Vintage Fels Naptha Soap

[launderess]

Just received a bunch of older Fels Naptha soap bars.

What strikes me is how they are less scented than today's version, but this could be time has dulled the scent. The ingredients listed are different in that the vintage bars do contain Naptha, where as the bars sold today state clearly they do not, (but do contain a type of petrol).

Older Fels also contains washing soda and "fabric brighteners", not sure about the newer bars as full contents are not listed.

Really like Fels for stains including collar, cuffs and underarms of men's shirts. Nothing it seems get's out grime and muck better. But then again we're dealing with almost dry cleaning solvent in bar form, so ....

Can't believe people used to grate Fels Soap, the dust inside the package of vintage bars made me woozy; so cannot imagine what breathing the stuff on a regular basis.

Another good thing about the vintage bars is they are "dry" so should last a long time, now that all the moisture is gone. These bars are pretty much soild.

Anyone else like Fels?

Launderess

 

[peterh770]

Love it! I have my sisters send me 5-10 bars from central NY now and then, where it is available on the grocery store shelves. I grate it and keep it in an air tight jar. 60cc's of grated FN, about 1/2 tsp of STPP, a 140 wash in the Miele, and it rivals or beats any other checmical cocktail. It is especially impressive with grease and protein stains.

 

[joeekaitis]

My mother used to shave Fels Naphtha into her Dexter Twin Tub with a potato peeler. Since the washer was in the cellar of our house on Manning Avenue in Port Vue, Pennsylvania, there was no danger that the Fels peeler would get mixed up with the one in the kitchen.