If you’re looking for a simple way to make laundry look brighter, there are a few common household ingredients people use—but no ingredient can magically make all fabrics “as white as milk,” especially if they are permanently stained or yellowed.
A popular option is:
Baking soda
- Add about ½ cup of baking soda to a normal wash cycle along with your regular detergent.
- It can help neutralize odors, soften water, and improve the cleaning performance of detergent.
Other helpful laundry brightening methods:
- Sun drying: Sunlight can naturally brighten some white fabrics.
- White vinegar: Adding a small amount to the rinse cycle can help remove detergent residue and odors (do not mix vinegar directly with chlorine bleach).
- Oxygen bleach: A color-safe option for many whites when used according to the label.
For best results, check the fabric care label—some delicate fabrics, wool, silk, and certain finishes can be damaged by home remedies.
