Laundry Stripping Hack | Washing Clothes in the Bathtub!

[@TheSecretSlob]

One thing I forgot to mention in the video - start with clean laundry! 😃 And if you know alternative way of getting the stink out of cloths / clothes, let me know! 🎉🥰

[@resagaroda]

Great idea! I do this with Oxy Powder and hot water in a bucket. It's amazing for taking out stains of any kind. But this recipe looks awesome for when the oxy runs out. AKA: when I can't get to Costco anymore!!! ❤ Love your channel!

[@kimlindseyOH]

Thanks for adding this to the video! :-)

[@thehadster7043]

Try 1/4 cup of ordinary white vinegar in the fabric softener slot of your machine. You MIGHT smell a lingering bit of vinegar when the clothes are still wet, but the dryer should fix that. If there is any lingering vinegar smell after the dryer, it will dissipate in a few hours. I use this method for smelly dog bed covers. Also, for pet messes on the floor, vinegar and water works wonders. Don't let it sit too long on wood floors. Clean up the mess first, and then a swipe with vinegar and water will eliminate the smell. This is what my mom used in the decades before Natures Miracle pet cleaning supplies. AND, never forgetting what can come out of children, this works WONDERS on the results of an upset tummy and what Mom called the "woopsy-daisy" mess when things come back instead of taking their normal route out of the body, and when the normal route happens very quickly and small children can't make it to the toilet on time. If we had the tummy flu, a bucket was placed by our bed at head level, and an inch of water with 1/4 cup of vinegar was placed in the bucket. This cut the smell until she could get to the bucket.

[@allisongryski8452]

Wash all towels/rags on hot (if you don't already). The trend to washing on cool water is part of the problem for many people. Heat is part of what makes the soap work and dissolve the grime. If you try handwashing a stain in cold vs. hot water, the difference in effectiveness is clear. Hanging to dry in the sun when possible is also amazing for removing stubborn stains and smells.

[@lisamorand9607]

Lysol sanitizer liquid. Great video.

[@doriscolwell8802]

I use to do this when my boys were babies before disposable diapers...it wasnt called strip washing then. It was called "my husband is in school, my washer is broke and we dont have money to buy a washer" LOL...I love love love your backsplash!

[@TheSecretSlob]

Lol! That is awesome 😃💜 I was thinking it would be good for cloth diapers!

[@kimlindseyOH]

I love her backsplash too! She gave the name of it a wwhile back, & I found this link to a company that sells it (there are other companies as well - this is just one I found): www.sohostudiocorp.com/alchimia

[@janedrolet1771]

I did this back in the eighties with cloth diapers too, ivory snow build up. Vinegar and soda maybe?

[@doriscolwell8802]

@@kimlindseyOH Thanks Kim!

[@tracydimond3759]

When my boys were little I'd let them play stomp the grapes to help mommy wash clothes when our washer broke. And I never let them get in if I was using really hot water.

[@latmcb9863]

"It looks absolutely disgusting and so I had to try it for myself." That really gave me a chuckle. Love it!!

[@tammywalton3819]

Me too! As I was laughing I thought, she's not called the secret slob for nothing! :-)

[@maitetorres1023]

My mother used to do that will growing up the only difference is that after the water cool down her mother would have the kids stump on the water as long as they wanted. They loved doing it because all 3 of them would make it a fun game and they didn't know that they were washing cloths with their feet. Its been going on for years girl. Thanks! 😉

[@amythinks]

Don't let your kids stomp on Borax!

[@mrscouts07]

This works so well! I used to do it about once a year when my kids were in cloth diapers and I always do this with any clothing I bring home from Goodwill. And here's a tip-- if you don't have washing soda, you can just put the amount of baking soda you plan to use in a glass baking dish and bake it in the oven at 400 for about 45 minutes. It changes the chemical makeup from sodium bicarbonate to sodium carbonate.

[@FrankGutowski-ls8jt]

CrystalC Over 110,000 deaths in the US so far.

[@patientgrace]

​Frank Gutowski what ??? What are you referring to ???

[@marieg2815]

One of the reasons why I will always have a top-loading washer. Just soak in there, no need to use the tub. I use a laundry detergent called “No Sweat” (that’s made to take the stink out of your exercise clothes)and that has worked, I use it for the pre-soak.

[@deeheacock6815]

My thoughts were we do this with the soak cycle.. lol

[@beccalee8174]

AND double rinse.

[@deadwasabi5239]

Same! I work outside so my clothes get super sweaty so I always add borax to my wash which gets rid of any smells that can linger

[@pst47wings]

Agreed. I like my top loading machine for that same reason. I also throw in a few drops off tea tree essential oil. It's great for killing the bacteria that makes for stinking fabrics

[@trixiejoh]

Europe here: I'm not sure, but I think washing routines differ between the continents...if needed (because of huge dirtiness or smell) we use 95° C programme in our washing machines with normal washing powder/liquid to get the job done especially for towels, cotton underwear, bed linen and so on. It is not so eco-friendly, therefore usually we would use 60° for those kind of materials and 30° for the other clothes. When watching north American videos on laundry I was often astonished about how quick you can do your laundry programmes in the machines....here in Europe the programme for even only 30° washing will take at least 90 minutes, if not 150. The programme with 95° goes for more than 3 hours. I think because of the longer time even 30° programmes do a great job against smell and dirt. I haven't used 95° in a decade and I have kids! Correct me if I'm wrong on your washing machines.

