Laundry

The Borax® mixture combines with the hot water to remove built-up residue that isn’t removed through a typical load of laundry. This includes residue left behind from detergent and fabric softeners. The overall process typically takes between 4 to 6 hours.

• Hot water opens up and loosens fibers and helps remove any non-mineral build-up, such as soap scum. 
• Borax® detergent and Arm & Hammer® washing soda (or baking soda) bind to minerals and pull them out as solid particles to be rinsed down the drain. 
• While powdered Tide® and Calgon® liquid water softener work with Borax® and washing soda by dissolving minerals, so they don’t stay stuck in your clothes. 

Stripping should be done every several months along with your regular laundry routine. 

Trust me, after your clothes soak for a few hours in this mixture, you will be shocked at how dirty the water gets! (And maybe how raunchy it smells, too.) But it’s worth it!

You can strip almost everything – everyday clothing and intimates, workout clothes, sports equipment, bedding, towels, rugs, and more. Everything is fair game. Just make sure you have similar colors together as dyes can run. 

Pro Tip: Do not strip anything with a silkscreen logo as they will come off. Also, check your tags! Don’t strip anything that can’t be washed in hot water such as wool or leathers. 

You will need a bathtub, wash basin or container large enough for the load you want to strip. The water should be deep enough to submerge your items in.

1. Sort your clothes by color (you do NOT want to strip your grandma’s white tablecloths with red pants) and place them in a tub with hot water until submerged.
2. Add the stripping recipe, stir until it dissolves (use a long mixing spoon), and let soak for at least 4 hours. Stir the water every hour. 
3. Drain the tub, wring everything out and place them in your washing machine.
4. Run a complete cycle with no laundry soap or fabric softener and dry as you normally would.