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The 411 on Laundry Stripping

Laundry Stripping

How clean is your clean laundry, really? It might look like it’s clean, and it might smell like it’s clean. But a recent viral social media trend shows that there’s a big problem lurking deep down inside the fibers of your clothing, towels, and linens.

Laundry stripping, also called strip-washing, has gained renewed popularity in recent weeks, with TikTok videos tagged with #laundrystripping garnering nearly 20 million views.

What exactly is laundry stripping?  I sat down with Huston based Board-Certified Dermatologist, Elizabeth Mullans, M.D.  to get the full details on what it is, how to do it properly and what to avoid.

Q: What is Laundry Stripping and how exactly does it work?

EM: Laundry stripping is a soaking method designed to deep-clean your laundry, with the intent to remove built-up residue from detergent, hard water, body oils and fabric softener. It is seen as ‘satisfying’ because the water may turn to a brown or gray color from all the gunk being “stripped” away from the linens, giving a fresh, new feeling.

Q: What do you need for Laundry Stripping?

EM: Borax, Washing soda (Sodium Carbonate) and Laundry detergent (I prefer to use fragrance-free detergent for sensitive skin, like Arm & Hammer Free and Clear)

Laundry Stripping

Q: Will it damage your skin?

EM: It should not damage your skin if you use a detergent designed for sensitive skin. Also try to avoid laundry stripping on delicate items.

 Q: What’s the best method for laundry stripping?

EM: The best way to strip wash your laundry is either in a clean bathtub, or in a large bucket with just-washed laundry, either wet or dry.  Add a mixture of borax, washing soda, and laundry detergent, follow a 1 to 1 to 2 ratio, adjusting the amounts based on how much water you’re using. Once the mixture has dissolved, add your laundry. Let soak until the water has cooled, about 4 hours, stirring the garments occasionally. Finally, wash the stripped laundry once more in the washing machine, on a water-only cycle. Enjoy your ultra-clean bed sheets and bath towels.

Laundry Stripping

Q: What should you avoid when Laundry Stripping

EM: Laundry stripping is not always ideal for clothing as it can cause dyes to run. You may want to stick to white bath towels and bed sheets. If you do try the method on colorful clothing, avoid mixing a red shirt with white socks—or else you could end up with accidentally dyed clothing. Don’t try this technique on delicate or fragile items. This method requires hot water, so check each item’s care label first.

 Q: Any other tips?

EM: Be careful with the type of items you decide to strip, such as comforters or pillows, as a high pH will strip the oils and make them crack.

Laundry Stripping

Click to SHOP Laundry Stripping Supplies: 

Quarantine and the Resurgence of Vintage Fabrics

Quarantine and the Resurgence of Vintage Fabrics

Something really interesting has been happening during quarantine, the resurgence of Vintage fabrics. Vintage is back in a BIG way!

With so many people “sheltering in place” alongside multiple generations at family homes it was inevitable that soon, when the boredom set in, rifling through closets would begin.

Last week, I and a group of other fashion industry professionals took part in a fun ZOOM happy hour hosted by my favorite fabric maintenance brand Dryel (their at home dry cleaning kits and stain remover pens are a MUST).

We discussed how fashion has been affected by quarantine, thrifting/vintage fashion and shared “self-isolating” fashion stories. Just about every single person on the call talked about how they have been digging up and adopting their parents vintage clothes and techniques for revamping or upcycling them.

What does this mean for fashion trends once we are out of quarantine? I predict that vintage fabrics and textiles are going to be the next BIG TREND.

Social media totally supports my theory. TikTok is full of DIY vintage clothing revamp tutorials and Instagram OOTD pics have become more thrift and vintage clothing centric.

There are already a ton of designers out there dipping their toes in the vintage fabric waters. Elizabeth and James has the EANDJ Vintage line which is a personally curated collection of vintage pieces by Ashley Olsen and Mary-Kate Olsen. Each piece is hand selected for its unique character and nostalgia.

Redone, has a mission to, a movement to keep heritage brands relevant by updates the silhouettes of old Levi’s.

Reformation incorporates “deadstock” fabrics in about 15% of their products and vintage clothing (repurposed) into new pieces including bulk vintage denim and cashmere. 

There’s a warmth, intimacy and happy nostalgia to vintage pieces- something that is very appealing at the moment.  They exude a sense of safety and familiarity yet still feel edgy.

Have you been dabbling in vintage fabric’s  during quarantine?  Reworked any fun thrift finds?  Tag me on Instagram I would love to see them!

Quarantine and the Resurgence of Vintage Fabrics

Quarantine and the Resurgence of Vintage Fabrics

Quarantine and the Resurgence of Vintage Fabrics

Quarantine and the Resurgence of Vintage Fabrics

Quarantine and the Resurgence of Vintage Fabrics

What I’m Wearing: Vintage belt from StilettosandSinCity | EANDJ Vintage Dress| Mulberry Bayswater Tote | Free People Boots | Vintage Lace Trimmed Cami |

Vintage Fabric Trend

Just Breathe

Just Breathe Radhika Vachani

This week I am introducing a brand new series called “What’s On My Bookshelf”.

The new category will cover what I’m currently reading and some of my favorite past reads, from fiction to fashion industry books and everything in between!

Let’s Get Started.

Just Breathe: The Most Powerful Tool for Personal Transformation and Happiness by Radhika Vachani

There seems to be more yoga studio’s than Starbucks these days, one on just about every corner.  Even 24 hour big-box gyms offer yoga classes.  The Western World has in a sense taken Yoga and run with it.  It has ran so far and so fast that it has left this ancient practices mental and spiritual origins behind.

“Yoga is a science of the mind.  It not only teaches us how to live a more mindful and meaningful existence, but it also helps us discover our remarkable individual potential”, says Radhika Vachani.

This is the heartbeat behind her new book Just Breathe: The Most Powerful Tool for Personal Transformation and Happiness.

About the Book:  Vachani (who left her successful corporate career in San Francisco to open Yogacara Healing Arts, one of the most popular yoga and wellness institutions in Mumbai, India) takes us through her own personal journey with Iyengar yoga which helped her climb out of a pit of anxiety, depression and illness, into a life of meaning and joy and lessons on how to use the Yoga sutras, breathing techniques, self discovery, meditation and mindfulness to skillfully maneuver through the stressful rollercoaster of life and discover the best version of yourself.

Why I’m Loving this book: Vachani’s journey is captivating and interesting but the hidden gems within the book are the breathing techniques.  Whether you use them twice a day to center yourself, before and after yoga to help with your practice or as I have been using them: at a time of high stress to step away and recenter they truly help you to settle the mind and focus.

Who Should Read It:  An informative and useful read for everyone! Whether you are a yoga practitioner or someone who just needs some tools to fight stress, depression and anxiety.

Where to Buy It: Amazon.com

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Emergency Beauty Tip #3 (what to wear on a Date with the Chippendales)

Alright Ladies!  I have received numerous emails from gals that are confused on what to wear on a first date.  There are so many different opinions on this topic but I wanted to give you the guys perspective…THE guys perspective.  Check this out….