[@DoctorsSong]

Wow that's hot! And you're right on the timing. When we switched to our HE front loader washer my Grandma would balk at the 150 mins for the heavy duty cycle (and that's on the sanitize setting!). I had to convince her we need the time as there was less water involved.

[@trixiejoh]

@@DoctorsSong Thanks for your reply. And yes I think this is the reason: the laundry often just "lies" in the water and the washer is doing "nothing" for minutes. I guess the washing powder/liquid then really soaks in which does the magic. You actually made me wonder how much water I use?!? Would be interesting to compare water usage between the "European" and the "American" machines.

[@kimlindseyOH]

I tried this a couple times (a bunch of items in the bathtub, then just a couple items in the small tub in the laundry room). Here are my findings: I definitely noticed a difference, especially items made of synthetic/synthetic blend fabrics. I think it would be very useful to "strip" items you buy from thrift shops/Goodwill/etc. as soon as you bring them home. I think it would also be valuable to do for out of season clothes right before you store them. It may have been obvious to others, but in case you're like me: When you put the load(s) into your washer, START with a spin-only cycle, to get as much of the stripping liquid out as possible before you begin rinsing. It took MANY rinse cycles before my items were thoroughly rinsed & ready to dry - at least 5 and as many as 9. (Wow! That's a lot of water!) Try it yourself: When your load is agitating in the "last" rinse cycle, open the lid & see if there are still suds floating on the surface. I always use at least 1 extra rinse, but I was surprised how many were needed after stripping. There were still a few suds after 9 rinses, but not many & I chose to cut it off there. Last point: I agree with the other commenter who's a chemist: You can use waaaay less detergent than the manufacturers say. I took an empty liter bottle from shampoo (so it has a pump lid), and filled it halfway with detergent & the rest water (& mixed it, of course) - - a couple squirts of that takes care of a normal load for me. Huge money saver. :-) Cheers everyone! :-)

[@FrankGutowski-ls8jt]

You can take advantage of concentration as a contributor to cleaning effectiveness by applying diluted liquid detergent only to soiled areas...cuffs, collars, food stains, underwear, and not using any more. Give it time to work. Use at least warm water and settings that maximized agitation and time.

[@stargazer1359]

Every time I see your backsplash I think, that is so vibrant and pleasant. Just a happy color.

[@TheSecretSlob]

Thank you so much 😃 I love it!

[@faylinsings5751]

The Secret Slob where did you find those tiles? I love how shiny they look.

[@jamjamb123]

Yes so do I it’s like a beach house kitchen ! Makes me want to drink margaritas and cook fish tacos

[@darbyking-maillot4105]

I just did my pillow cases and pillow protectors and they came out amazing! They’ve never smelt this fresh

[@planwithtan603]

I did this with my daughters white cheerleading shoes. I was told I had to buy new shoes for her end of year concert. I strip washed them and they were as good as new.

[@checkengine1752]

Hand wash shoes with hand soap, and they will look like brand new. I use brush on soles.

[@unavoidablycanadian397]

This is great and I feel more confident using these products. You are a great host. I haven't done this yet.

[@kimlindseyOH]

Your new "splash" image, "Progress Not Perfection," is so nice & clean - simple & happy. :-) I'm going to try this - seems easy; but I think I'll just do 1-2 items in a bucket to begin with. I agree with others, that fabric softener can be an issue. I use it only on things where I don't want static to build up: never on towels, and not on bedclothes except in mid-winter when the air gets so dry.

[@lisapitts9518]

I wash all my rags in the washer with Laundry Detergent & Bleach the come out really clean and smell awesome!

[@jackiedavenport1028]

Me too

[@wanderingteacup39]

I think the funky smell in your towels is an issue when there’s too much soap left in your towels. I think if you use less soap when you run the laundry with more water it will help that. So I think what you’re doing is removing residue soap build up by strip washing. Interesting.

[@FrankGutowski-ls8jt]

This is inevitable when washing with soap vs detergent.

[@oldtimerlee8820]

Wandering Teacup, do you actually use soap or do you use a detergent? Suspect you use laundry detergent. Suspect, too, that you are right with regards to using too much. So much a normal rinse cycle won't remove it. Plus, coatings left on fabrics by fabric softeners and perfumes to mask retained odors. FWIW... I've quit using fabric softeners and scent boosters. Instead, I add white vinegar to the rinse cycle. No, clothes don't smell like vinegar when they come out of the dryer. It's inexpensive. Give it a try and judge for yourself. I'd rather have fragrance free dishtowels that actually dry dishes. Hope this helps.

[@amythinks]

@@oldtimerlee8820 Yup. Using less soap in general and adding vinegar to the rinse cycle prevents this kind of thing from being needed.

[@skylersmith7]

Use vinegar during the rinse cycle! Usually the soap is hard to remove completely because alkali minerals in hard water are chemically attracted to the soap! So adding a bit of vinegar to the rinse helps dissolve and remove any soapy residue from the wash. If using White vinegar (5% Acetic acid- compared to the 6% in Cleaning Vinegar) you shouldn’t need more than 1/4-1/2 cup (60-120ml), and no, you won’t smell the vinegar when it’s done! Best wishes!

[@jillcarlson180]

Don't use fabric softener or dryer sheets on towels. Make sure to dry ASAP and this will help avoid nasty smelling towels.

