Late last year I tried laundry stripping for the first time and after seeing the nastiness it got out of our sheets & towels, I was hooked! It’s really simple to do (and honestly kind of addictive 🙈) so today I’m sharing the laundry stripping recipe and the step by step for getting the job done! (post includes affiliate links; full disclosure statement available {here})
What is Laundry Stripping?
While you might not be able to see it, over time your clothes and linens develop a build-up of residue from body oils, laundry detergent, and fabric softener. Laundry stripping is the deep cleaning process of stripping all of that residue away. The amount of nastiness that you can get out of your “clean” laundry through the laundry stripping process is both amazing and horrifying all at the same time 😂! It’s as simple as soaking your laundry for several hours and then throwing it in your washer and dryer – I’ll share the laundry stripping recipe along with the step by step of the laundry stripping process.
Laundry Stripping Recipe
The laundry strip recipe or formula is pretty simple. It’s a 1:1:2 ratio of Borax, washing soda, and powdered laundry detergent. For a standard bathtub that’s filled about ½ full with hot water, add:
How to Strip your Laundry Step by Step
1. Gather the Items You Want to Strip
Gather up the items that you want to strip – towels, sheets, and workout clothes are some of the most common items to strip but anything that’s machine washable in hot water is fair game! If it’s something that you’ve sweated in a lot or just worn or used the heck out of, chances are there’s a good bit of detergent build-up along with the build-up of oils and other human nastiness. You do laundry stripping on clean clothes (which makes it all the more crazy how much yuck you’ll see come out of them!).
I’m going to strip a set of sheets, some older towels that my sensitive nose thinks have a slight smell to them when wet, and my daughter’s duvet cover:
The duvet cover is a real test because my daughter is always kicking her top sheet off and using only her duvet. Over time it’s gotten discolored in spots and even bleach hasn’t been able to restore it to a whiter white.
Use common sense by sorting the laundry you’re stripping by color just like you would when using the washing machine. Since we’re using hot water, you obviously don’t want to put a red t-shirt in with your white sheets and you only want to strip non-delicate items that are ok to put in hot water.
2. Fill Your Tub
Fill your bathtub about ½ full (or only as full as you need to in order to fully submerge the items you’re stripping – I fill my large soaking tub about ⅓ full) with HOT water. If you have a large sink, you can also use that as long as you don’t have too many items (but beware that your sink will be out of commission for several hours!). You can also use a top-loading washing machine.
3. Add the Ingredients From the Laundry Stripping Recipe
Sprinkle the Borax, washing soda, and powdered detergent (plus the Calgon if you’re using it) into the tub using the laundry stripping recipe above. Stir the water to dissolve the powders and mix them together. Use gloves throughout the laundry stripping process for safety.
4. Submerge Your Laundry and Stir
Submerge your items in the water and stir them around the tub a bit. From this point out, you’ll want to come back every hour or so to stir (and become horrified at how gross the water is getting), allowing your items to soak for 5-6 hours. This is what my previously clean blue water looked like after an hour of soaking:
This is after three hours:
And this was at the end after 5 hours (I pulled the clothes back so you could see the nastiness in its full glory) – so gross!! And remember, this was CLEAN laundry!
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5. Remove Laundry & Wash
The last step is to drain your tub, squeeze excess water out of your laundry, and then run it through a wash cycle in your washing machine (don’t add any detergent). I then do an extra rinse cycle to make sure all of the gross stuff that was in the tub water is totally rinsed out of it.
Then throw everything in the dryer as usual and marvel at your super clean and white laundry!
