What is it? Is it worth doing? How safe is it for clothing and linens? And does it really work?īefore you grab a box of borax and get to work, read this guide where Good Housekeeping Institute Cleaning Lab Executive Director Carolyn Forté details the ins and outs of laundry stripping, including if it's actually the most effective way to clean your bed linens, no matter how often you launder them.

But with all the fascination around laundry stripping comes many questions about it, too. Not only is the transformation incredibly satisfying to watch, but it has also made many people question just how clean their sheets and towels really are. It's understandable why this soaking method has gone viral - the TikToks show tubs filled with murky brown water after letting supposedly clean laundry soak for a few hours. But laundry stripping really became a household phenomenon after MrsLaurenElms posted a before-and-after TikTok in early 2020 - and since then, TikToks about laundry stripping have racked up hundreds of millions of views. In fact, the Good Housekeeping Institute Cleaning Lab experts still use a version of this technique to remove residue and restore the test bath towels we use when evaluating fabric softeners. Long before it became a TikTok sensation, it was a method used by cleaning professionals. The concept of laundry stripping isn't new. Dramatic viral photos show how the process removes detergent build-up and hard water residues, turning colors bright and making fabrics soft again. And that's the appeal of laundry stripping and the reason it has become such an internet phenomenon.

But if your best bed sheets, softest towels and favorite clothing items, despite your best efforts, are looking dingy and feeling scratchy, you know you need to take action. It comes as no surprise that doing laundry the right way isn't an easy task and can quickly turn into a never-ending one, especially with multiple people in the household. 'Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links.'

Laundry stripping without borax