What is Laundry Stripping and Is It Really Worth It?

As a mother of two young kids and a guardian of two rambunctious dogs, I often feel like my life revolves around laundry. But sometimes, even if I thoroughly wash my clothes, towels, or sheets, they feel kind of funky when they come out of the machine. I did some research on how to clean my clothes more thoroughly, and that’s how I discovered the process of laundry stripping.

Laundry stripping uses specific products to remove buildup from fabrics and help them look and feel better. However, the process has its pros and cons — and there are some alternatives out there. Let’s dive into what I learned about laundry stripping so you can decide whether it’s right for you and your family.

What is Laundry Stripping?

Laundry stripping is the process of deep cleaning your clothes to remove the build-up of detergents, fabric softeners, minerals, and body oils that can make fabrics feel still and look drab.

If you ever feel like your clothes, towels, and linens are never fully clean, even after washing them thoroughly, you’re not imagining things. Our clothing and fabrics accrue a variety of residue over time that can be difficult to wash out.

Laundry stripping helps remove this residue from your laundry to help them look and feel like new again. If you’re considering laundry stripping, here’s how to do it. 

How to Strip Laundry

The process of laundry stripping involves soaking your clothes and other items in hot water with a couple of ingredients that can remove gunk you didn’t even know was lurking in your laundry. Gather the following ingredients to get started:

• Sodium borate (borax)
• Sodium bicarbonate (baking soda)
• Powder laundry detergent

Once you have your ingredients ready, follow these steps:

1. Fill your bathtub or a large sink with hot water. Stop once the tub is about halfway full.
2. Add the ingredients to the tub in the following ratio: one part borax, one part washing soda, and two parts laundry detergent.
3. Use your hand or a wooden spoon to mix the ingredients into the water using a swooshing motion.
4. Add your laundry to the tub or sink and submerge them in the water.
5. Soak the laundry until the water is cooled, stirring once an hour to ensure the ingredients can access the fabric completely. This should take around four hours in total.
6. Drain the water from the tub and gently wring out any water remaining in the clothes.
7. Wash the clothes on a normal cycle in cold water to remove any dirt or cleaning ingredients still on the fabric. Do not add detergent to the cycle.
8. Dry as usual in your dryer or on a laundry hanging rack.

Why People Are Drawn to Laundry Stripping

No one wants to deal with dull, dirty-looking clothes and linens after they’ve been washed — especially if, like me, you spend so much time and effort cleaning everyone’s clothes. So, if you notice your clothes have an unpleasant smell or still look dirty after being washed, you’ll probably start looking for solutions. Laundry stripping will be one of the top suggestions.

Laundry stripping has also grown in popularity thanks to viral social media posts. If you’ve noticed your clothes aren’t as clean as they used to be, and a video of someone stripping their laundry pops up on your algorithm, you’ll probably wonder whether you’ve found the solution to your laundry problems.

But before you start stocking up on borax and baking soda, it’s a good idea to do more research on whether it’s the best option for your family’s laundry.

Does Laundry Stripping Work?

So, does laundry stripping work? In short, yes — but keep in mind that it uses harsh detergents to do the job. 

Here’s what you can expect when you strip your laundry:

• Visibly dirty water
• Cleaner and whiter clothes
• Less stiffness once dry
• Fewer funky odors from sportswear

Several years ago, as a new mom, I used the laundry stripping method to clean my kids’ cloth diapers on a quarterly basis. I could tell when I’d gone too long between stripping because the diapers would no longer smell fresh when they first came out of the wash. Stripping cloth diapers was satisfying because I saw all the gunk left in the water after the process, which showed me just how gross the diapers were, even though I had soaked the diapers immediately after use and washed them daily to prevent them from becoming too stinky.

I have also used the laundry stripping method on stinky workout clothes to help them last longer. My husband and I both run regularly and noticed that our running clothes would have lingering odors even after we’d washed them. Stripping the clothes would get rid of the nasty smell, so we wouldn’t have to replace workout gear as often.

Common Results of Laundry Stripping

Laundry stripping is a proven way of removing detergent residue, dirt, oil, and mineral buildup from clothes, linens, and other fabrics. Once you’ve completed the process, you’ll notice that your clothes look brighter and smell fresher.

However, laundry stripping can potentially damage fabrics and could accelerate wear and tear over time. That’s why I have only ever used the process as needed and focused on keeping my clothes cleaner using other methods. With my kids’ sensitive skin, I want to avoid anything that could give them a rash or make their eczema act up. Plus, as a budget-conscious mom, I want my clothes to last as long as possible to keep costs down.

Pros and Cons of Laundry Stripping

Of course, laundry stripping has pros and cons—just like anything. Here are the main benefits and drawbacks of this process.

‍

Before stripping your laundry, consider whether the pros outweigh the cons. Although you will remove deep-set stains and odors and leave your clothes cleaner than ever, you’ll be introducing harsh chemicals to your family’s skin and potentially damaging the fabric or shortening its life.

Safety Tips for Laundry Stripping

If you decide to move forward with laundry stripping, make sure you do so safely. Follow these tips to ensure the process runs smoothly and you avoid damaging your clothes and skin.

• Use sparingly, ideally only a few times per year.
• Always wear gloves and ensure adequate ventilation.
• Avoid using on delicate, colored, or sensitive fabrics.

Consider Using a Safer Alternative: HeySunday

The best and safest alternative to laundry stripping is to use a quality detergent that gets your clothes clean without leaving residue, dirt, odor, and body oils behind. I switched to HeySunday laundry detergent sheets and haven’t looked back.

HeySunday’s products, which include laundry sheets, dryer sheets, and dishwasher sheets, are formulated without harsh chemicals. The active ingredients in the laundry sheets, which include powerful plant-based surfactants and other natural cleaning agents, get my family’s laundry cleaner than ever while preventing buildups and odors that may necessitate laundry stripping.

Plus, without harsh chemical ingredients, HeySunday laundry sheets are safe for my kids’ sensitive skin. I also love that HeySunday has eliminated the bulky plastic detergent jugs from my home, leaving my laundry room neat and uncluttered.

Benefits of Avoiding Laundry Stripping With Less Harsh HeySunday Detergent

If you’re not convinced to make the switch to HeySunday, consider these benefits that I, and hundreds of happy customers, have noticed.

• Gentle yet powerful cleaning action.
• Preserves the integrity of fabrics and clothing fibers.
• Environmentally conscious ingredients, safer for families and sensitive skin.
• Convenient to use without additional soaking or complicated processes.

Tips for a Healthier Laundry Routine

Changing to a healthier and more eco-friendly laundry detergent is one way to create a healthier laundry routine, but it’s not the only thing you can do. The following tips will help you build a healthier laundry routine for you and your family.

• Wash clothes regularly to prevent buildup.
• Choose mild, eco-friendly detergents suitable for sensitive skin
• Spot-treat stains immediately to reduce the need for intensive treatments.
• Air-dry clothing when possible to minimize damage and shrinkage.

Skip the Laundry Stripping and Switch to HeySunday Laundry Sheets

Laundry stripping is an effective way to remove built-up dirt and odors from your clothes, sheets, and towels, but it can shorten the lifespan of your clothing and could be harmful to those with sensitive skin. Instead of spending hours soaking your clothes in chemicals to remove built-up dirt, consider eco-conscious and gentle alternatives like HeySunday.