How To Detox Your Clothes: A Step-by-Step Guide

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If you think your clothes are clean, think again.

New and preloved clothes—even freshly washed—can carry a surprising amount of chemical residue. Thanks to detergents and fabric finishes, your favorite shirt or pajamas can quickly become a source of skin irritants. 

To give your clothes a fresh start, try stripping your laundry. This deep-cleaning method removes chemicals and body oils from fabrics so you can wear them comfortably.

Read on to learn how to detox your clothes so you can make your clothing last.

Essential laundry stripping supplies

Gather these items to deep-clean and refresh your laundry:

• Large container: Choose a bin that’s big enough to submerge your clothing fully. Alternatively, detox your clothes in the bathtub. 
• Hot water: Use the hottest water suitable for your clothing. Delicate fabrics need cooler water than sturdier materials like cotton or linen.
• Hypoallergenic laundry detergent: Select soap that’s free of harsh chemicals and scents. 
• Washing soda (sodium carbonate): This potent cleaning agent breaks down grease, grime, and oil.
• Borax (sodium borate): Borax is a natural mineral compound that removes stains and odors.

How to wash toxins out of clothes: 6 steps

Stripping your laundry creates a cleaner wardrobe for daily wear and prolongs the lifespan of your garments. Plus, taking excellent care of your items maintains their resale value and makes it easier to sell them secondhand. 

When you’re ready to wash chemicals out of new and preloved clothes, follow these six easy steps.

1. Check care labels

Choose which items you want to strip and read the care labels. This tells you how much heat each garment can handle. Delicate items like silk dresses and leather jackets may not react well to washing soda and borax, so set those items aside. 

‍Pro tip: Group similar fabrics together and repeat the laundry stripping process for each category to prevent damage.

2. Add hot water 

Fill the container or tub with hot water, as heat helps break down residues. Hot water also helps the detergent and other products penetrate the fibers effectively. Here are the general temperatures to aim for depending on the materials you’re washing: 

• Delicates: 60–80°F
• Synthetic blends and cotton: 90–110°F
• Towels, bedding, and denim: 120–130°F

Pro tip: Use a thermometer to check the water temperature.

3. Add your detox mix

Add ½ cup of laundry detergent, ¼ cup of washing soda, and ¼ cup of borax to the hot water. This combination removes built-up chemicals and toxins from the fabric.

Pro tip: If you’re cleaning sneakers or removing oil stains, put a little baking soda in this mixture. 

4. Soak and swirl 

Put your clothing into the hot water and detox mix. Submerge the items entirely and let them soak for up to five hours. Use a broom handle or tongs to swirl them periodically (we recommend 30-minute intervals). The water will become murky as residues release from the clothing.

Pro tip: If you’re stripping heavier items like duvet covers, flip them a few times to ensure proper cleaning.

5. Rinse, rinse, rinse

Gently wring out the items if it won’t damage the fabric. Then, transfer the clothes to the washing machine and run a double rinse cycle to remove the rest of the detox solution from the garments. 

Pro tip: Skip the fabric softener and dryer sheets. As amazing as they smell, they can add residue back into your clothes.

6. Air dry in the sun 

Hang or lay your clothes to dry outside. Air drying is gentle on fabrics, and sunlight is a powerful natural deodorizer. If the weather isn’t cooperating, use the dryer on a low setting instead.

Pro tip: To prevent fading, hang your clothes inside out. 

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How to get chemicals out of clothes: 9 tips

To keep your laundry as clean as possible, follow these 9 clothing care tips.

1. Clean your washing machine

Sometimes, chemicals from your washing machine itself (like detergent buildup or mold) can transfer to clothes. To avoid this, sanitize your washing machine regularly. Every one to three months, run an empty load with vinegar or a washing machine cleaner.

2. Wash your tub

Before starting the laundry stripping process, thoroughly clean and rinse your bathtub or basin. This will help prevent leftover soap residue and dirt from interfering with the detoxing process. Afterward, rewash the tub or container to remove any dirt or grime left behind from the clothes.

3. Run a regular load of laundry

Give everything a basic wash to remove surface dirt. Starting with clean garments allows the detox ingredients to work their magic.

4. Test for colorfastness 

Check your brighter garments for colorfastness before the detox process. Dab a small amount of the detox mixture on a tiny area of the fabric and wait a few minutes to see if the color or fabric is damaged or bleeding. If the fabric bleeds or reacts poorly to the detox mix, don’t include the item in the process. 

5. Use soft water

Soft water cleans clothes better because it lets detergent work more efficiently. Without the minerals in hard water, there's less soap scum buildup, so clothes feel more plush. Soft water also rinses detergent out more easily, leaving no residue behind. As a result, stains are removed more effectively, and fabrics stay in better condition longer.

6. Fight odors with vinegar

If you’re stripping musty clothes, soak them in vinegar beforehand. To do this, mix ½ cup of vinegar with two cups of water in a container and let the clothes sit for up to 30 minutes. This will remove odors naturally. 

7. Watch the clock 

Soaking clothing too long can damage fabrics and even cause them to fall apart, so stick to the recommended time. Use a timer to keep track of how long items are in the tub.

8. Be gentle

Try not to stir your clothes vigorously, as this can damage the fibers. Swirl the items gently so you don’t pull or stress the fabric, and use a gentle cycle when you run the clothes through the washing machine.

9. Change your laundering process

To increase the time between detoxes, use a bit less laundry detergent for each wash cycle to help avoid buildup. And if you spill something, clean it promptly so the stain doesn’t set in. 

Find preloved clothing in excellent condition on ThredUp 

Following a regular detox routine helps keep fabrics in tip-top shape for years to come. But when it's time to refresh your wardrobe, ThredUp makes it easy. 

With over 50,000 new items added daily, our online thrift store offers a wide variety of well-maintained, preloved clothing that suits any style. It’s a go-to for affordable, eco-conscious fashion that looks amazing and feels even better.

And if you need to make room in your closet for your favorite new finds, use our Clean Out bags. Just send us the clothes you no longer want, and we’ll give you thrifting credit in return. 

Find incredible deals on ThredUp today.

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