If this is referring to a viral laundry tip claiming one ingredient can make yellowed or gray laundry “milky white,” the ingredient is often baking soda or washing soda. But the exact product matters.
If it means baking soda
Baking soda can help deodorize laundry and soften wash water, and it may provide some cleaning assistance. However, it isn’t a powerful bleach and won’t reliably restore heavily yellowed or gray fabric to bright white by itself.
For genuinely dingy whites, oxygen bleach (sodium percarbonate) is generally more effective and is designed for laundry whitening. Follow the product’s label and check the garment’s care instructions.
A simple approach
Wash whites according to the care label.
Use an appropriate laundry detergent.
For suitable fabrics, add an oxygen-based laundry whitener according to its directions.
Dry thoroughly, preferably according to the garment’s care instructions.
⚠️ Don’t mix household cleaning chemicals indiscriminately, particularly chlorine bleach with ammonia, acids such as vinegar, or other cleaners.
If you paste the ingredient named in the original “milky white laundry” post, I can tell you whether it actually works and how to use it safely.
