naphtha fels and the washer

[bpetersxx]

I need a primer on how to use the grated version of this

 

[ea56]

I didn’t know that you could buy the “grated” version of Fels Naphtha anymore. Back in 1972 when I bought my vert first washing machine, a used Maytag Model J wringer I used Fels Naphtha powder and it was wonderful!

Since it’s a soap, not a detergent it left the laundry very soft and with a nice scent. When the weather was nice I hung the laundry out to dry and it was never stiff even though I didn’t use any fabric softener or rinse conditioner. I never had a problem with soap scum, I think the naphtha somehow kept soap scum from forming.

If you’re going to use it in an FL I’d recommend starting out with only 1/4 cup, in a TL start with 3/4 cup for a very large load you may find you need to use 1 cup.

Eddie

 

[bpetersxx]

thankkees

Oh it is grated bar soap

I got tons of bars

and about 3 graters for any size gratings

 

[ea56]

OK, I didn’t realize that you were grating the bars yourself. In that case I’d suggest adding some washing soda and Borax along with the grated Fels Naphtha.

If you do a Google search for using grated Fels Naphtha for doing laundry you’ll find several hits for both recipes that use the grated Fels Naphtha along with borax and washing soda, some that advise dissolving all three in hot water to make a homemade liquid detergent and some that advise mixing all three together dry and using the blend as a dry powdered laundry detergent. I’ve not tried either method, but I think if I were going to do so I’d opt for the dry recipe.

HTH,
Eddie

 

[launderess]

You want to be careful grating up Fels Naptha or really any soap. Inhaling such dust is not the most healthy thing...

Older formulas of Fels of course contained some sort of solvent which naturally causes risks if inhaled, at least often. Soap itself isn't innocuous either and such dust or fine particles shouldn't be inhaled either.

 

[ea56]

You could always wear a mask when you grate the soap to prevent inhaling the dust, just about everyone has a mask somewhere since the Pandemic.

 

I would be careful though in regularly using a homemade “detergent” made with soap in a modern automatic washer.  It could cause a build up of soap scum in the outer tub.  But to use it occasionally, or just as an experiment  to see how well it performs should cause any problems.  I almost gave it a try several years ago just for the hell of it, but then decided not to because of the concern of a possible build up of soap scum in the machine,

 

Eddie

 

[bpetersxx]

I grate it up once in a while

I'm going to have to look at it to see what it looks like

I think it is like flakes

used the coarse grater on it