How do you get your whites whiter than white?

[Lonelymum]

Sorry to ask such a dull question but this one really defeats me. I am thinking particularly of the soles of white socks. How do you get those looking whiter than white (or I would settle for roughly clean looking). I know the first step would be to not allow my children to go outside with only socks on (no shoes) but given that the odd one slips past me from time to time, what should I do to clean the socks? I find 40 degrees Centigrade doesn't do much, and I have used all sorts of stain removers and detergents. Could I wash them at 60 without shrinking them? Would that do it? Do you have any other secret remedy? Thanks.

[Newbarnsleygirl]

I put some oxi clean in with my powder and that works for me.

How are you LM?

[laneydaye]

dont know if its still available but i used to use radion..... better than bleach... soak over night and voila....

[LoubieLou04]

I usually throw some napisan in with my white washes, keeps the sheets and towels like new.

[Lonelymum]

Oxi clean: is that a powder or a liquid?

Ditto Radion (don't think I have heard of that).

Do they really work though?

NBG: I'm good at the moment thanks. How are you?

[Newbarnsleygirl]

Oxi clean is a powder and it comes in a big tub, I think it's about £7 but you only need to use 1 sponnful in each wash so it does last.

I'm not so bad. Dh is going away for a week to wales working this week so am a bit wobbly IYKWIM.

[norash40]

I wash the socks on 90 with my white towels and sheets and they come out whiter than white.

Oh and I add oxi action (powder) in with the powder.

[Lonelymum]

Gosh 90! Really? That doesn't shrink them?

NBG sorry to hear about your dh going away. I don't know if my dh is away at all this week: he doesn't tell me now too far in advance because he knows how much it upsets me! Pathetic eh?

[Newbarnsleygirl]

Not pathetic at all LM.

I just start to feel a bit anxious before. I have planned my days up till Thursday though so it shouldn't be too bad I hope.

I might be very brave and try a 90 wash, had a bad experience with a wash before though so I like to stick to my 40's!

[Lonelymum]

Well, to be honest, ds1 ran around most of Friday in his socks and they not only are black on the soles now but also have holes in them (Grrrr ds1!) so I could try washing them at 90 just to see what happens to them as I will have to throw them out anyway.

[Fio2]

sperm

[norash40]

Not had a pair shrink yet.

Hope it works for you.

[Newbarnsleygirl]

LOL Fio2!