“When you would want to laundry strip is if there's excess buildup of laundry detergent,” Sachs says, adding that this can happen with homemade cleaners or if you're not using enough detergent and soil builds up on the fabric.
Essentially, laundry stripping is a method of washing that removes detergent residue, fabric softener, minerals from hard water, and body oils that have collected on your laundry over time. By soaking garments and linens in hot water with an at-home borax solution, the fabric is stripped of any residue.
Is laundry stripping worth the trouble? We don't think so. While laundry stripping can be effective, you shouldn't have to strip towels and sheets on a regular basis if you're washing them correctly to begin with. Plus, it's a time-consuming and troublesome thing to do.
Stripping should be done only a few times per year—perhaps once every four months or when fabrics feel stiff and look dull.
Yes, laundry stripping works to remove hard water and detergent build up, body oils and odors. Additionally, if you have smelly towels or clothes that seem “dingy” laundry stripping can help make them soft again.
“Laundry stripping is a soaking process where you're removing the built-up residue: excess laundry detergent, fabric softener, body oils, hard-water minerals,” says Lexie Sachs, textiles director at the Good Housekeeping Institute. “It's something you do on towels that are already clean, not dirty.”
The action happens without you having to do anything. Let the items sit in the tub for 4-5 hours, until the water cools. If possible, check back once an hour to push the items down and stir them around. This helps the washing soda and detergent get into the fibers and strip the residues.
Ultimately, stripping some fabrics (like silk and wool) can actually do more damage than good—and utilizing this method too frequently can prematurely age your garments. To dig into the science behind laundry stripping, we tapped three professionals.
Laundry stripping uses a combination of borax, powdered detergent, and washing soda, plus a hot water soak, as a chemical wash. Although it's a satisfying phenomenon to watch, the Maytag article warns that it's certainly not safe for all fabrics, and it's not necessary, if you wash your laundry correctly.
After the time is up, wring each item out and place it in the washing machine. Run a load of laundry just like you normally would. ** Run a full cycle - not a quick wash AND you DO NOT have to add any SOAP since these have been sitting in the soap for hours.
Does it Really Work? YES IT DOES! I mean, listen, if you've got whites that have gone that nasty, dingy, brownish-gray you're probably not going to see them be crazy bright white again, but they will be a little better and certainly cleaner. THIS IS THE WAY TO WHITEN AND BRIGHTEN WHITES AGAIN!
'I usually use Oxiclean (I buy this pack from Amazon) to strip my laundry without Borax and washing soda,' says Lucy Searle, Editor in Chief of Homes & Gardens. 'I don't use it on colored fabrics but I do use it on towels and sheets, piling everything into the large deep sink I have in my laundry room.
Baking soda won't strip your laundry as well as borax or washing soda (more on that shortly), but it's also gentler on fabrics, and you're more likely to have it on hand!
Pre-Soak is Paramount: Pre-soaking heavily soiled laundry before washing can make a huge difference in getting the clothes REALLY clean. Pre-soaking helps the stains to come lose and be removed more easily. Simply fill your washing machine, bucket or tub with warm water and then add your detergent and clothes.
In your washing machine, borax helps absorb dirt. In your kitchen and bathroom, it's great for cleaning rust, grout, and even mold and mildew. Borax helps laundry smell better and is also extremely effective at fighting pet urine odor because it combats the ammonia.
The most common chemical used to strip laundry is Borax. When added to very hot water it can form hydrogen peroxide bleach that whitens clothing. Borax can also inhibit the growth of bacteria and mold so is great for strip cleaning active wear. Stripping is also effective at cleaning diapers and soiled bed pads.
You can strip laundry without borax – use the above recipe but leave the borax out. Borax is a laundry booster and helps detergent work better, but you'll still see results without it. What is this? Another way to strip laundry without borax and washing soda is to use Oxiclean.
How To Laundry Strip with Borax. Fill ⅔rds of a large tub with warm water. Add ½ cup of Borax for every gallon of water and allow to completely dissolve in the water.
Experts say laundry stripping isn't always necessary
While it may be satisfying to watch TikTok users' bathtubs turn dark from the muck in their towels and sheets, cleaning professionals don't recommend making laundry stripping part of your routine.
Before strip washing, items should be freshly laundered (either wet or dry). Then follow these instructions: Fill your bathtub (or a large bucket) with enough hot water to completely submerge the items.
Borax is most effective in hotter water, while washing soda is perfect for any temperature. When thinking about doing your own laundry detergent, consider that Borax is perfectly fine, but if you're having trouble getting things really clean then replacing borax with washing soda might be the way to go.
Amongst many other advantages, Borax assists in the saponification of any organic oils and fats that may be soiling the linen weave. Oxiclean on the other hand is a fully built Hydrogen Peroxide producing, colour-safe bleach additive which can be used as a soaker or as a detergent additive.
Give laundry a sniff.
If you notice a mildew scent or oily residue on your laundry post-wash, it was not effectively cleaned.
For this reason, we think your towels are a great place to start your laundry stripping journey. You can strip your towels in the bathtub, in a top-load washing machine, or even in a bucket that's large enough to hold the stripping load. In general, you'll use: 1 part Borax.
Anyone who doesn't want to go to all of this effort can also just do strip laundry in the washing machine. The only downside is that you won't be able to see the dirty water at the end, but it's a lot less messy and time-consuming than the bathtub method.