So how did my batch of laundry look and smell after I stripped it? Everything definitely looked whiter – I could tell a noticeable difference especially with the set of sheets I washed. When my daughter comes home from college to visit, she’ll have a cleaner than clean bed to hop into:
Bedroom Sources: Pendant light | Bench | Duvet cover | Bed skirt | Blue fringe end pillows | White tassel pillows | Lumbar stripe pillow | Lamp | Grasscloth wallpaper (Powder Blue) | Headboard, nightstand, & art prints are no longer available
And my towels that had a funk to them passed my sensitive nose sniff test when wet. As far as my daughter’s duvet, it didn’t restore all of the discolored areas to the original super white white but it definitely whitened them up quite a bit which was a job even bleach hadn’t been able to do so I was happy with the results! If you guys try laundry stripping, let me know how it works out for you!
For any of you that are new around here, if you’re looking for more details or sources for anything in our bathroom, you can find those {here} in my master bathroom reveal post:
and you can get the details on our laundry room {here}:
And be sure to check out some of my other favorite cleaning posts:
How to Clean Your Washing Machine {here}
The Best Way to Clean Stainless Steel Appliances {here}
Shark vs. Dyson Cordless Vacuum Face-Off {here}
XO,
Kelly says
I NEVER use fabric softeners for this reason besides how bad it is for you. I use vinegar when you would use your fabric softener. I don’t get any build up. Whites stay white. Clothes stay soft. No smells. Game changer.
Donna says
I also use vinegar as a rinse., I do put a little tea tree oil to help with disinfecting as well.
Lisa says
I can’t wait to try this Kris!!! Thanks for sharing!
Teresa J. says
Amazing much needed info! Thank you so much for this. Can’t wait for more tips and tricks. 🙏
Bridget says
Wow, I can’t wait to do this. I have white blankets that I can get clean and white towels that won’t bleach back to a pretty white. Thank you for sharing this nifty trick.
Kyky Amelia says
👍
Mj says
I read about this recent trend and the fact that much of the discolor in the water is actually from the detergents. It makes you feel like your laundry is cleaner though. 🙂
Kris Jarrett says
I disagree that the discoloration is from the detergents. My bath water wasn’t at all discolored before I put my laundry into it. And people who don’t use fabric softeners often find that their water doesn’t get that dirty (fabric softeners are one of the biggest culprits for build up)
Anonymous says
The detergents plus the water turn greyish over time, that’s why in plumbers/sanitary language, the black water comes from dthe toilet, and the GREY water, is what comes from laundry, shower, … It turns grey over time…
Toni says
I’d never heard of laundry stripping before. I’ve heard many people say that they don’t think the front loading washers clean clothes as effectively. My sister sold hers and went back to a top loader. It will be interesting when I try this if my bed linens cause the water to be so dirty. I have a top loading agitating washer. Hhhhmmmm? Thanks for sharing.
Kris Jarrett says
Report back once you do it! 🙂
Erin says
Kris! Oh my word.. I have been wanting to try this! MIND BLOWN at how dirty that water is after soaking CLEAN laundry! Yeah.. I’ll be busy this afternoon.. ha! Great post. I miss you!! xo
Kris Jarrett says
Let me know how it goes when you try it!!
Gail says
Wow, Kris! That is amazing but I’m not that surprised. I’ve wondered how well my machine washes my sheets and towels because they have gotten so dingy, even washing on the hottest cycle they still don’t look fresh and clean. I’d love to try this but wish my bathtub was closer to my laundry room. I guess I could put them in a large plastic bag to carry down to the washer. Thank you, you always have the best tips!
Kris Jarrett says
If you have a top loader you can just do the soaking in there! But if not, yes it can be a hassle to get them to the laundry room. We have a 1st floor master so not so bad for us fortunately 🙂
Julie says
Kristen, this is a great recipe and I’ve been doing something similar over the years. My grandma taught me this when I was a kid. Borax, washing soda and powder detergent. Rinse twice and hang in the sun. Another reader said sunlight is key. It surely is for whites. Liquid detergent and fabric softener is bad news. Leaves a greasy residue on your sheets that will build up over time and discolor and trap funk. Bleach sanitizes, but doesn’t clean. You must have a soap for that (surfactant). Bleach will initially whiten, but over time it can actually yellow and it WILL make linens threadbare. For softening, use dissolved baking soda in the rinse water. Sunshine for whitening. Our grandmothers and greatgrams knew the score. It’s time for me to do the strip wash, but it shouldn’t be too bad. I don’t even mind wrangling wet towels onto the line. If they are too stiff for you coming off the line, run a steam iron over it. Will leave your sheets crisp, but silky smooth. I know, I know- absolute pain in rear.
