Brighten with a baking soda soak

Add 1/2 cup of baking soda to your wash cycle along with regular detergent, or dissolve it in warm water and soak yellowed items for 30 minutes before washing. For stubborn dinginess, make a paste with water and gently work it into the fabric before soaking.

Why It Works

Baking soda is mildly alkaline (pH ~8.3) and works by dissolving and lifting the residue buildup — detergent film, body oils, mineral deposits — that makes white fabrics look dingy. It does not chemically bleach or lighten fabric, but restores brightness by removing what is dulling the surface.

Tips

• Safe for both cotton and linen
• Best for fabrics that look dull from buildup rather than true oxidative yellowing
• Natural fibers benefit especially well because their open weave allows baking soda to penetrate effectively
• Combine with white vinegar in the rinse cycle for additional residue removal