[@wilddove8320]

Both of those are old timey products that work great. At the risk of sounding like the middle aged woman that I am-I’ve been using borax and washing soda on my clothes for about 10 years. I have a can in my laundry room with the soda and borax mixed together. I use about 1/2 cup of the mix per XL load with just a touch of laundry soap. About 1/3 of what they suggest. I’ve been doing this for every load for all these years. My clothes are fine my washer is fine the pipes in my 200 year old house are fine. I don’t use dryer sheets, fabric softeners or any other additives. My laundry smells yummy!

[@imahappymeme]

That really made a difference, Steph! I’d do it in my washer, though. Actually, I use Tide & Borax in my laundry all the time. Sometimes I use vinegar, too. My laundry stays pretty clean & fresh smelling. I also rinse my white items twice. I think the same that others have mentioned; fabric softeners do cause a build up.

[@Maria_O]

Vinegar is an acid, and soap/borax are bases...using both a vinegar and a base together neutralizes the solutions thereby minimizing the effectiveness of each product. Use just one or the other.

[@FrankGutowski-ls8jt]

Maria Olmos Exactly right!

[@imahappymeme]

Maria Olmos The reason for the white vinegar is I use it in the rinse cycle. Sorry, I didn't explain clearly.

[@oldtimerlee8820]

@@Maria_O Maria, I put white vinegar into the liquid fabric softener compartment. "soap/borax" are used in the wash cycle and are then neutralized during the rinse cycle. Vinegar is an alternative to both liquid and dryer sheet softeners. I don't use those sheets in my dryer as I don't like the build up of fabric softener residue.

[@Maria_O]

@@oldtimerlee8820 that makes more sense! I haven't used fabric softener in years. And it's been over a year since I switched to wool dryer balls.

[@crystalolson1212]

This has been around for years ,it started with Cloth diapers. I used this with my kids diapers every couple of months, now I just use it for towels ... Just a bit of help for you so you are not slave to this. Stiring doesn't need to be done that much and don't use tide its part of the problem of the build up , use a chemical free detergent. I do this overnight so no need to stay home all day!!!

[@Roman-pr5ye]

Does this work with just the borax and baking soda ? :)

[@tumblingrosesstudio]

Showed this to my mom, who loved it and is going to try it, she is 82 and said her grandma used to wash this way, she is sure. Borax used to come in a can, she says :)

[@jennsearcy9701]

Never heard of strip washing until my friend asked me about it. I laughed...I told her I do this to every single load, pretty much, that goes in my washer!!! I have for Avery long time. I do all of this plus add ammonia. Clothes come out fresh, soft, fillers and funk are gone. I don’t have time to let loads of clothes soak in a tub, wring them out and rewash. My washer does it for me the first time🙃. Happy washing!

[@TZ2OurLittleDogToo]

We recently purchased Speed Queen top loading washer (and dryer) and immediately noticed a major difference in how much cleaner our laundry was - and how much better linens still smelled after being folded and stored for a while. (used to have an old Kenmore washer). The Speed Queen has a HUGE washing tub and a DEEP FILL option so our clothes get washed in a lot more water. I don't overcrowd my loads. But I am thinking most folks are using front loaders or smaller older washers that just are not truly getting anything clean- you need a LOT of water to clean clothes properly. Many people are overcrowding their loads.

[@emoore4876]

❤️ my SpeedQueen!!

[@maryrenaud6732]

I have a Maytag HE top loader and it also has the deep fill option which we use for full loads...works great but takes longer...

[@inapickle9153]

This has been around since the sixties at least. When my Aunt had a wringer washer. Sometimes she would use bluing on white clothing. Her white's were always bright. It's nice to see the old ways come back.

[@dsergt]

I never use fabric softener. Do you think this method might be to strip out the fabric softener?? I've never done any research on it but I think the use of fabric softener is not a good idea. It builds up in the laundry machines and probably in the fabrics as well.

[@TheSecretSlob]

I also don't use fabric softener, possibly that is why mine wasn't as bad as some that I have seen?

[@FrankGutowski-ls8jt]

denise sergeant It works by coating fabrics.

[@silvergirl2847]

Most definitely.also laundry liquids build up as well and wash aswellas powder.

[@daisybuchanan5378]

I use wool dryer balls instead of softener. They soften and speed drying time.

[@lesalopeman2154]

What do you use to combat static cling in your laundry?

[@alchemest]

This actually harkens back to how laundry was done pre washing machine.

[@Woodenp3ck]

“Secret slob” love the confidence and honesty😭❤️

[@EllyKallan]

I do it with Oxyclean over night. Works great specially with whites. TFS❤ love ya!

[@FrankGutowski-ls8jt]

SafePet Haven Wrong. It contains sodium percarbonate, which releases hydrogen peroxide in water. It’s about 50/50 washing soda/sodium percarbonate.

[@safepethaven]

@@FrankGutowski-ls8jt You are entitled to your opinion but as a degreed chemist with over 45 years experience, I choose science and facts. Have a lovely day.

[@ggal4875]

@@safepethaven I do this as "prewash" for cleaning and mopping rags (pet hair, dust, car, garage) too gross to toss straight in washing machine. I usually use Nellie's. But I add disinfectant lysol or bleach for pet accidents. What would you add to tub pre wash as safest disinfectant? I have oxi-clean, baking soda, vinegar, bleach, other pet enzyme products I can get A & H wash powder. I have borax, but have not used for laundry. I bought it for "safer" way to deal with massive argentine ant mounds...still growing. I hate using toxic products but pets have accidents.

