How to strip wash your ‘clean’ towels to remove residue (with gross yet satisfying results)

Even towels that have been freshly cleaned can harbour dirt and bacteria.

Detergent and fabric softener can remain deep in the fibres, and over time this can reduce their softness and absorbency.

One of the best ways to remove this set-in grime is using the strip wash method. But, beware, the results might shock you.

Using a few ingredients, you can watch as your soaking towels relieve themselves of ingrained dirt.

We urge you to give it a go before chucking towels that are past their best, and get into the habit of doing so every three to six months.

Not only will it save you cash buying new ones, but it’ll also surprise you just how much bacteria can be harboured in seemingly-clean items.

Here’s how to do it:

There are a few things to be aware of before and after stripping towels. The first is that some fabrics may lose colour, so do a patch test if you’re washing expensive ones or those that aren’t colour-safe.

The second – as with any chemicals – is to make sure kids and pets don’t get into the bathroom and ingest or touch the water. It won’t harm you if you get some on your hands, but it’s better to be safe.

Borax substitute can be bought online or in larger stores (Dri-Pak is the main brand here in the UK), and works in the washing machine once you’re done with your seasonal strip washing.

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