How to Strip Your Laundry 101
How to Strip Your Laundry
Have you guys jumped on the laundry stripping train yet? I finally tried stripping my laundry and was blown away with the results! I consider myself a very clean person, but I couldn't believe how black my water was by the end of the process. Talk about eye opening! Learning how to strip your laundry is all the rave in 2020, so I thought I would take a minute and explain the process to you so you can try it out yourself. If you would like a more visual tutorial you can watch the reel I made of the process HERE.
What is laundry stripping?
According to Good Housekeeping, "laundry stripping is a thorough method of soaking that gets rid of any leftover detergent, fabric softener, minerals from hard water, and natural body oils that have collected on textiles over a period of time." And my jaw is dropping! Who knew that just throwing your clothes in the washer and dryer could have so many side effects?
I'm telling you, when we were stripping our laundry it was one of the most disgusting and the most satisfying things I have ever witnessed. It WORKS you guys! So let's go over some of the main details that you should know...
What you will need to strip your laundry
- TIDE Powder Laundry Detergent
- 20 Mule Team Borax
- Arm & Hammer Laundry Booster
- Something to stir your laundry with
- Large Bucket
Instructions on how to effectively strip your laundry
1. Fill your bathtub, sink, or a large bucket with hot water. Add 1 cup tide, 1/4 cup laundry booster, 1/4 cup Borax. Stir until it dissolves completely.
2. Fully submerge all of your clean towels or sheets in the mixture and soak until the water has cooled, this usually takes at least four hours. But it is recommended to let the laundry soak anywhere from 4-6 hours.
3. Stir every hour while the laundry is soaking. This will help release any buildup on your laundry. Don't be alarmed when your water is pretty much completely black!
4. After the sixth hour you will ring out all of the clothing one by one (this is this is by far the worst part). You will then drain the murky water and throw all of your towels in the washer.
5. Wash all of the laundry on a rinse only cycle. You do not need to add any additional soap to the wash.
6. Tumble dry all of the laundry once it has been washed. Do not use dryer sheets.
Then you're done! It really is such an easy process, it just takes time. But good things always take time right?
Can you laundry strip all colors of clothes?
Yes! It works best on whites, lights, and colorfast bath towels and bed sheets. You can still soak colorful textiles. Be sure to avoid mixing bright colors with whites to avoid accidentally dyeing anything. While laundry stripping is suitable for any clothing or bedding items that can withstand high temperatures, you should avoid stripping delicate items — I would stick to a standard wash and dry for your delicate items. It should clean them completely.
Does laundry stripping work?
100% yes! After doing the whole process, I am a firm believer that laundry stripping is definitely cracked up to the hype. You shouldn't have to strip towels and sheets on a regular basis if you're washing them correctly. But this is a great hack to keep in your tool belt, so that you can strip your laundry every few months when you feel that it is necessary.
I hope that this tutorial on how to strip your laundry can help make the process easier for you! For more life hacks and tips be sure to check out our Instagram page @loveoliveco. I love sharing simple tips and tricks to help make your life easier!
