How does laundry stripping work?

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Laundry stripping is not a new process by any means, but it has shot up in popularity lately after the process was shared across social media platforms. Over time fabrics such as towels can become quite grimy and may become less absorbent. But you can extend the lifespan of these items by stripping them. Express.co.uk has compiled a guide to explain how laundry stripping works.

What is laundry stripping?

The method of laundry stripping, also known as strip washing, has become a hugely popular cleaning trend recently.

Normal laundering cleans your items, however, many people have noticed items are not as fresh or crisp as they once were.

Regular washing with laundry detergent can leave items less fresh than they were when they were first purchased.

Laundry stripping is a method of washing that aims to rejuvenate these items by removing detergent residue, especially from homemade laundry soap, fabric softener, minerals from hard water, and body oils which have collected on your laundry over time.

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What items can be stripped?

Generally, you can strip all textiles.

However, the process is best for items such as heavy-duty linens like towels, bathrobes and bedsheets.

If you decide to strip your clothing, you should proceed with caution, as clothing tends to be more delicate.

How does laundry stripping work

Materials:

  • Clean “freshly laundered” items, either wet or dry
  • Borax
  • Washing soda/soda crystals (sodium carbonate)
  • Laundry detergent.

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Method:

Start by filling your bathtub, sink or a large bucket with hot water.

Add borax, soda crystals and laundry detergent to the container in a 1:1:2 ration and mix together.

You should adjust the amounts of each based upon the amount of water you do.

Once the mixture has dissolved in the water, add your laundry and let it soak until the water has cooled.

This should take around four hours and stir it occasionally.

You will see the dirt and residue come off the items into the water as you stir.

You should follow-up by washing the items once more in the washing machine on a water-only cycle.

What to avoid when laundry stripping

Those stripping their clothing should know the process can cause dyes to run.

For that reason, you might prefer to only use this process on white towels and bedsheets.

If you are stripping colourful items, you should avoid mixing a red shirt with white socks or else you could end up with accidentally dyed clothing.

Avoid this technique on delicate or fragile items and be sure to check each item’s care label before starting.

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