What Is Fels Naptha Soap? Here's How to Use It

How to Use Purex Fels-Naptha Laundry Bar for Hand Washing Clothes

1. Grate the Bar

   To make sure the soap dissolves and disperses throughout the water, it should be grated. Use a kitchen grater to finely grate about one tablespoon of soap flakes per gallon of water.

2. Mix the Washing Solution

   Fill the sink or plastic tub with cold to warm water. If using cold water, dissolve the flakes in one cup of hot water before adding them to the sink. Use sufficient water so the clothes are not crowded as you wash them.

3. Sort the Laundry

   Sort the clothes by color and type of fabric before deciding what to wash together.

4. Submerge the Clothes

   Add the clothes to the sink. Allow them to soak for about 10 minutes so the soap can begin breaking down the soil. Handle the fabrics gently by squeezing the water through the clothes or scrub sturdy fabrics together to release the soil.

5. Rinse and Dry

   Once the clothes are clean, rinse in cool water. They can be dried flat, placed in an automatic dryer, or hung from a clothesline or drying rack.

How to Use Purex Fels-Naptha Laundry Bar as a Stain Remover

1. Wet the Laundry Bar

   Dampen the laundry bar and rub it directly onto the stained area of the clothing. Work the product into the fabric with your fingers or a soft-bristled brush. Let it work for at least 10 minutes before washing the garment.

   Tip

   Fels-Naptha works best on oil-based stains. It is not the best treatment for all problems, soap can set stains like berries, fruit or vegetables making them more difficult to remove

2. Wash as Usual

   Wash the garment as usual by hand or in the washer with a commercial or homemade detergent. Check the stained area before placing the garment in an automatic dryer. If the stain remains, repeat the steps or try another type of laundry stain remover.

How to Use Purex Fels-Naptha Laundry Bar in Homemade Laundry Detergent

1. Grate the Bar

   Use a kitchen grater to create one cup of Fels-Naptha flakes.

2. Mix the Ingredients

   In an air-tight container, combine the one cup of soap flakes, one cup of baking soda, one cup of washing soda, and one-half cup of borax. Washing soda (sodium hydroxide) is caustic to the skin, so wear rubber gloves. Mix the ingredients well with a wooden spoon. Store the container in a cool place and keep it well-sealed.

3. Add to the Washer

   • Use one-half cup of the mixture per load of laundry in a standard top-load washer.
   • Use only two tablespoons in a high-efficiency top or front-load washer.