[@ggal4875]

@@FrankGutowski-ls8jt So which works better and is least toxic?

[@TalTesla]

Borax removes odor and that layer of gray dinge that develops on laundry. It's an excellent boost to your detergent in most every load. Just add 1/4 to 1/2 cup at the start of a wash. Over time, you'll see your things get brighter and brighter. No more stink!

[@deadwasabi5239]

You can just do this in your washing machine if you have a top loader. If your towels smell funky give them a wash in vinegar and make sure they are completely dry when you fold them and put them away. You can even dry them a bit longer cause sometimes they will "feel" dry but they are still kinda damp and that will breed mold giving your towels that funky smell.

[@kyouell]

I remember needing to strip cloth diapers/diaper inserts. I would dry them in the sun but still had to strip them occasionally until I switched to Charlie’s Soap. I’m not affiliated, I’m a thrilled customer. I do also buy their oxygen bleach, but our son has special needs so I’m sometimes washing pee or poo mess. Otherwise I only need their detergent. No fabric softeners because there aren’t any of the additives in the detergent that make the fabric need them. We do get static with some synthetic things like some blankets and pj’s, so I dry those separately and shake them out to get rid of the static. Easy peasy!

[@briannaloree644]

SO satisfying!!! I used to strip my kids cloth diapers, I don’t know why it never occurred to me to strip my dish rags, etc. I know the “dingy” smell you’re talking about, and I’ve also tried all the tricks, but never this! Adding borax to my grocery list!

[@susanpeterson9947]

I may give this a try. When my housecleaning rags get yucky I just demote them to ‘outside rags’, then throw them away when they get so dirty that I refuse to put them in my washer. That will be a SERIOUSLY good test of the technique!

[@leannewith3]

I was just looking at my hand towels thinking that I needed to do something like this. Definitely giving this a try.

[@nancyphillips7558]

I do strip washing in my washer. Same ingredients as you use, agitate to stir and let them sit all day, then spin and wash using two rinse cycles.

[@lemonmeringue7824]

This reminds me of that scene in Willy Wonka when the mom is stirring clothes with a huge spoon.🤔

[@TheSecretSlob]

haha! yes!! i forgot about that :)

[@jessiec1194]

I used to use washing soda ro set dye back when tie dye and batik were a thing but I wasn't aware of this. When my MIL moved to assisted living her housekeeping wasn't the greatest and all her cloth items had a pungent odor, from the curtains to her clothing . I wound up line drying them all day after trying the same as you with vinegar, baking soda. I had this vague idea about destroying the odor molecules using UV light and in my case it actually worked, no more lingering doggie/moldy odor. It's always good to have more tricks to try, hanging clothes isn't really a wintertime endeavor.

[@TheSecretSlob]

Sun bleaching is a thing! I have used it on a few stinky items before, but alas, not hot enough right now

[@oldtimerlee8820]

@@TheSecretSlob It's not about the heat. It's about the UV rays that kill microorganisms. It's about the ability of sunlight to fade fabrics (thus fading stains). As long as the temperature outside isn't below freezing, any sunny day is a good day to dry fabrics outdoors. Well remember the days when almost everyone hung their wash on a clothes line. Laundry was usually done with the weather forecast in mind.

[@ADAstrong]

I add but borax to my wash and baking soda every spring.... when I am doing all the duvet covers, blankets and comforters, pillows etc before I pack them away. :) I also have a too loader and use the presoak function to strip towels etc periodically. ;) Good video Steph!

[@FrankGutowski-ls8jt]

Baking soda is just partially neutralized washing soda. Borax is a stronger base and acts as a water softener. Baking soda doesn’t.

[@madisonangulo52]

Wow! I never heard of this! But has come at a good time cuz I wasjust noticing my towels are not smelling fresh!we have hard water! Thanks for the tip!

[@darb138]

Love this idea! I’m doing this.

[@daniellescarberry3736]

Where did you buy the gorgeous tile that’s on your walls. Please and thank you

[@glutenbritch]

I use hydrogen peroxide powder! I’ve never had any problems with colored or darks and it’s great to get the stink out of towels and gym clothes. I’m allergic to everything and use this along with DIY laundry detergent and my clothes come out clean, smell free, and no damage. 🙌 Side note. I’ve watched your channel since the beginning. Whenever I feel like my life or apartment is getting out of hand, the first thing I do is search Secret Slob and go back to the flylady baby steps and work through all your videos. Your friendly, calm demeanor and realistic approach are so helpful. ❤️

[@FrankGutowski-ls8jt]

There is no such thing. You are referring to sodium percarbonate or sodium perborate. DIY laundry detergents deposit soap scum and should be avoided. butterbeliever.com/homemade-laundry-detergent-soap-diy/

[@yooniecho6394]

Isn’t the “dirty” water actually the colors bleached in to the water?

[@michelepace777]

Odor Ban. I use Persil * it works very well and no orders since I started using it. I also add a full cup of Borax with each load in my HE washer on sanitize in very hot water. Only way I wash towels, rags, sheets etc. It never affects the colors either.

[@michelepace777]

Also you can use Oxy on the highest setting allowed for that fabric. We had mold spores in our closet I used all above then added a cup of Oxy to the inside with my clothes and turned it on. It took it all out * no more burning skin, sneezing, etc*

[@darcyhaynes8684]

I always use borax and washing soda(from the grocery store) in my towels and any other loads that might be “stinky.” Like husbands undershirts, etc. Works great!!’

