Whiter whites - how to do it

When I worked in a kitchen with white cotton aprons and 
polyester/cotton, I could send them to installation laundry with any 
and every kind of food stain one can imagine.  They ALWAYS got them 
out.  I ALWAYS got my whites back gleaming.

They say you can't get the strength of soap they use because it is too 
caustic.  I'm sure they didn't use a chlorine bleach too, because 
chlorine eats cotton over time.

Does anyone know where to get the soap they use, perhaps through 
another avenue?  My whites are on my freaking nerves! :-@[EMAIL PROTECTED]