Everyone knows the struggle of trying to keep your classic white socks looking clean after wearing them a few times, but there are some simple ways to make sure they stay looking good as new.

After just a few wears your white socks can start looking grey, and even repeated washes won’t return them to the white they once were.

Experts at Spruce have shared their method for washing white socks, which will actually return them to their former appearance.

Their first tip is to not turn the socks inside out when washing as the dirt will likely be on the outside of the sole rather than inside.

They also advise that white socks should be washed in hot water, and with only other white clothes.

One way that the experts say will whiten your socks is to use lemon juice or white vinegar on them before adding them to your washing machine.

They explain: “The mild acid in lemon juice (citric) or distilled white vinegar (acetic) helps to break the bond between the soil and the sock fibres.”

To start off with you should create a hot water bath for your socks, either bringing water to boil on the stove in your kettle, if the latter then after boiling add to a large pot.

Then add 1/2 cup of lemon juice or distilled white vinegar, alongside one to two tablespoons of heavy-duty laundry detergent.

The amount of water and product can be adjusted depending on how many socks you are washing, with one gallon being suitable for six pairs of socks.

Once you’ve mixed the solution then add the socks to the pot- and allow them to soak for at least four hours, leaving them overnight if possible.

After soaking your socks, put them in the washing machine and wash as normal, making sure they’re on a high temperature. They can be dried either in a tumble dryer or on a drying rack.