To think stains can come out of white / pales?

[MrsP2015]

Here for traffic. Need a wash expert!

Should I just chuck white socks when the stains don't wash out on a 40 wash with a pre soak of vanish powder (£8 tub one).

I'm sick of throwing the white/ pale socks/ tops away when there's stains- even the grubby dust doesn't seem to come out of socks.

Have to be careful due to dc's eczema.

Any ideas?
Thanks

The sun is normally really good at getting whites white again.

I’ll second the sun, it does wonders (but you have to wait for it to come back out of course!)

How long are you soaking for? I’d do overnight with four scoops of vanish in only as much water as you need to cover them. I’d do a few things in that, not a pair of socks.
Buy bright/dark socks if you can but no one sees the grubby bit so I have to say I don’t worry about socks. T-shirts I would.

Two thoughts:

1. have you bleached them? Just stick some bleach in and then wash them again so there's no bleach left. (Not sure if this will get it all out or if bleach is a problem for eczema.)
2. Does it really matter if the white socks have stains on them? Who is looking that closely and aren't they covered by shoes most of the time? Most of my white socks are grey-ish but they are usually inside my trainers so noone sees them.

Do you do a cold soak? Do that overnight, hot wash, line dry in the sun.

Depends what the stains are I think. If the socks are the grubby, then might be worth chucking but food stains on white tops just disappear in the sun, even in a cloudy day, if I hang a top at my upstairs window, the stains fade so fast.

so, I realise some of this may not work due to eczema, but I never have stains and I do this

-use vanish spray to pre treat food stains. (if they are greasy, then using washing up liquid or shampoo works really well too)
-use a bio powder. They are not all the same, eg I can't use Bold, it is too strong, but I can use Ariel and Persil. (I have sensitive skin, but not too bad). The powder you use will make a massive difference.
-Occasionally use 60 degree wash when things are not coming out clean. I even just chuck all the whites in at 60, including my underwear (although it is mostly cotton M&S, not fanacy) and it all comes out fine.
-don't overload your washing machine. Put 25% less in and everything comes out cleaner.

I have 3 teens and we had white polo shirts and white school socks all through primary, and they came clean using this. (apart from whiteboard markers, and I just accepted those stains, and they came out over a few washes)

I consider myself a wash expert..my whites are still bright! But I really don't care about socks..Life is much too short..As long as they are clean..They are so cheap to buy.
Also is it just the part that's in the shoe? or the top too?
I remember one of my Dads bugbears was all us kids running around in our socks without slippers..got a smack for that..maybe that's why I'm relaxed about grubby socks!?

and if you are worried about eczema, after the wash is finished, do an extra rinse and spin.
The whole industry of non bio due to skin is a bit of a myth. The biggest issue for eczema is the perfume/scne in the wash, not the bio bit. In Europe, they don't sell non bio and it isn't an issue. There was a briliant article on this form a dermatologist a while ago, but I don't have a link. (and I had terrible eczema when I was a kid)

I have got stains including beetroot and tomato sauce out of whites by treating with Vanish Platinum. It's a liquid and I pour it on the stain and leave in machine for half hour and then wash with Vanish powder and persil bio. Napisan is also good.

Thank you all so much- I've never even heard of the sun, I'm definitely trying that one!

I'd be happy to try bleach and rinse loads after, what's the ratio, does it say on the bottle?

Unfortunately the stains aren't inside the shoe area of socks (I wouldn't care about that) it's literally all around the ankle but I wonder if I should try a 60 wash as I've always just washed at 40...

I feel really daft now just washing at 40!

Sorry!

Lots of experts though so thank you I can work my way through all the suggestions.

Get some napisan, cold soak it and then add some to the wash, hang in the sun all day and should be as good as new. Napisan shouldn't irritate eczema either.

I have found that just rubbing the stain with hand washing soap and water normally works. if the stain does not completely go I rub some extra soap on before putting it in the washing machine, some stains like blood should be washed in cold water as hot water will fix them like dye.

Friend of mine got chocolate stains out of her new white jeans after sitting on an unfortunately placed chocolate bar. Absolute laundry genius she is. I think she used Ace bleach or Vanish but I don't recall the details of how she did it.

@CoralFish

Two thoughts:

1. have you bleached them? Just stick some bleach in and then wash them again so there's no bleach left. (Not sure if this will get it all out or if bleach is a problem for eczema.)
2. Does it really matter if the white socks have stains on them? Who is looking that closely and aren't they covered by shoes most of the time? Most of my white socks are grey-ish but they are usually inside my trainers so noone sees them.

I'll second this. You can't beat good old bleach

I washed two white tops last week and they still had curry and gravy stains when I took them out the machine.

I couldn't believe the sun tip worked but it did. The stains disappeared when I brought them in off the line

Hot water can set the stain in, so usually whacking in straight in at a 60+ wash really won’t help.
Cold soak first with detergent!

Bleach is great for whites, and bleach baths are recommended for eczema, so I don't think it would hurt.

I use biotex to soak overnight before washing for general grubiness on whites.
Fairy laundry soap on specific stains, again leave overnight or longer (I'll put the soap on ASAP, so may be a couple of days before I have a washload). Sometimes washing up liquid instead of laundry soap if I'm in a hurry.

I was so sceptical about the sun working on stains, DS got Bolognese on a white t shirt, I used vanish gold pretreated and added as prewash, having scrubbed at the stain, and put it on my machine's intensive wash, it was still there. I thought well I've got nothing to lose DM always goes on about sunlight for stains, I'll hang it out before I throw it. The big orange stain literally disappeared in a few hours on the washing line. Be careful doing this with bright colours as it can fade them

@KarlKennedysDurianFruit that's why colours should be hung up inside out.

Whatever you do, if it's a suncream stain don't bleach it. It will go pink......

@Emmelina

Hot water can set the stain in, so usually whacking in straight in at a 60+ wash really won’t help. Cold soak first with detergent!

this is really true. so can using bio powder. (it can set the stain) So, the secret it to ALWAYS treat the stain first, before first wash. vanish spray is quick and easy, no need to soak overnight etc.

I'm afraid anything that needs a bucket and more than 10 minutes is not on my to do list

but then I use bio powder and 60.

I always found Milton's sterilising fluid to be brilliant at getting stains out of white clothes. Soak overnight, then wash on a high temperature, then leave out on the line for a good while. Sun and rain both seem to help shift stains so don't be too quick to bring them in if the heavens open.