Over time, your linens and towels may become rigid, appear grimy and faded, or lose their ability to absorb water effectively. Before discarding them, consider this: The technique known as laundry stripping can eliminate accumulated residue that stems from excessive detergent or fabric softener use, mineral deposits from hard water, or oils from the body.

In 2020, this cleaning approach became a viral sensation online, and today, #Cleantok users continue to test the technique. Simply described, the process requires soaking fabric items in a borax solution. The method frequently produces bathtubs full of cloudy, dark water — suggesting the materials were far grimier than anticipated, though this isn't necessarily accurate.

Prior to attempting this popular cleaning technique, it's essential to understand precisely what laundry stripping entails and whether this labor-intensive procedure is appropriate for your garments and linens.

Understanding Laundry Stripping

Laundry stripping represents an intensive cleaning technique designed to eliminate residue from textiles. This accumulation may originate from body oils, hard water minerals, fabric softener, or excess detergent that has become embedded in the fibers of garments, towels, or linens. The procedure requires significant time investment: Towels, linens, or clothing must remain submerged in a hot water bath containing borax, washing soda (sodium carbonate), and laundry detergent until the water reaches room temperature — typically requiring no less than four hours.

Steps for Stripping Laundry

Required Materials:

• Borax
• Washing soda
• Laundry detergent

1. Fill a bathtub, sink, or substantial bucket with hot water. Combine borax, washing soda (sodium carbonate — distinct from baking soda), and laundry detergent using a 1:1:2 proportion. For bathtub quantities, use ¼ cup borax, ¼ cup washing soda, and ½ cup laundry detergent. Mix thoroughly until complete dissolution occurs.
2. Immerse "clean" towels or linens in the solution and allow them to soak until the water cools, typically requiring a minimum of four hours. Agitate them periodically to facilitate the release of buildup from the fabric into the water.
3. Empty the cloudy water, squeeze out your items, and process them through a complete wash cycle omitting detergent or softener. Alternatively, run them through a minimum of a rinse and spin cycle in your washing machine. Tumble dry the materials without using dryer sheets.

What to Avoid During Laundry Stripping

Refrain from treating colored textiles, delicate pieces, and materials susceptible to shrinkage using this approach. Laundry stripping performs optimally on white, light-colored, and colorfast bath towels and bedding that can withstand hot water cleaning without color loss. Always verify an item's care label — any piece requiring cold, cool, or warm water washing may experience fading or shrinkage from the elevated temperatures necessary for laundry stripping.

We advise against soaking colored materials, as the dyes may bleed — partially accounting for why the water frequently becomes dark brown or gray throughout the stripping procedure. Should you choose to soak colored items, keep them separate from whites to prevent unintended dye transfer.

Is Laundry Stripping Worthwhile?

Our assessment suggests it isn't. Though laundry stripping can prove effective, regular stripping of towels and linens shouldn't be necessary when following proper washing protocols. Additionally, laundry stripping demands considerable time and effort. Certain situations may warrant laundry stripping, particularly when you observe buildup following washes with homemade detergent, excessive or frequent dryer sheet or liquid fabric softener application, or residence in a hard water region without an installed water softening system.

Preventing the Need for Laundry Stripping

When you successfully prevent buildup in your textiles, laundry stripping becomes largely unnecessary. Implement these intelligent laundry habits with every load:

• Select a deep-cleaning detergent, such as GH Seal Star Tide Power Pods.
• Avoid overfilling the washing machine. Garments require adequate space for movement and circulation.
• Exercise restraint with detergent and fabric softener quantities. Always measure and adhere to package instructions based on load size and soil level. Consider omitting fabric softener or dryer sheets occasionally.
• When suds remain visible in the washer drum, execute an additional rinse cycle.
• Employ appropriate laundry sorting methods to prevent transferring soil between items. Launder heavily soiled pieces separately from cleaner ones.
• Upon noticing residue or desiring buildup prevention, incorporate borax, washing soda, or a rinse product like Downy Rinse & Refresh into a standard load during the wash cycle, following package directions for your load size and machine type.