Julie says
Sorry Kris!! My auto correct called you Kristen. Grrrr….I really get ticked off when I’m called Julia, with an “a”. Sorry sorry!!
Kris Jarrett says
Your grandma absolutely knew what she was talking about – you’re doing everything the right way!!
Lori L. says
I tried this last month with our sheets and towels. The water never got especially dirty nor did the laundry look or smell any different than usual. But it did make a huge difference with my workout wear which is generally synthetic blends. Before trying this with towels which is quite laborious, try it with the clothes you’ve been lounging around in during lockdown.
Melissa says
Lori, I’m curious about stripping workout wear. I would love to try stripping mine but they all have cold water instructions. How do these synthetic clothes fair in hot water? Has anyone tried it. I know some of the better brands use fabric that’s treated to be “anti-stink” and wonder if this treatment would remove that “function”. Anyone else tried this?
Nancy says
I just stripped a bunch of my lulu leggings after putting it off for this very reason. I used room temp water and it did the trick! Washed in cold cycle after (without detergent) and the result was awesome!
Kris Jarrett says
So good to know that it worked even with room temp water!
Peggy C says
I use the Oxiclean in clothes that have any odor. Finally after many years of struggling with family soccer gear etc… it works!
Irene says
I ran hot water into the tub..added the cleaning solutions and agitated the water to dissolve…then I added cold to get tepid. Then I added my colors. Worked well for me
Sharon Brosey says
Hi Kris… never heard of this but I plan to try stripping my sheets and white towels. I usually bleach but my towels seem to have a not so fresh smell anymore. I’m going to use my top load washer as I don’t want to haul wet towels from the upstairs bath down the stairs.
Do you think this has anything to do with the newer style front load washers and the small amount of water they use? I heard a lot of complaints about them so I purchased a top loader with an agitator. I like the fact that the laundry is completely submerged in water and that it’s being moved around.
I’m also ready to paint our bedroom white so have saved your blog on favorite white paints. Hopefully this will cut down on the number of samples I usually buy.
Thanks for posting.
Sharon
Kris Jarrett says
I don’t know – I think it has more to do with the products that are being used to wash clothes (plus fabric softeners) but I always wonder if my clothes get rinsed as well with our front loader when they’re not submerged in water like a top loader… Good luck with your bedroom!
Deanne Otto says
When I purchased my first front load washer years ago, it came with a CD that said to put a load of towels in with no detergent or softener and run. They said to watch for the residual soap in the load, and darn if they were not correct. Turns out, even with HE detergents you don’t need the recommended amount as it’s too much. I also found out from more than one repair person the same goes for your dishwasher. Try using half the amount of detergents, and don’t use the pack because that is way, way too much detergent.
And by the way you should NEVER use softener on modern gym clothing, check the label, as most use synthetic fabrics which only gunk up with softener. Finally, don’t use softener on towels as it just gums them up too. For these items use wool dryer balls.
—In Ohio
P.S. Bleach (and many modern detergents) always yellow clothes after a few uses, that’s why Clorox has “brighters” in it which my military husband cannot use on any of his uniforms, only non-brightened formulas like Eco now found in most grocery stores.
Christine Logue says
I use soda in the front HE loader and pour vinegar in the bleach bin. This also helps to clean the inside of the washer.
Amy says
I completely agree that it’s the water efficient machines that cause this buildup. I had a top load washer that finally quit working after 24 years. I bought a new water efficient machine and my clothes and household linens have never looked worse. I’ve tried different detergents and laundry helper products, I’ve bleached my towels, sheets, etc but nothing gets it all out. I use borax on a regular basis and it helps but there is a definite difference since switching to a different type of washing machine which was a top-of-the-line model. Now I’m on the hunt for a new washing machine that’s not water efficient. Or an old one that I can get repaired.
