Inside: Dealing with dirty sheets that don't seem to come clean? Get rid of mineral deposits, body oils, and dead skin with laundry stripping. It's easy to do in your washing machine at home!
Do you ever wash your laundry only to feel like it really isn't clean?
This often can happen with laundry, especially items like sheets and towels that tend to have body oil on them. It's gross I know.
Throughout the day while we wear our clothes or at night with sheets we get dead skin and body oils on the laundry.
Then, when we wash them the oils aren't completely removed.
Minerals in the water when we wash can also cling to the fabrics and make them dirty too.
Plus, plenty of laundry detergents contain animal fats that can get in the fabrics causing them to feel dirty.
Laundry stripping is the new craze taking the internet by storm.
What is laundry stripping?
Laundry Stripping is a great way to get sheets, towels, and clothes feeling crisp and clean again. It removes all of the build-up in your sheets, towels, and clothes.
If you have ever used cloth diapers you are proably used to stripping those.
If you are tired of your laundry coming out dirty check out these simple tips on laundry stripping.
Laundry Stripping
To strip your laundry you will need a few things and a couple of hours of time. Don't worry, it's pretty much a set it and forget process.
You get the sheets started and then let them soak. Don't worry, you won't need to spend all day cleaning your laundry.
You will need the items below.
- Laundry Detergent (preferably powder)
- Borax
- Washing Soda (note that this is not baking soda)
- A place to strip laundry ( I just use the washing machine)
The reason I recommend a powder detergent is because they are less likely to contain animal fats. You can read more about animal fats in detergents and what detergent I recommend in my article about how to clean front load washers.
How To Strip Your Laundry
There are two ways to strip your laundry. You can do it in the washing machine or in a large sink or tub.
I personally think it is WAY easier to do it in the washing machine if possible. Sometimes this depends on whether you have a top-load or front load washing machine.
Start filling the machine with the hottest water possible. Then add the laundry detergent plus 1/4 cup washing soda and 1/4 cup borax. Let the machine agitate for a minute until the powders are dissolved and then add your laundry.
If the laundry that you are stripping is really greasy like sheets I recommend adding a few drops of Dawn dish soap to the load.
Then let the machine agitate for a minute or two until the laundry is fully mixed in.
Next, set a timer for 1 hour and let the laundry soak.
After an hour let the machine agitate again for a minute or two to get it mixed up again. Then, set a timer again for an hour.
At the end of the second hour, you can run your load like normal. I recommend using the extra rinse cycle if you have it.
If you have really hard water then I also recommend running the laundry through the wash cycle one more time with a cup of vinegar. The vinegar can get rid of any of the hard water deposits that build up on the sheets or towels.
How To Strip Laundry In The Tub
If you can't strip the laundry in the washing machine then you will want to do it in a large sink or tub.
Fill the tub up with the hottest water that you have. Add laundry detergent for a large load plus 1/4 cup washing soda and 1/4 cup borax. Agitate the water for a minute until the powders are dissolved and then add your laundry.
Again, if you have greasy laundry then you can add a few drops of Dawn soap.
Add your laundry and agitate it in the tub. You can use a large slotted spoon or spatula to do this.
Next, set a timer for 1 hour and let the laundry soak.
After an hour agitate again for a minute or two to get it mixed up again. Then, set a timer again for an hour.
At the end of the second hour drain the tub and rinse the laundry. Squeeze out as much excess water as you can and move the laundry to the washing machine.
Run the machine on the hottest water possible. Again, if you have really hard water you may want to run the load again using a cup of vinegar.
Once you have stripped the laundry you can dry it as you normally would.
How Often Should You Strip Your Laundry
Stripping your laundry isn't something that needs to be done all of the time. I usually strip my sheets and towels about twice a year.
Using a laundry detergent that is free from animal fats and skipping fabric softener will help keep build-up from gathering on your laundry.
It will just depend on the minerals in your water and how oily the laundry gets. Once you start stripping your laundry you will find a schedule that works for you.
With these tips, you can start stripping your laundry so it seems crisp and clean all the time. You will love the way your laundry smells and feels.
Want some other easy laundry tips? Check out this ultimate list of laundry tips and tricks to make life easier.
