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Cleaning Up:  Zote vs. Fels Naptha vs. Ivory...  |
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countrymommy85
True Blue Farmgirl
898 Posts
Krystle
MT
USA
898 Posts |
 Posted - Jan 02 2013 : 10:08:58 AM
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I found Zote soap at my store the other day. I picked it up to try it in my homemade laundry soap. I like to make and alternate between homemade liquid and homemade dry soap. I usually use Fels Naptha. I tried that coconut soap (I can't remember the brand name!) but it didn't clean or freshen as well as the Fels Naptha. My recipe for dry soap calls for finely grated Ivory soap. Has anyone used Ivory soap in their homemade laundry soap?
How about Zote? Does that clean well in homemade laundry soap? How would I use it- Dry or Liquid? Does it stain treat like Fels.
Are there any other good bar soaps (other than homemade bar soap)for use in homemade laundry soap? Thanks for input!
Mothers are those wonderful people who can get up in the morning before the smell of coffee. ~Author Unknown
http://countryrenaissance.blogspot.com
http://www.etsy.com/shop/SunflowersAndHoney |
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Bridge
True Blue Farmgirl
814 Posts
Bridgette
Southern
Indiana
USA
814 Posts |
Posted - Jan 02 2013 : 12:47:48 PM
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I like the pink zote in my Laundry soap recipe. I began with Fels Naptha, but then tried the Zote and I like it better.
My Blog ~Stitch~Save~Live~
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prariehawk
True Blue Farmgirl
2914 Posts
Cindy
2914 Posts |
Posted - Jan 02 2013 : 2:39:58 PM
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I use Ivory in mine. I run it through a food processor before using it to break down the soap flakes.
Cindy
"Vast floods can't quench love, no matter what love did/ Rivers can't drown love, no matter where love's hid"--Sinead O'Connor
"In many ways, you don't just live in the country, it lives inside you"--Ellen Eilers
Visit my blog at http://www.farmerinthebelle.blogspot.com/ |
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cajungal
True Blue Farmgirl
2348 Posts
Catherine Farmgirl Sister #76
Houston Area
Texas
2348 Posts |
Posted - Jan 02 2013 : 3:48:55 PM
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It's funny...I am the opposite of Bridgette...I began with Zote and then switched to Fels-Naptha. I make 10 gallons liquid at a time. I also add essential oils like Tea Tree and Lemon or Lavender (whichever aroma mood I'm in).
One of the best compliments from one of my daughters: "Moma, you smell good...like dirt." |
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Fiddlehead Farm
True Blue Farmgirl
4562 Posts
Diane
Waupaca
WI
USA
4562 Posts |
Posted - Jan 02 2013 : 4:01:53 PM
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I have used all three! Just depends on what's on sale at the time. My DH had a problem with the Fels Naptha on his skin.
http://studiodiphotosite.shutterfly.com/
farmgirl sister #922
I am trying to be the person my dogs think I am.
I get up every morning determined to both change the world and have one hell of a good time. Sometimes this makes planning my day difficult.
- E. B. White |
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MrsRooster
True Blue Farmgirl
1168 Posts
Amy
Seabrook
TX
USA
1168 Posts |
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rough start farmgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
3331 Posts
marianne
The Beautiful Pacific NW
Washington State
USA
3331 Posts |
Posted - Jan 04 2013 : 07:32:36 AM
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Amy your information is really interesting. I would like to stick to plant based products ...
Catherine, how much essential oils do you add to a gallon of soap?
Marianne |
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countrymommy85
True Blue Farmgirl
898 Posts
Krystle
MT
USA
898 Posts |
Posted - Jan 07 2013 : 7:22:13 PM
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I noticed for Zote I had to use a little more of my dry laundry soap to get them clean than when I used the Fels Naptha. I only used half a bar of Zote, maybe I should have grated the entire bar of Zote up? Any input for that? Also, does the Ivory soap dissolve properly if finely grated or will it use a film on the clothes after a while? Thanks again :)
Mothers are those wonderful people who can get up in the morning before the smell of coffee. ~Author Unknown
http://countryrenaissance.blogspot.com
http://www.etsy.com/shop/SunflowersAndHoney |
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Heather B
True Blue Farmgirl
562 Posts
Heather
Longmont
Colorado
USA
562 Posts |
Posted - Jan 07 2013 : 7:36:34 PM
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I'm having issues with my front loader soap screen clogging when I use the grated soap in my "dry" laundry soap. This causes water to back up and spill over the fill drawer. I haven't tried making a liquid yet.
