The Ultimate Guide to Laundry Stripping UK

Written By Alex Petrović

Certified Sleep Consultant

29 March 2024 3 min read

Looking for a new way to “strip down” your laundry? If you are – keep reading as we're about to dive into the world of laundry stripping UK-style!

Picture this: you've just finished doing a load of laundry, but when you take your freshly-washed sheets out of the machine, something's not quite right. They don't smell as fresh as you'd hoped, and there are still some stubborn stains that just won't budge. So, what do you do?

 

Well, if you're in the UK, you might want to try out a little something called laundry stripping. Don't worry, we're not talking about taking your clothes off and jumping into a tub of soapy water (although, hey, whatever floats your boat!).

 

Instead, laundry stripping is a cleaning hack that's been taking the UK by storm, and we're here to give you the lowdown on what it is, how it works, and whether it's worth giving a go. So grab your rubber gloves and let's get stripping!

What is laundry stripping

Laundry stripping is like a deep cleanse for your bedding (or clothes, or pretty much anything made of fabric). Think of it as a magical potion that sucks out all the icky stuff that your regular detergent can't handle.

And if you have kids, or just tend to spill wine more frequently than you'd care to admit, laundry stripping will definitely come in handy! So, stick around as we discuss everything you need to know about this little hack. And who knows, it might just revolutionise your laundry game.

Is laundry stripping effective?

Oh my goodness, stripping laundry is seriously effective – it's like a miracle worker for your bedding!

You know how your sheets and pillowcases can start to look a little…well, not-so-white after a while? And, you know how, sometimes, after all that washing, your laundry still has that musty smell that you can't seem to get rid of? 

Laundry stripping takes care of that in a flash. It's like a time machine that transports your bedding back to its pristine, freshly-bought state.

And don't even get us started on the stains – laundry stripping can handle even the most stubborn of spills and marks.

Is laundry stripping safe?

Let us put your mind at ease – strip washing your bedding is totally safe!

While the idea of using borax and other cleaning agents might sound a little intimidating, as long as you follow the instructions carefully, your clean laundry will be A-OK. The thing is, over time, regular washing can leave behind all kinds of yucky stuff in your laundry – dead skin cells, body oils, and even dust mites. But, when you strip-wash your laundry, you're getting rid of all that nastiness, which can actually be good for your health!

What can you ‘strip'

You can strip all sorts of things in the laundry. Bed sheets, bath towels, even those fancy tablecloths you use once a year for special occasions – they can all benefit from a good strip. Of course, you can also strip pyjamas and all sorts of clothes. 

Basically, if it's made of fabric and you want to give it a new lease on life, strip it!

Laundry stripping recipe

Okay – there are many laundry-stripping recipes among us. But, we searched and searched… and we found the best recipe of them all.

So, follow along and see for yourself how it all works out in the end! And if you have some laundry stripping tactics of your own, or just want to share your cleaning success story, be sure to leave it in the comments.

You will need the following

• Borax (or some borax substitute)
• Washing soda (which is not the same as baking soda!)
• Laundry detergent
• Fabric softener

Instructions

• Go to your bathroom and fill your bathtub (or some larger bucket) with hot water. One more time – the water must be hot, so, not warm water, but the hottest water you can get. Then, in the water, add borax, washing soda, and laundry detergent following the 1:1:2 ratio. Stir it all – but don't use your hands – instead use a large spoon or a large stick.
• Next, put all your bedding (or anything else you want to ‘strip') in the previously made mixture and make sure everything is completely submerged until the water has cooled (this will last for a few hours). Don't forget that you have to stir everything with that wooden spoon during the stripping process as well – this will help dissolve all the build-up ‘living' in your bedding.
• Finally, drain all that murky water – it will be disgusting, so brace yourself! Then, put everything into your washing machine, and choose a full wash cycle – this will further clean your bedding and remove any excess detergent left. And, when it comes to drying, go for a tumble dry cycle, but don't use dryer sheets.

To sum up

And there you have it – everything you need to know about laundry stripping UK-style!

It may sound a little daunting at first, but once you get the hang of it, you'll wonder how you ever lived without it. Whether you're dealing with stubborn stains, musty smells, or just want to give your laundry items a little extra TLC, stripping your laundry can make all the difference. Plus, it's a great way to remove residue and build-up that can be hiding in your linens and towels, leaving them feeling fresh and fluffy. So don't be afraid to strip your laundry – your clothes (and your nose) will thank you for it!

Spread the word

Recommended reading:

• Can You Wash Mattress Topper?
• How Often Should You Wash Your Sheets – All You Need to Know
• How To Wash A Mattress Pad & Make It New?
• How To Wash A Weighted Blanket At Home?
• How To Wash Silk Pajamas Properly?
• Should You Wash New Bedding?
• Which Pillows Can Be Washed And Which Can't?

About the author

Alex Petrović

Sleep Consultant

A CPD certified Sleep Consultant with more than 2000 hours of research into all the different ways we can get a great night's sleep. As a former insomniac, I know how difficult life can be without a nightly recovery and I love that I get to share everything I've learned with you all. So hopefully we can all sleep soundly!