[@RebelRhiannon]

It really does! Kind of an old school trick lol

[@mamagg2444]

Can you use borax with the HE front loading machines? Or is that only for top loaders?

[@RebelRhiannon]

@@mamagg2444 I think you can use it in any machine. If you do have an HE machine I would recommend using less because they do not use as much water or dissolving the washing soda or borax on water before adding it to the clothes. Hope this helps!

[@darcyhaynes8684]

@@mamagg2444 I use it in my front loader!

[@Joybug_51]

This is the first time I have heard of strip washing, but it looks like a great idea. I hope you will let us know the long term results or changes.

[@julietannOsfan1972]

I have to admit that I’d never actually heard of this until I saw your video. It seems a great idea. By the way, I have a friend who doesn’t have a washing machine & has to use her bath to wash her clothes etc in. Her lounge has been turned into a laundry room, as that’s the only place that she has to dry her stuff. I feel so sorry for her.

[@oldtimerlee8820]

Feel sorry for her? Offer her the opportunity to do some of her laundry at your house. Especially, sheets and such which are much more difficult to wash and dry by hand. Would be a very kind gesture of friendship to your friend.

[@julietannOsfan1972]

Oldtimer Lee The trouble is that she doesn’t live anywhere near me. If she did live nearer I would definitely help her.

[@oldtimerlee8820]

@@julietannOsfan1972 Thank you for clarifying! Wish you could help her, too.

[@helpfulhabits5217]

After seeing the colour of the water at the end I’m going to give this a try. Bit worried that it may damage my very old bath though. - Keep safe everyone. Heather in New Zealand.

[@iw2bo]

Did you ever try it?

[@helpfulhabits5217]

@@iw2bo Hi 😊. I haven't. Was excited about the idea but got busy with kids and family at home because of COVID-19. Maybe when things get back to normal I'll give it a go.

[@mpen4358]

Baking soda,ammonia, vinegar in equal amounts depending on dirt. Have used this for years vinegar and ammonia can be premixed. Soft clean laundry, darks stay dark too! Washer smell fresh also. Great for those with allergies.

[@gina-noelconti9332]

I started doing that recently, before I knew it was a thing. I got a tip to use janitorial strength ammonia to remove oil and gunk, it's working very well.

[@deebieg]

I add a cup of ammonia to most wash loads. Works a treat.

[@juliemarriott7395]

Wow, never heard of strip washing Steph, but a bit like detoxing your hair to get rid of excess product build up with a clarifying shampoo.

[@lcr7574]

I guess I've been doing my own version of strip washing for years! I use 1/8 cup of borax, laundry soda, and powdered detergent for almost every load. I only use white towels and washcloths, which get 1/8 cup bleach instead of borax and soda. All dishcloths and dish towels go into a covered bucket filled with water and 1/8 cup each borax, laundry soda, and Dawn. They soak until it is nearly full, then I dump the whole thing into the washer and wash on warm. I rarely have stains and never odors. Whites stay white and colors don't run. If you have concerns about borax, then washing soda works pretty well without it, but it is NOT the same as baking soda.

[@BMM3]

I have always added a fourth to half a cup of bleach in the dispenser cup when I wash towels/rags in hot water. I then dry them without fabric softener. They smell fresh, are fluffy and stay that way for a week of using the towels. I live in a dry climate so towels dry between showers, which helps. When living in a humid climate, the towels stay damp all the time and become sour smelling. Bleach helps that not to happen so fast.

[@nspindlow5046]

I wash my body, dish, floor wash clothes and rags seperate. I don't want my dish towels touching my body towels...poop ya know. Same with anything on my floor, who knows what I've stepped in. However, I use Mule power with my laundry soap every time I wash clothes, definitely helps with the smells. Also, microfiber towels are supposed to be washed with non-phospherous detergent, and no fabric softner or dryer sheets.

[@FrankGutowski-ls8jt]

Detergents haven’t contained phosphates, which were used as water softeners, since the late 1960’s!

[@nspindlow5046]

@@FrankGutowski-ls8jt Actually, phosphates were still in Laundry detergent until the 90's.

[@elainerupp3888]

I'm going to try on my pillowcases. They start out smelling fine...end up smelling musty even tho they're still clean. I hang clothes out to dry too! Just smell so much better!

[@deeheacock6815]

I always buy extra pillow cases.. so we can have a clean one every other day.

[@sally-anne7177]

Will definitely give this a try! .....You’re looking great ☘️😃👍🏻💕

[@lakewebsterkid]

For best results, powders work best. They have water softening and conditioning agents that liquids can't have in them. Also, make sure if you have a newer top load washer that you are using the fabric softener option if it has one! Otherwise, your machine is NOT doing a deep rinse.

[@amydecker6207]

Washing soda softens the water so that the soap can work better. You could put all of that stuff in your washer and skip the bathtub step.

[@anormanmeadows]

You can also do that in your washing machine. Just stop the agitation periodically. Before we had a washing machine, we would put baby clothes and cloths in a covered pail of water with borax and it kept the smells and stains away until we made our weekly trip to the laundromat. It was a heaven send!

[@thedavidjwschmidt]

I use Borax in all my laundry... don't know if it helps, but it makes me feel better!

