I wasn't expecting much, but after checking on them after a couple of hours, I could already see that the colour of the water had changed.
The great thing about Napisan is that it also kills germs you can't see, so you can be safe in the knowledge that there are no nasties on your clothes.
Plus, it can also be put in the wash for larger items you can't soak properly, such as big, fluffy white towels that you want to come out of the washer gleaming.
After 24 hours, I bunged them in the dryer, and when they came out, I was seriously shocked at the results. They looked so much better than they had previously, and the socks certainly wouldn't embarrass you when you take your shoes off at your pal's house.
Napisan is £5 in major supermarkets. When I first tried this hack, it was £3.20 in Wilko, but they don't seem to stock it anymore. When I asked staff members in shops, however, whether they had Napisan, they didn't know what it was, so it may be best to order online or click and collect.
It's worth it though, as the description really is accurate. It says: "Add this to your wash and remove stains for brighter and whiter clothes.
"It kills 99.9% of bacteria in your laundry and is microbiologically tested. Easy to use, the remover helps get rid of stains at 30°C."
It's no wonder that cleaning gurus have gone wild for this product; my socks were left significantly whiter than when I started, and for the price, I really cannot complain at all.
They were not brand-new-from-shop white, but I understand the hype around the product, and totally get why mums turn to Napisan in their hour of baby-related stain needs.
Would you try Napisan? Have you used it before with any success? Let us know in the comments.