When it comes to grandma’s secret weapons against grayed or stained kitchen towels, we usually end up with a home remedy that’s often forgotten today, but easily outperforms chemical bleaches: washing soda (sodium carbonate).

Here’s the “secret recipe” that will make the towels so white they’re almost blinding:

The Washing Soda Method

The Approach: Add 2-3 tablespoons of washing soda to a bucket of hot water (or directly into a large pot).

The Soak: Place the towels in the water and let them soak, ideally overnight (but at least 2-3 hours). Washing soda dissolves grease and organic stains extremely effectively.

The Wash: Afterward, wash them as usual in the washing machine at 60°C or 95°C.

Why this works (and what else helps):

Citric acid & sun: If the cloths have stubborn yellowing, a soak in citric acid will help. Then lay them wet in direct sunlight – UV light is a natural bleach.

Baking soda boost: Add a packet of baking soda directly to the detergent in the dispenser. The baking soda it contains acts as a mild whitener.

Vinegar instead of fabric softener: A splash of white vinegar in the fabric softener compartment removes limescale deposits that make the fibers gray and stiff.

Grandma’s little pro tip: If the cloths were really extremely dirty, she used to “boil” them in a pot on the stove with baking soda. That’s the hardcore, restaurant-quality version.