Anyone else have this problem? Fixes?
Heather
http://homesteadincity.blogspot.com/
http://littlehouseonthebumper.blogspot.com/ (My "glamper" page)
"Only your real friends tell you when your face is dirty"
Farm Girl Sister #662 |
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MrsRooster
True Blue Farmgirl
1168 Posts
Amy
Seabrook
TX
USA
1168 Posts |
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Rosemary
True Blue Farmgirl
1825 Posts
Virginia
USA
1825 Posts |
Posted - Jan 08 2013 : 11:28:31 AM
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| All the ingredients in modern Fels Naptha are listed on their website: http://www.felsnaptha.com/ . It used to contain a very harsh ingredient called Stoddard's Solution or something like that, but supposedly doesn't anymore. I think they changed the spelling slightly to reflect that. In any event, you should use only a tiny amount in your laundry. I use mine to pre-treat stains, then use my regular laundry powder mix, which contains maybe 6 times the combined amounts of borax, washing soda and baking soda as Fels. |
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prariehawk
True Blue Farmgirl
2914 Posts
Cindy
2914 Posts |
Posted - Jan 08 2013 : 6:54:37 PM
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I use Ivory, washing soda and borax and run it all through a food processor to break it down. Never had any problems with it.If any little pieces of soap remain on the clothes after washing, they dissolve in the dryer. I use a dryer cause I'd be afraid someone would steal my clothes if I hung them up to dry. Wish I lived in the country.
Cindy
"Vast floods can't quench love, no matter what love did/ Rivers can't drown love, no matter where love's hid"--Sinead O'Connor
"In many ways, you don't just live in the country, it lives inside you"--Ellen Eilers
Visit my blog at http://www.farmerinthebelle.blogspot.com/ |
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countrymommy85
True Blue Farmgirl
898 Posts
Krystle
MT
USA
898 Posts |
Posted - Jan 14 2013 : 07:52:48 AM
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I really like the 'clean' smell of Zote, I didn't mind the smell of the Fels either. Now I am wondering if I can use half Zote and half Fels in my laundry soap and use that when I wash my husbands work (mechanic) clothes? The Zote didn't seem to get the deeper dirt out like the Fels would. Any one know if using half and half would work like that or should I stick to one or the other?
Mothers are those wonderful people who can get up in the morning before the smell of coffee. ~Author Unknown
http://countryrenaissance.blogspot.com
http://www.etsy.com/shop/SunflowersAndHoney |
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texdane
Farmgirl Legend Chapter Leader Chapter Guru
4658 Posts
Nicole
Sandy Hook
CT
USA
4658 Posts |
Posted - Jan 16 2013 : 08:27:46 AM
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I've used Fels Naptha for the last few years in my dry laundry soap, which I love. The only thing is every few months I do notice a bit of soap scum ring around the edge of the inside of the washer. I clean it out with an all-natural citrus based scum remover. I wonder if Ivory would eliminate that? My detergent recipe calls for one third bar grated Fels-Naptha or 1 whole bar Ivory. Wiki-pedia has an interesting entry on Ivory. Their website redirects you to their Facebook page, where someone recently posted that they test on animals. When I looked at it, they had not responded. Anyway, wonder if anyone finds soap scum in their washer, too?
Nicole
Farmgirl Sister #1155
KNITTER, JAM-MAKER AND MOM EXTRAORDINAIRE
Chapter Leader, Connecticut Simpler Life Sisters
Suburban Farmgirl Blogger
http://sfgblog.maryjanesfarm.org/ |
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MrsRooster
True Blue Farmgirl
1168 Posts
Amy
Seabrook
TX
USA
1168 Posts |
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texdane
Farmgirl Legend Chapter Leader Chapter Guru
4658 Posts
Nicole
Sandy Hook
CT
USA
4658 Posts |
Posted - Jan 17 2013 : 06:05:52 AM
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@ Mrs. Rooster I do the vinegar rinse, too. Love it! I still get a bit of nasty scum but think it has to do with my well water as well. See you use Zote. I'll try that next time. :)
Nicole
Farmgirl Sister #1155
KNITTER, JAM-MAKER AND MOM EXTRAORDINAIRE
Chapter Leader, Connecticut Simpler Life Sisters
Suburban Farmgirl Blogger
http://sfgblog.maryjanesfarm.org/ |
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Katlady93
True Blue Farmgirl
361 Posts
Charlotte
Denmark
SC
USA
361 Posts |
Posted - Feb 10 2013 : 2:20:23 PM
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i love my homemade soap. i used Fels as that is what i found. and i do the vinegar rinse. so far i am very pleased with it.
