old fashioned goodness

"Don't spent two dollars to dry clean a shirt. Donate it to the Salvation Army instead. They'll clean it and put it on a hanger. Next morning buy it back for seventy-five cents." - unknown

I clearly remember one Christmas opening up a gift my aunt gave me. It was from my eighty-something year old aunt from Texas. The gift was a bar of Fels-Naptha soap! Now, I was not married at the time and had no children. What the heck was I going to do with a bar of "heavy duty laundry bar soap"? That bar of soap sat dormant for many years. It moved from apartment, to house, to yet another house and so on. Perfectly intact in the wrapper, unused and really forgotten about.

Many years (and three children) I found that bar of soap. I believe I was washing something stained and was desperate to try anything! I unwrapped it and noticed the odd color. Golden-brown. I quickly began to rub the stain with the soap and was amazed at what happened next. The stain began to go away!! After that I became hooked. If you have never tried Fels-Naptha soap I think you should. It can be found in the laundry aisle at your local store. Some stores though, like Meijer, has is by the bar soap aisle.

Have you used Fels-Naptha soap? Tell me what you think.

-Poison Ivy Treatment: Fels Naptha has been used for over 100 years in the treatment and pervention of poison ivy, sumac and oak. If you are exposed to poison ivy and you have a reaction, simply shower with Fels Naptha to remove any resin left on the skin and it will help to dry up the rash as well.

-To clean your shower, rub a non-abrasive scouring sponge with a wet bar of Fels Naptha and start cleaning. It will take a little hard work the first time you use it but it will be a breeze after that.

-Washing with Fels Naptha can greatly reduce the itching and discomfort from bug bites.

-Though it is NOT a hand soap, it can cut even the grimiest of messes. Wash hands with Fels

Naptha to remove ink, grease, or a variety of other nasty stains. Again, remember that this can be a skin irritant and should be used carefully and only after reading the warning label on the soap.

-To clean paint brushes, simply drag the wet brush through a lathered bar of Fels Naptha and work in. Rinse well with warm water. The brushes stay soft and supple using this method.

-Fels Naptha Soap is a fantastic stain remover and pre-treater. It works especially well on oil-based stains. Just rub the stain with a wet bar of Fels Naptha Soap. Let it sit for a while and launder as usual. It works great on baby clothes which have formula stains.

* For chocolate smudge on clothes, rub the stain with Fels Naptha Soap and let sit in your filled washer with 20 Mule Team Borax for 30 minutes. Launder as usual.

* To remove Halloween makeup from clothing, simply work a little Fels Naptha into the stain and launder as usual. It may take a repeat washing to completely remove the stain.

* To clean white canvas tennis shoes, simply work the Fels Naptha Soap into a lather and use a soft brush to work into the canvas. Launder as usual without chlorine bleach.

* To remove old stains on colored clothes, make a solution of 2 cups warm water and 1/2 cup white vinegar. Pour on stain. Let soak for 30 minutes to 1 hour. Rinse well and work in Fels Naptha Soap. Launder as usual.


Powdered Laundry Detergent 1 cup grated Fels Naptha Soap 1/2 cup washing soda 1/2 cup 20 mule team borax Mix and store in airtight container or bag. For normal loads, use 2 tablespoon. For heavy loads, use 3 tablespoons.