Viral TikTok Shows The Gross Satisfaction of Strip Washing Pillows

Pillow manufacturers recommend replacing your pillows every 12 months, but TikTok user @brunchwithbabs exclaims "That would cost a fortune!" Instead, she suggests pillow stripping.

Pillow stripping involves filling a tub with hot water, adding a 1/2 cup baking soda, 1/2 cup Borax, and 1/2 cup liquid laundry detergent, then soaking the pillows for 24 hours. Afterward, the pillows are squeezed to remove excess water and washed in the machine on a normal cycle, with no detergent. Finally, the pillows are dried in the dryer with dryer balls or clean tennis balls.

The results? White pillows and very dirty water. The stripping process pulls out body oils, excess detergent, and everything else the washing machine can't get out.

Make sure to check the labels on pillows before washing, as memory foam and down pillows may not be suitable for washing.

@brunchwithbabs 🧺Pillow Talk🧺 Daylight savings, a good reminder it’s time to strip your pillows! You should strip your pillows at least once a year in order to rid them of all the build up, grime and body oils that a washing machine can not get out. Here is how I strip my pillows to make sure they stay clean and fluffy. 🧺Fill the bathtub with the hottest water possible 🧺Dissolve the stripping mix in hot tub water: ¼ cup baking soda ¼ cup borax 2 cups liquid laundry detergent or ½ cup powder laundry detergent 🧺Add the pillows and submerge 🧺Soak pillows up to 24 hours. Flip pillows in the tub every once in a while during the soak. 🧺Drain tub and squeeze out excess water from pillows 🧺Immediately following stripping, wash pillows on normal cycle without detergent 🧺Dry without dryer sheets. Use tennis or dryer balls instead and toss in dryer until pillows are dry and fluffy Enjoy! Sweet Dreams. 🧺 XO Babs #pillowstripping #springcleaning #springforward ♬ original sound - everyone’s grandmother