Gross-Yet-Sattisfying Laundry Stripping
I used this technique a few weeks ago and woah was it shocking! I thought my duvet was the whitest it could be after washing it, but after soaking in the solution for a few hours, the water it left behind was grey you guys!
So this weekend I decided to do it again, this time with my sheets. Ever feel like your sheets just don’t get completely clean after washing them? I don’t know what it is but I’ll feel the sheets after they’ve been washed and parts of them feel like they are still dirty—it’s annoying! I’m very happy to report that laundry stripping them WORKED WONDERS… You can watch the Reel I made of the process here.
What you need to know
This wash technique is called Laundry Stripping and it strips grime/detergent buildup and other residue from fabrics.
This method is best for items like sheets and towels that are heavily used. It is recommended that you do not use this technique often, nor on everyday clothes because it could be damaging. However, if there is a lingering odor or discoloration in your fabric, strip-washing is your saving grace.
How to Strip Wash Your Laundry
Wash the items as you normally would. It’s okay if you washed them recently and not right before—the items can be wet or dry for this process.
Fill bathtub or large bucket with enough hot water so that your fabrics can submerge.
Add 1/4 cup washing soda, 1/4 cup borax, and 1/2 cup detergent to the hot water.
Tip: I used castle soap instead of detergent and it seemed to work just as well.
Tip: Adjust the amounts based on how much water you're using. For a 5-gallon bucket, start with 1/2 tablespoon each of borax and washing soda and 1 tablespoon of detergent.) Using a large spoon, stir the water until the mixture dissolves.
Place your laundry into the mixture and let it soak for about 4 hours, stirring occasionally (I only did 3 hours for my sheets because frankly that was all the time I had!). The water will cool and the grime will bleed into the water, giving you that gross but satisfying visual!
Drain the water and wring out the items. Then wash them in the washing machine using the water-only, rinse and spin cycle.
