White socks that have gone grey

Short answer: White socks go grey from dye out of other clothes and from soap residues that hold on to dirt. Wash them separately with the correct dosage and they get lighter again.

Dye from other clothes

A grey cast most often comes from washing together with coloured clothes. Wash whites separately. See sorting the laundry.

Soap residues

Too much detergent is not rinsed out and holds on to dirt. See how to dose detergent correctly.

Soak them

Soak the socks in lukewarm water with a little detergent for an hour, then wash them on their own.

No chlorine

Chlorine breaks down bamboo viscose and gives a yellowish cast over time.

Sun on the line

Sun has a slight bleaching effect, which is an advantage on white. See how to keep white clothes white.

See the range

See the models in all bamboo socks for men.

Washing

The rest of the rules are in the washing guide.

Buy the same and replace together

If half the white socks are grey, the whole stack looks mixed. Replace them together, then every pair has the same shade. See bamboo socks for women.

Frequently asked questions

Why do white socks go grey?

From dye out of other clothes and from soap residues in the fabric.

Can they become white again?

Partly. Soaking and washing separately helps with most of it.

May I use chlorine bleach?

No. Chlorine breaks down the fibres.