What Is Laundry Stripping?

Laundry stripping removes unwanted residue from clothes, linen, towels, and more. While it’s a fairly simple process, laundry stripping is more of a last resort rather than a system to rely on. While prevention is better than a cure, learning about stripping dos and don’ts is a good idea, just in case you need to give your garments an extra clean. 

What is Laundry Stripping?

Laundry stripping is a method of washing clothes or garments that removes detergent residue or residue from fabric softeners, hard water minerals, or oils, all of which can slowly accumulate over time. Put most simply, the process involves soaking your fabrics in hot water with a sodium borate solution, also known as Borax. In doing so, your fabrics are “stripped” naked of any residue clinging to them.

Laundry stripping can be time-consuming, depending on how much laundry you wish to strip, so it’s best to set aside plenty of time to ensure that you do it properly. 

Why is Laundry Stripping Necessary?

But why strip your load at all? What’s so bad about a little buildup of residue? A buildup of residue from your detergent, fabric softener, or body oils can occur if too much of these items are used. 

Over time, the residue can be left behind in the fabrics of your clothes, towels, and bed sheets, leading them to lose their color. For example, white bed sheets might start to look a bit darker. Your fabrics might also feel stiffer or scratchier, and the unwanted residue can increase skin irritation. 

While choosing the right detergent for sensitive skin is crucial, using too much detergent can increase flare-ups or skin sensitivity. Likewise, too much residue can also lead to unwanted smells in your clothes or linen, which are hard to remove when the residue has built up over a long period. 

Finally, stripping is necessary to prolong the life of your linen, clothes, and garments. The residue in your garments can wear away the fibers, weakening and damaging your items over time. It’s best to strip your laundry before your clothes’ fibers get too weakened or damaged, but don’t go too crazy. Strip your clothes only a few times a year and only if needed. Using laundry detergent sheets to control detergent quantities is an excellent preventative method. 

Benefits of Laundry Stripping

• Removes unwanted detergent or oil residue
• Can brighten clothes/garments 
• Reduces the chance of scratchy or stiff garments
• Prevents skin irritation caused by residue buildup

Step-by-Step Instructions for Laundry Stripping

1. How to Mix the Stripping Solution

Make sure that you mix the correct quantities of stripping solution. In a bathtub or large container, you’ll need to mix very hot water with: 

• 1/4 cup of Borax
• 1/4 cup of washing soda
• 1 Freddie detergent sheet

Ensure it’s all mixed well, but be careful not to burn yourself or slip on water spillages. Once you’re satisfied that the water and stripping solution are well mixed, you can move on to the next step. 

2. Soaking Your Laundry

Before putting your clothes or linen into the hot water, ensure they have been washed. They don’t have to have been dried, but putting dirty clothes or garments into this solution will create a pool of extra dirty water, and the stripping technique will lose efficacy. 

Add your items to the solution in your bathtub or container and be sure to fully submerge them, again being careful of the hot water. When all your laundry is submerged, leave it for 4 to 5 hours or overnight, depending on how much laundry you have.

Once you’ve left the laundry for 4 or 5 hours, it should be ready to launder again. Remember that the laundry will be wet and heavy, so it’s important to have a waterproof basket or bucket to transport it. 

3. Washing the Stripped Laundry 

Once you’ve stripped the laundry, it’s time for another wash. The home-made Borax solution will be in the fibers, so it’s not wise to dry it before using the washer. 

You can gently handwash your items if you prefer or if they’re labeled as hand-wash only. However, if you have a larger load, running it through a rinse-only cycle is smart. In this case, you don’t need to add laundry detergent.

Aftercare: Rinsing and Drying Your Laundry

That’s the process nearly done! Once you’ve finished the laundry stripping process, it’s essential to dry your items. There’s no right or wrong with the drying process; be it tumble or air-dry, either will suffice to finish the stripping technique. Now, your fresh laundry is ready to go.

Tips to Avoid Residue Buildup Between Strips

You needn’t rely on the laundry stripping method, as it’s not always necessary, and you can avoid wasting waterif you don’t need to.

1. Use The Right Amount of Detergent 

It's important to use the right amount of washing detergent in your loads. When you use liquid detergent, it can be hard to calculate the right amount. If you make a mistake, removing the liquid once it’s in the machine is a mess. Using laundry detergent sheets like Freddie is a great way to combat this quantity problem, as they come pre-measured and tearable.

2. Add A Rinse Cycle

If you’re concerned about residue buildup, adding a rinse cycle at the end of your wash will help rinse away any unwanted residue left over from the initial rinse. Remember that water wastage causes problems worldwide, so it’s crucial not to waste water where possible. So, consider only using an extra rinse cycle if you’ve been overzealous with your detergent.

3. Don’t Overfill the Washing Machine

Overfilling your machine can mean that detergent gets stuck in the fibers, and the water from the rinse cycle can’t reach this residue. While it’s good for the planet not to use too much energy, everything must be balanced. So, ensure you aren’t running extra rinse cycles because your load is overpacked. 

Frequently Asked Questions

How Often Should You Strip Laundry?

You shouldn’t rely on stripping laundry because doing this too often can damage the fibers of your clothing. Two to three times a year is best, but remember that laundry stripping can be prevented by taking extra care when washing your laundry. 

What Laundry Should You Not Strip?

You need to be extra careful with dark fabrics, as hot water may cause the dye to run. Likewise, workout clothes made from special materials should stay out of the stripping tub. Cold-water clothes and woolen items shouldn’t be stripped. 

Does Stripping Laundry Get Rid of Smells?

Laundry stripping can remove unwanted smells caused by residue buildup over time. While laundry stripping can’t eliminate stains and may not be as effective against stain-induced smells, stripping the residue will remove most unpleasant odors. 

Laundry Stripping Helps Remove Residue From Clothing

Laundry stripping is a simple process and is an excellent solution for removing unwanted residue from your garments. However, prevention is always better than a cure, and it’s essential to consider using detergent sheets with carefully selected ingredients that help reduce excess product use.

Freddie is designed to minimize excess packaging and simplify your laundry routine. Why not check out Freddie’s laundry detergent sheets today and streamline your weekly wash with pre-measured sheets?