[@FrankGutowski-ls8jt]

It doesn’t hurt. Some consumers think it must be good because it’s so old fashioned.

[@annetteperez1779]

Can you just soak in the washing machine all day? Then turn it on rinse cycle and then wash as usual.

[@mariettastadulislehman]

When you wash the items AFTER soaking in the washing machine- do you add regular laundry detergent? Or do you just let whatever’s already soaked up in the laundry do the work?

[@dannie52874]

Would this work with t- shirts where the build up of sweat and deodorant around the arm pit areas are just gross? 🤷🏻‍♀️

[@Merel-fb2uu]

Hi, what I do for stinky armpits in clothes is really easy: soak them in a bucket with tap water and a good glug of normal vinegar. Or, alternatively, get a small spray bottle and fill it about one third with vinegar and two thirds tap water, and spray on stinky spots. I like the spray bottle method, I spray as I'm sorting the laundry I'm about to do so the vinegar can get to work. Then I just wash as normal. My sister simply uses vinegar instead of fabric softner and says that works great too. Hope this helps!

[@amythinks]

The point of this is to remove build-up from detergents so I really don't understand why you would add detergent in the form of Tide. Can you explain?

[@chaychaybay24]

I wish she would answer u was wondering the same

[@VanitysGunn]

I'm going to do this with my husbands work clothes. He works a hard labor job outside. His clothes are dirty & sweaty from work. I wash with detergent & vinegar but never seem to get all the funk out. especially in the summer. Thanks you for the video!

[@lady33357]

Do you have to use powdered detergent?

[@thehomeadmin]

My mom used to do this on Saturdays 😆 I used to think it was ridiculous but being a homemaker myself, I so get her now lol Thanks for trying this for us!

[@TheSecretSlob]

Too funny! I had a feeling it had probably been around a lot longer than the internet lol 😂

[@ecclesiastesThreeVerseSeven]

How often should you do this?.

[@rkatika9]

Wow, what a difference! I use borax with my whites and it works pretty well, but I have to boil some hand towels from time to time. I will definitely try this.

[@alisoncote-rolvink8312]

Do you wash stripped clothes with detergent after the bath soak or just water

[@maryannhorner1900]

Thank you so much for this! I’ve got some towels that have that funky smell to them even tho they’re clean. I made them be dog towels but now maybe there is hope👍

[@FrankGutowski-ls8jt]

Instead of using such small amounts of two water softeners, think of doing something like regenerating a water softening filter. Making a strong brine solution in hot water. Add Tide. Sodium will displace calcium, magnesium and other hard water minerals from soap scum with sodium, making the scum soluble. Brine is used to regenerate water softeners in the same way...same basic principle...by displacing hard water cations with sodium. Salt is cheap. You can and should use lots of salt to achieve the desired result because you need to shift the equilibrium from calcium and magnesium to sodium in whatever compounds are firmly attached to the fabric. As they form sodium salts, they should dissolve easily.

[@amierikke6225]

I’ve never heard of this method, but before I had an HE washer (it’s a upright model) I made my own laundry detergent that was 1 part borax, 1 part washing soda and 1 part grated laundry bar soap (Zoat or gels-naphtha) I loved it, our clothes and stuff were always clean. Now, because my new HE washer came with a warning to not use diy detergent mixes I stopped and use liquid ERA detergent, which is good but my diy was better. Thank you for sharing this!

[@sparkie8278]

I had read that DIY detergent was HE friendly. But I'm not sure if that is true.

[@oldtimerlee8820]

@@sparkie8278 Google: HE washer Then scroll down to "People Also Ask". Good discussions on this topic, in general. The main problem seems to be that non HE detergents make too much suds. IMO, the HE washers simply don't use enough water to wash/rinse fabrics. I can take a sponge bath in a quart of water. Will I be as clean as I would be if I use a gallon of water? All that said: Google: HE washer vs homemade detergent

[@ggal4875]

@@oldtimerlee8820 I agree. Not enough water! HE front loading washers are on the way out I believe. Rubber gasket means mold. Was bad idea. Expensive mistake for me. I bought current washer in 2018. All I found were HE. If not labeled that way... you still could not actually fill with more water. They don't get large items or full loads clean.

[@maryrenaud6732]

I make my own laundry detergent using borax and A&H washing soda, (1:1 ratio) plus a portion of Zote soap flakes, plus water, plus a few drops of essential oil with lemon or lavender scent. I keep it in used laundry detergent bottles. Note: there are many videos on YT about making your own laundry detergent. When washing in my HE top load washer, I use 1/4 of a laundry bottle cap of my detergent, plus 1/4 C of vinegar in my “softener” section in the washer, So...I have noticed my clothes are softer, smell nice and feel quite clean since doing this. Also, I am spending very little money on homemade detergent (maybe 50 cents a bottle). NO chemical additives! Environmentally friendly! Why not do the clothes stripping by running the soak cycle on the washer, and turning it off once full of water? Leave it overnight then drain and wash as usual? At 70 I cannot imagine bending down to deal with washing in a Tub. 😂 The sellers of detergent urge people to use way too much soap and over time soap residue and chemicals build up. Thanks for this video...I wondered why the craze for laundry stripping...now I know.

[@Toontricia]

Question. How would this work in the washing machine. Fill with hot water. Add towels. Use the washer to stir for one min. Turn washer off and on to do the stirring. Then turn masher dial to final spin. Spin out that water and then wash them as usual. That way you don’t have a dingy tub to clean also. Hmm Don’t know if that would work with some of these new fancy washers though.

