Soaking laundry items for a period of time to get rid of excess detergent, fabric softener, sweat and minerals are becoming really popular here in the UK.
The only issue is that a lot of laundry stripping recipes say you need borax, and this particular ingredient isn’t available here in the UK.
So, what’re you going to do? Check out these alternative laundry stripping recipes, of course!
Keep on reading to find out what you need to do…
Recipe 1 – Soda Crystals & Borax Substitute
So, here’s your first recipe. This is probably the best one on this list because you’re actually going to be using a product called ‘Borax Substitute’, which is very similar to borax itself. Plus, you’ll also be using soda crystals, which are pretty tough!
You should adjust the amounts above according to the tub you plan on using. The measurements above are for a bathtub. Put half the amount of ingredients in if you use a bucket.
What you need to do:
Wash your clothes first.
Fill the bath/bucket/large tub with hot water.
Pop your Marigolds on.
Add in the ingredients listed above.
Use a large spoon to mix the ingredients together.
Pop the clothes in.
There’s no need to agitate the clothes, just leave them alone.
Leave the clothes to soak for about 3 hours, or overnight, but this depends on whether or not you have time.
Get rid of the water.
Wash the clothes in the washing machine on a hot wash.
Dry your clothes as normal.
If you fancy trying something a little more ‘homemade’ check out Recipe 2 below.
Recipe 2 – White Vinegar & Bicarbonate of Soda
So, this next recipe is a little closer to home, in the sense that the items you’re going to be using are probably buried in your kitchen cupboards already! So, you won’t have to part with your pennies!
You should adjust the measurements above according to the tub you plan on using. The measurements above are for a bathtub. Put half the amount of ingredients in if you use a bucket.
What you need to do:
Wash your clothes in the washing machine.
Fill the bath/bucket/large tub with hot water.
Pop your gloves on.
Add the ingredients listed above to your chosen tub.
Use a large spoon to mix the ingredients together.
Pop your clothes in.
There’s no need to squash the clothes around, just let them settle.
Soak for about 2 hours, or overnight, but this depends on your schedule.
Get rid of the water.
Wash the clothes in the washing machine on a hot wash only.
Dry your clothes as normal.
Before you jump right in, read the points below. Some of the points may seem very obvious to you, but nonetheless, each point is important.
Points to Consider…
Here are a few things you should think about before doing a strip wash.
Ask yourself if this type of wash is absolutely essential – most clothes are fine after a normal washing machine wash cycle.
Don’t mix colours and whites because the dye has been known to run.
There’s no need to do this type of wash on a weekly basis with the same items.
If you only want to strip wash a small load you could use a bucket.
Not everyone will get the desired end result after doing this wash.
Soaking the clothes takes time, so be patient.
Not good for delicates.
Location
Where you do this laundry stripping exercise is important because it takes time. What do I mean?
Well, let’s say you use your bath, you get all your laundry and products ready, you put everything in the bath, then 30 minutes later someone says they want to use the bath!
You’ll end up pouring the water away, wasting products and money. And you won’t have stripped your clothes as planned. Plus, you’ll have to restart the whole procedure again.
So, my advice is, think about where you’re going to be working because you don’t want to be disturbed. If it’s easier to use a small bucket, do so! Don’t assume that using your bath is the wisest option.
How Often Should You Do This?
If you’re cleaning your items properly, laundry stripping is something you shouldn’t have to do regularly.
If you live somewhere that is known to have hard water, then you may need to perform this ritual every few months. Additionally, if you see that there’s a build of detergent on your items, then you need to strip your laundry.
Otherwise, every 6-12 months is fine.
TIP: Read the labels on your detergent’s packaging and stick to the amounts noted, so that you don’t overdo it on the detergent front.
Conclusion
Laundry stripping is increasing in popularity here in the UK. However, this type of washing is not something that needs to be done on a weekly basis. If at all in some cases.
If you do plan on trying this out, follow the recipes above! But, remember, not everyone will see massive results after stripping their laundry, so don’t be too disheartened if this exercise doesn’t go as planned.
Check out our video on laundry stripping on our YouTube channel and take a peek at all of our laundry and cleaning tips and tricks:
Bethan has a passion for exploring, reading, cooking and gardening! When she’s not creating culinary delights for her family, she’s concocting potions to keep her house clean!
