NewsUK NewsLife hacksKitchen cupboard item will keep your whites 'crisp and clean' for longer08:40, 30 May 2026A simple kitchen staple added to your laundry could help maintain the whiteness of your clothes for longer - and it's available from Aldi for just 65p.‌Keeping white clothes in pristine condition can be challenging. These items frequently lose their brightness due to trapped detergent residue, an accumulation of natural body oils, or colour transfers from other washing. Fortunately, the answer might already be in your kitchen cupboard. According to online laundry and dry cleaning platform Hello Laundry, incorporating baking soda or bicarbonate of soda - they're the same thing - into your wash can help keep your whites "looking crisp and clean".‌Baking soda offers a milder approach to brightening whites than bleach or other aggressive chemicals. Hello Laundry experts explain: "Baking soda acts as a gentle abrasive, helping to remove yellowing and dinginess from white fabrics.‌"When added to your regular laundry detergent, it can enhance the brightness of your whites without the use of harsh bleach." To use this technique, simply add half a cup of baking soda alongside your usual detergent.Baking soda can also be utilised for stain removal. Hello Laundry adds: "Whether it's an unsightly coffee spill or a stubborn ink mark, baking soda can be a lifesaver. Make a paste by mixing baking soda with water and applying it to the stain before washing.Article continues below"For heavily stained items, dissolve a quarter cup of baking soda in a basin of warm water and soak the clothing for 1-2 hours before washing."Choose Daily Mirror as a 'Preferred Source' on Google News for quick access to the news you value.‌CleaningLife hacksWashing machines