Gang Sung, a research chemist at the University of California has created a chlorine treated anti bacterial fabric. The halamine molecules are apparently attached to the fibre where they can fight off bacteria that become trapped in the fabric.

As well as much sweeter laundry, the fabric could make medical gowns and bedding much more hygenic, decreasing the curently massive risk of cross infections within hospitals.

Trials with university running teams confirmed the bacterial culling capacity of treated socks, with only “a feint smell of chlorine” being reported even after 3 days straight use. The technology can easily be applied to most fabrics and can be refreshed by dousing it with a chlorine bleach.

The technology has been bought by the HaloSource Corp. with a view to recreational and medical applications, and socks may be available in the US as early as next year. This follows Pearl Izumi’s introduction of the similarly stink busting silver thread enriched X-Static socks and thermal garments this year. Rather than a chemical treatment these use the metal thread’s natural anti-bacterial attributes to keep foot and armpit rotting bacteria at bay.

Now all we need is a treatment to get rid of that old boiled milk smell so common in well used helmets.

Or is that just us.