Bernadette Dunegan says
I saw this same thing with mine. There is an over sized load option that fills the whole tub. I used that setting unless I’m only running a couple items which I almost never do. I noticed washing sweaty clothes they still didn’t smell good coming out of the washer. It’s not saving water if they need washed again so I put it on the full tub setting.
RW says
This recipe is actually pretty much what I use for homemade laundry detergent. But I use liquid Dawn soap instead of Tide. (Don’t know what the Calgon does. Fragrance?) And my top-loading washer does not run hot water for the whole washer load – only the first soaking. And I suspect I’m not using nearly that much in a washer load.
The first load I ran with my recipe, years ago, jeans that had a bit of yellow cast in the faded areas came out blue and white. That was the build up of detergent. I don’t see that in our clothes any more.
After looking at your photos, I might try a stronger version of my recipe and try stripping whites. (But I no longer buy white bed linens, though the look is pretty… it’s not worth dealing with the yellowing to me. I also do not buy white underclothing for kids! Now that colors are available. 🙂 )
Mary says
Calgon is a water softener, so if you are in a hard water area it might help. The company makes other things, too–like bathing products, but this recipe calls for the water softener. It comes in two forms, powder and liquid. I have only ever used the powder but it appears the liquid is more readily available (Walmart sells it for about $5.50, so Amazon’s price of $30 is outrageous). The original formula likely contained phosphates. I don’t know the difference between the powder and the liquid now. But, just as this recipe calls for powder detergent because liquid detergents have additives that contribute to the buildup you’re trying to strip, maybe the liquid Calgon does also?
I know what you mean about the yellowing sheets. I have some I’ve resorted to using because they are the *only* ones that fit my latex mattress (it’s not a depth issue). I was able to remove the stains with an oxygen bleach soak in the sun for several hours. The sunlight was key.
Christine logue Logue says
I dye my yellowing sheets when I can’t get them white anymore.
Brenda Norman says
I had some rust stains on a pair of good white pants. Spent like ten dollars on a bottle of rust remover from Amazon. Nada – zilch – nothing. So I figured, what did I have to lose? I squeezed fresh lemon juice on the places and then covered the places with salt. Left them out in the sun for several hours. With trepidation, I looked at the pants. NOT a BIT of RUST REMAINED!!!!
Irene says
I recently started soaking my whites, sheets towels, and husbands underwear in oxi stain remover and dawn. Tired of everything looking yellow. My bath water looks like yours! Will have to try your formula next time I do it. I didn’t have this problem when I had a top loading machine cause I used to run the load thru fill and the first couple of minutes of agitation, then lift the lid and let it soak for an hour or two. But my front loading doesn’t give me this option, I’m waiting for it to die.
Diane Ward says
Awesome idea! Going to try this now.
Melanie says
RW, Do you have recipe you use when making your homemade laundry detergent? If so, will you share?
Beckie says
Would liquid Tide work or does it need to be a powdered detergent? Thanks for this information. I’m going to try it.
Kris Jarrett says
It’s recommended that you use powdered! It doesn’t have to be Tide but should be a detergent with enzymes.
Denise says
Interesting article! Thanks for sharing the know-how.
Calypso in the Country says
I’m totally doing this! My husband’s work out clothes never seem to get very clean and then he uses highly scented Tide pods which give me a headache. He knows not to use them when I’m home! Thanks so much for the tips. I’m sure it feels so satisfying to remove all that build up. Have a great week, Kris!
Shelley
Kris Jarrett says
You’ll have to let me know how it goes for you!
Debra Lee says
I’ve done this so often and yes completely shocking.
I add Powdered Cascade which will breakdown helping remove even more nasty left behind proteins!!!