Some dreams are worth the risk it takes to make them real.
Don't tell me the sky's the limit when there are footsteps on the moon. |
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countrymommy85
True Blue Farmgirl
898 Posts
Krystle
MT
USA
898 Posts |
Posted - Feb 10 2013 : 3:38:38 PM
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Has anyone noticed a difference in Fels lately? I just picked up a new bar last week and it was really soft just like the Zote! Have they changed the formula so its not a hard bar anymore or should I contact the company because maybe something was wrong with it?
Mothers are those wonderful people who can get up in the morning before the smell of coffee. ~Author Unknown
http://countryrenaissance.blogspot.com
http://www.etsy.com/shop/SunflowersAndHoney |
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Katlady93
True Blue Farmgirl
361 Posts
Charlotte
Denmark
SC
USA
361 Posts |
Posted - Feb 11 2013 : 12:11:48 PM
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i have only bought three bars of Fels, but i wouldn't call them soft by any means.
Some dreams are worth the risk it takes to make them real.
Don't tell me the sky's the limit when there are footsteps on the moon. |
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Annie S
True Blue Farmgirl
756 Posts
Annie
Custer
S.D.
USA
756 Posts |
Posted - Feb 17 2013 : 12:18:46 PM
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| I've experienced both hard and soft with the Fels myself over the years. Don't know if they've changed the formula or what. But after what Amy said about it, I think I'll switch to Zote. Only problem is I can't find it down here where I live, so will have to order from Amazon. |
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Rosemary
True Blue Farmgirl
1825 Posts
Virginia
USA
1825 Posts |
Posted - Feb 17 2013 : 2:55:53 PM
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| Soft-versus-hard Fels bars has more to do with storage than ingredients, I think. A humid environment makes them softer. Of course, laundry rooms are usually humid. Probably best to store unused bars in a closet somewhere rather than right near the washing machine. |
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MrsRooster
True Blue Farmgirl
1168 Posts
Amy
Seabrook
TX
USA
1168 Posts |
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teacups
Farmgirl in Training
31 Posts
terri
bryans road
maryland
USA
31 Posts |
Posted - Apr 22 2013 : 08:51:02 AM
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| I have used both Fels and Zote. They both seem to work just as good for me. Now that I have read the info on the Fels, I believe that I am going to stick with zote. I do like the way that the Fels grates. I am going to try leaving out the Zote and see if that helps the grating for me. I like the smell of Zote better. I also alternate between liquid and dry mixes. It all depends on how much time I have to make it. The dry is faster to make, so if I am running short on detergent and short on time, I just make the dry. I have had no issues with the HE Washer at all. |
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levisgrammy
True Blue Farmgirl
9247 Posts
Denise
Beavercreek
Ohio
USA
9247 Posts |
Posted - Apr 22 2013 : 1:38:35 PM
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I used to use Fels Naptha. The dermatologist recommends Ivory so I use that sometimes. It is not harsh.
farm girl sister#43
http://www.ladybugsandlilacs.blogspot.com/
O, a trouble's a ton or a trouble's an ounce,
Or a trouble is what you make it!
And it isn't the fact that you're hurt that counts,
But only--how did you take it?
--Edmund C. Vance.
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Edited by - levisgrammy on Apr 22 2013 1:39:53 PM |
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michgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
148 Posts
Mary
Glendale
WI
USA
148 Posts |
Posted - Apr 23 2013 : 10:09:07 AM
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| I use Ivory Soap in my laundry detergent. I have a top loader and will never go back to other kinds of soap- I love it. It cleans beautifully and the smell makes me happy! |
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Sharon65
Farmgirl in Training
13 Posts
Sharon
Myersville
md`
USA
13 Posts |
Posted - Aug 04 2013 : 06:55:58 AM
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| I used Ivory for over a year and then switched to Fels. I like the smell of it and I've noticed that the clothes come out cleaner with the Fels. I didn't know about the origin of the ingredients so will have to give that a look. Have not seen Zote in the stores here, but will search for it. |
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Cleaning Up: Zote vs. Fels Naptha vs. Ivory... |
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Zote vs. Fels Naptha vs. Ivory...