[@suzyshoemaker7804]

Patricia Mosley Yes that you s the way to do the exact same thing!! You can fill your washer with hot water put the stuff in and let it soak overnight! Spin it,or drain water out whatever your washer does the Wash it! Much easier for same result!! I think it's the fabric softener that holds all that funk in and makes them smell funky.

[@Toontricia]

Suzy Shoemaker so if it’s the fabric softener. So what would you use in place of fabric softener in the future?

[@FrankGutowski-ls8jt]

Patricia Mosley The key is to use vigorous agitation and much less water than she did. It diluted the ingredients and reduced their effectiveness. Oh well...this is YT!

[@ohmy5353]

wow you’re literally so gorg

[@wowtv101]

So .... when u do this , when you rewash them do you add more soap in your washer ???

[@Getitgirl816]

Your kitchen is beautiful!

[@thehadster7043]

If you are having a problem with absorbency, STOP using fabric softener and dryer sheets. They do their job by coating the fabric. You can also add about 1/4 of baking soda and/or borax to your regular laundry. Don't add too much, start with 2 tablespoons of each and work your way up. The only problem with this method is that you will need about 1 month before you can see a change. So, try this with your rags etc. for a month and see if there is a difference. Your mop head will be a good guide. Save one from today, and then you can compare. You can also do a forced pre-soak in your machine. Add your borax, soap & baking soda, turn on your machine and let it fill and churn for a bit, then turn the machine off for a while. When you're ready to proceed, just turn the machine back on. This will save you having to lug heavy wet stuff from your tub to your washing machine. Borax, baking soda and soap is an old fashioned recipe for making your own laundry detergent. Bar soap is most often used, and the amount of laundry soap you can make with 1 bar of soap, borax and baking soda is amazing. I've never used it, but there are a lot of homesteading videos out there that swear by the stuff. Good luck!

[@FrankGutowski-ls8jt]

Baking soda is just partially neutralized washing soda. It’s a filler. Those videos you refer to are produced by clueless housewife hillbillies who copy each other’s mistakes. They make gallons and gallons of extremely dilute soapy water and claim theirs is better than mainstream products. What a joke!

[@thehadster7043]

@@FrankGutowski-ls8jt As I said, THEY give good reviews, personally, I have never tried the recipe. I don't know what the difference is between washing soda and baking soda. I DO know that washing soda is caustic, so don't breath it in, and don't let it touch your skin. I've seen videos where people bake the baking soda for a while and that turns it into washing soap, but who knows where that idea came from, and I'm not doing it.

[@FrankGutowski-ls8jt]

The Hadster That’s how bs is produced in this country. Baking soda is mined by flushing deposits of the mineral Trona with hot water. It’s then calcined, ie, heated, resulting in the thermal decomposition of sodium bicarbonate to sodium carbonate, which is WY’s largest export. Their good reviews are based on what’s called wishful thinking, which is extremely popular among science illiterates.

[@katieevans6614]

@@FrankGutowski-ls8jt Sounds like you could use a nice walk in the sunshine. You've been spending a lot of time responding to comments on this video that are sometimes helpful, but more frequently condescending. That's usually a sign that you need to step away from the screen and get out into nature. We are discussing laundry. It's nothing to get upset about. Oh, and stop the name calling. It's unproductive and makes the reader disregard your intended message and focus on the level of maturity in the author.

[@FrankGutowski-ls8jt]

Katie Evans Armchair internet psychologist...

[@CurveTheRain]

Do the towels still smell fresh now they’ve been used a bit?

[@gloriaperez2782]

I do that on a smaller scale. 5 gallon bucket. Something my mom taught me to gets socks, whites, and grimy things refreshed. I boil water in my tea kettle and keep bucket in my bathtub but I scrub clothes instead of mixing and add a little more hot water after every scrub.

[@FrankGutowski-ls8jt]

Instead of fooling around this way, just wash a load with dishwasher detergent. It has everything needed to release soap scum from fabrics!

[@tashainjena]

I made the mistake of mixing up some of my aunt's stain remover that called for a cup of 'dish detergent' - like, Cascade. I used a cup of Dawn. Bubbles. Bubbles for DAYS.

[@FrankGutowski-ls8jt]

@@tashainjena Dishwasher detergents are formulated not to foam. Dish washing detergents, like shampoos, are formulated to foam, in order to visually confirm that they’re cleaning. I’ve noticed that when I shampoo the scraggly hairs on my head, the first application does not foam because the surfactants are all consumed emulsifying oil from my scalp. Rinse and apply a second dose...lots of foam, indicating hair and scalp are oil free.

[@tashainjena]

@@FrankGutowski-ls8jt Did I mention I was like...8 when I done this? I thought mom was gonna kill me for using a full cup of Dawn.

[@carriejohnson8209]

I wonder if the "grime" is dryer sheet oil? I never use dryer sheets and I never experience this grime or smell. Thanks for the informative video. I also like your blue backsplash.

[@FrankGutowski-ls8jt]

That’s a good theory because fabric softeners are formulated to coat fabrics.

[@Rhaspun]

Do you use fabric softener sheets with your laundry.

