Laundry Stripping Calculator

The usual stripping ratio and how long to soak

Laundry stripping is a long hot soak that pulls detergent, fabric softener and mineral buildup out of towels, sheets and workout clothes. The most-published recipe, including Arm & Hammer's, uses 1/4 cup washing soda, 1/4 cup borax and 1/2 cup powdered laundry detergent in a bathtub filled half to three-quarters full of the hottest water your fabrics can take. This calculator scales that mix by the water in your tub, counting a half-to-three-quarters-full bathtub as about 30 gallons (a standard tub holds roughly 40 to 70 gallons when full to the overflow), so adjust if yours is different.

Soak for 4 to 5 hours, until the water cools, as Arm & Hammer directs; some guides say up to 6 hours. Stir now and then. Then remove the items, wring them out, run a rinse cycle in the washer (use a double rinse if it has one) and launder normally.

Do not strip everything. Published guides say to avoid silk and wool, and to separate colors because stripping can pull dye, so soak one item first or strip dark items on their own. Heat also hurts spandex, so check the care label. Cotton towels, sheets and cloth diapers are the usual candidates. Anything with a care label that says hand wash or dry clean only should be left out.

Set realistic expectations. Stripping is meant for towels that smell musty or repel water and for gym clothes that hold odors after normal washing. It does not disinfect, remove permanent stains or restore fabric that has simply worn out. One cleaning expert quoted by Real Homes calls it a last-resort tactic to use only a few times a year, because too-frequent hot soaks can damage fibers.

Work safely: the 20 Mule Team Borax label says do not get in eyes and do not ingest, and Arm & Hammer advises gloves for washing soda. Keep the mixture away from children and pets, and remember the water is hot. Never add bleach or vinegar to the soak. If someone swallows some, call Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222.

Where these numbers come from

The formulas and default values in this calculator are based on:

• Arm & Hammer, How to Strip Your Laundry
• Real Homes and HGTV laundry stripping guides
• 20 Mule Team Borax safety information page
• a bathtub capacity guide (horow.com) for the 40 to 70 gallon overflow range
• fabric care labels
• America's Poison Centers. Note: the recipe is a widely published one, not a tested standard, and the 30 gallon scaling is our estimate for a partly filled tub

This is general household-cleaning guidance and planning math, not medical or professional advice. Product formulas change, so the label on your bottle always wins: follow its directions and warnings, test a hidden spot first, and never mix cleaning products. For a poisoning emergency call Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222 (US), or 911 if someone has trouble breathing.