Hi - how do you all keep your white socks white? There are quite some “lifehacky” tips out there that are at the same time “debunked” by others. Tried baking soda once, hard to say if it worked.
Any tips beside washing only white clothes together and using color catcher sheets? Thanks!
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I have some recent experience to share after wearing some brand new white socks on a ride that unexpectedly turned rainy, gritty, and off-road. The socks and my poor shoes were absolutely filthy with every shade of white, gray, and black. After some internetting, I tried out a product called Oxiclean white revive. I did the process twice over the course of a day, then ran them though a small load wash with plenty of stain removing detergent and no bleach.
In the end, I was satisfied with the result. I don’t have a control to compare against but they seem as white as new with no stain or gray gradients. I would use again.
FWIW, my white shoes cleaned up well too, including the white stitching, with a Tide to-go pen and a lot of patience.
Soak in oxi clean before washing, then put some oxi clean in with the white wash.
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I have an issue with some (not all) synthetic whites becoming gray. It apparently happens because of detergent residue. Swiftwick white socks are among the worst offenders. I have tried everything, but recently found a solution that works for me. Periodically, I wash them with borax only, then wash them again with vinegar only (I use extra rinse). This works like a charm.
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Wear once and dispose. It’s the only way 
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Hand wash with laundry soap immediately after getting off the bike. You can just take them in the shower with you.
You have to put in the hard graft if you want white socks to keep looking white. So it might take a few rounds and plenty of elbow grease.
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Thanks to you all! Oxiclean white revive seems not to be available here in germany, but I’ll try some oxygen based bleach product that I can find. Will also try the borax method, hadn’t heard of that yet.
Napisan. God bless Napisan.
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This is my first season in a while of using white socks and so far my main weapon against greyness has been the weather forecast. White socks are for dry roads only - this is a bit limiting in Northern Scotland but it does mean that white sock days are special.
I also wash all of my kit separately from normal clothes on a short wash with liquid detergent which seems to keep everything in good condition longer (although can’t speak to the longevity of this approach for sock whiteness).
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I have tried everything from bleach to oxi to I forget what else, and nothing works for rain-soaked white socks (at least my go-to cotton-blend Falke RU4s), so now I instead just dye them fuchsia when they get off-white enough. I have LOTS of fuchsia socks now, so I too take the weather forecast approach to wearing white socks.
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Thanks to you all for your answers and tips!
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Napisan but in hot water. Scrub if theres marks. Key is to do it straight after your ride and leave it for a good few hours, then in the wash with whites.
With all the special detergents and multiple washes its probably cheaper as well!
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Buy socks made of polypropylene. This material does not absorb water and therefore is more resistant to stain and discoloration. Polyester and polyamide tends to absorb water and stains which stay in the fabric.
I’m another member of team “check the forecast” and “don’t wear white socks in wet weather, even under overshoes”. Also, I keep my stock of white socks high and, along with other white garments, do a “pure white” wash every couple of weeks during the summer. On the occasions that I did get caught out in the rain or got stains on my socks, a short soak in https://clothes-doctor.com/products/stain-removal-tough-love? before washing did the trick.
I just checked. My white Swiftwick socks are made from polypropylene (Olefin), and they’re the ones that are most prone to becoming gray. I think there are two, perhaps distinct, issues that are mixed together on this thread: 1) dealing with stains on white socks from riding; 2) dealing with white socks becoming gray. Two different cleaning methods may be called for.
Agreed, Charles. I find the whites only wash method to be the best and most consistent solution to number 2. Anything with more than a small amount of colour or heavy staining doesn’t go in.
“Olefin” is the generic term for Polypropylene OR Polyethylene.
All of my polypropylene socks are fine and still white, while others, not made of PP, are blueish gray, most notably some assos socks.
The obvious answer here is “Don’t wear white socks”.
/Ted Talk
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Wearing ‘not white socks’, ie any other colour, is my go-to position re white socks!
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