[@Diana-xm1dm]

I came here because I wanted to know if there is an easier way to wring fabrics. My washing machine started leaking and it's kinda hard to shop for one right now due to Covid19 and winter snow (I don't want the installing person to remove their shows, but also don't want them dragging in a mess). Yes, MOST of the very dark stuff coming out is dyes and some lint too. I noticed that dark stuff doesn't come out from my white towels, but it does leave some whitish to grey lint. For the stink use Tide. I also LOVE bleach and it is safe if you use according to manufacturers instructions For grease stains, I use Dawn dish washing liquid. And, I don't use fabric softeners, just dryer sheets in the dryer. I always put soap in first, then half-fill with water, then bleach, then continue with water, last goes in clothes.

[@silvergirl2847]

What people don't seem to realise is if use only washing POWDER only and maybe some vinegar or soda crystals for softening that your clothes will be properly cleaned and you will never need to do stripping.fabric conditioner builds up on fabric leavings coating which in turns goes off overtime giving youtjat murky scent overtime.stripping just goes to prove that laundry liquid doesn't wash your clothes properly! Give it up use powder.no stripping needed.

[@trishahutchinson3485]

I’m definitely going to try this.

[@mrsdove14]

You can actually do this in your washing machine. Just put the rags in and fill with hot water and strip solution then stop the machine. You can still stir it and when you’re done you just let it drain and run a regular cycle.

[@RTAV108]

Just air-dry your entire laundry in the sun every once in a while instead of using dryer unit all the time. It takes the funky smell off. Traditional way of cleaning / cooking / washing is always the best one. With the abundant space available in your backyards, you can make a fun project out of it for sure ..

[@Jessinblackandwhite]

This was cool to wash. I try to buy white towels, washcloths, and cleaning rags so I can bleach everything from time to time.

[@oliviacheng4076]

Dose ride pods work the same as power?

[@momof2momof2]

Wow! That is an amazing result ! Well done ! tfs 💗

[@SummatllTurnUp]

Reminds me too much of when I didn't have a washing machine and spent months washing my daughters and my clothes this way 😕 you really appreciate modern conveniences then lol we always air dry too as (mostly) hot country but I still notice that 'funky' smell sometimes, a lot of the time it's because the washing was sat in the machine too long after it finished 🤦‍♀️ I tried vinegar rinse in my towels and had to wash again as they smelt awful! I'm not sure we can get Borax here, is it a type of bleach?

[@TheSecretSlob]

I think borax is not available in Europe.. But I would be tempted to try it with the other ingredients, you never know!

[@xsassysinx]

Can you do it without borax?

[@donnacasey9641]

Get a cheap $1.00 plunger from Dollar Tree, it works so good to move clothes around and swish them!

[@DoctorsSong]

I read an article that said if you don't use to much laundry detergent and don't use fabric softener then you don't need to do laundry striping. That said if I had work out clothes I would definitely do this periodically Tide powder has enzyme cleaners in it which is why it's used. Not all of their products have the enzymes in them. I can't use regular tide because of the fragrance, so I used a free and clear soap and added enzyme cleaner to my batch. It didn't really work though. That said I did this before reading the article I mentioned above and I think because I don't over use detergent & don't use fabric softener I don't need to do this method. You can make washing soda by baking Baking Soda on a baking sheet (make sure it's level) on 400° for 1 hour. Just be sure to store the Washing soda in your laundry room so it doesn't get mixed back in with baking soda

[@thegardenladyandmrgnome8002]

My mom used the tub back in the 60s because she had no washer. She had a special toilet plunger used just for laundry. Sometimes she put us Littles into the tub to stomp the towels (it was a game for us). Today, I use washing soda in with my husbands grubby work clothes and my towels and my White's using hot water (other clothes get washed in cold wster)water. I also rinse using vinegar to get the softest clothes. I use Mrs Stewart's bluing with my White's to get a Brite white. Do smaller loads to wash. If you over pack your washer, the clothing can't tumble enough. You can also soak clothes in a washer and water stays hotter longer than in a tub. I also wash my clothing separate from my husband and back in the day my child's clothing. Also you can use 20 Mule Team Borax. Check your washers filter each month. That gummy filter holds bacteria and grunge. Thanks for sharing your tub stripping as it reminded me of my mom and her hardships she overcame back in the day.

[@yolandapagan5656]

I’m with you, I don’t like that humid funky smell on my cleaning and regular towels. I’ve done 2 things to remedy this: 1 I’ve invested in thin Egyptian cotton towels for drying ourselves after bathing and 2 I let my cleaning towels dry in the sun before putting them in the hamper.

[@FrankGutowski-ls8jt]

Right. Very good idea!

[@silvergirl2847]

Use only washing powder no fabric conditioner you will never have abuild up or smells.

[@miafeisty9333]

Oh my goodness!! I did this, thought it worked and it has created glue like paste on all the stitching (also filled the washing machine with it) after I washed it. Any ideas how this happened? Or what I can do to fix this?

[@joycea3290]

After using a wash cloth in the shower how often should I change my wash cloths ?

[@davidamow]

Using vinegar (5% acetic acid) as a fabric softener would wreck your washer. The acetic acid would sit on the various parts of the machine until the next cycle.

[@TheSecretSlob]

Good to know!

[@marthaneudorf1899]

I've been using vinegar as a rinse agent in my washing machine for years. I have not yet had an issue with it effecting my machine in a negative way.

[@annmartin5347]

Every now and then I make tea towel soup! I boil wash my tea towels with laundry detergent on my hob in a large saucepan. I then put in my washing machine to finish them off. Takes out a lot of stains.