Laundry Stripping: Get the Down and (Less) Dirty
Basically laundry stripping removes a variety of build ups, including odors and body oils. Odors are a byproduct of sweat, which, although odorless in itself, interacts with bacterias on the skin. Skin bacterias break down the proteins that exist within sweat. Those smells transfer into sheets and clothes, and as many of you may have noticed, even clean laundry may not pass the good ole “sniff test”. Ew, right?… But heh, you’re not alone. Everyone has to contend with odors, as well as sebum, which is the oily business that gets secreted from our sebaceous glands. Sebum is waxy and oily and its main goal is to protect and moisturize skin. This is a good thing, but again, it can transfer to the textiles that we hold most dear.
Laundry stripping essentials:
Effective laundry stripping requires a specific process to be effective. You will need:
- A large tub
- Lots of hot water
- ¼ cup of washing soda, such as Arm and Hammer
- ¼ cup Borax
- ¼ cup of water softener, such as Calgon
- 1 overfull scoop of a detergent, such as Tide
- A broom handle (for swishing)
How do I strip laundry?
Believe it or not, for laundry stripping you start with clean laundry. It seems counterintuitive to pull clean laundry out of drawers and off shelves, but trust me, you’re going to be surprised at how much cleaner and softer your laundry is after you strip it, rinse it out, and dry it again.
- Fill up your tub with hot water
- Add soda, borax,softener, and detergent
- Toss in your clean laundry (color batch when possible)
- Swish laundry every hour or so
- After 4-6 hours, drain tub
- Wring out all textiles
- Toss them in the washing machine
- Run a rinse cycle (don’t use soap)
- Toss everything in the dryer
- Pull dried textiles out of the dryer
- Fold, and inhale the freshness!
Notice the water in the tub is turning brown as the grime is released from the sheets.
After the laundry has been successfully stripped you can wash and dry (without detergent) and make your bed with your fresh and clean sheets!
If you would like to find out how to whiten laundry without bleach then read this guide!
Resources for this project:
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Comments
Join the conversation
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Dawn in an electric washing machine will cause excessive suds & bubbles will overflow your machine & make a mess!
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I do NOT overload the washer!! Most times it is only half full and even when I use the large load setting my husbands jeans do not come clean and no it is not grease, it is just plain dirt!
Frequently asked questions
Have a question about this project?
How often do you strip the laundry?
I usually wash laundry in cold water. What about items that can’t be washed in hot water? Is there a plan B?
Will this soften towels