Zote vs Fels Naptha

**Nishu** · 07-04-2011, 10:30 AM

The walmart near us carries both of them. I think Fels is about 5 oz and Zote is 14, but they're both the same price. Does it matter which one I use in my laundry recipe? Does anyone prefer one over the other?

**kickchk** · 07-04-2011, 10:33 AM

I myself have only used the Fels Naptha for making dry and liquid laundry detergent. I've not see the Zote soap before around here. Wonder if its a local thing?

**Nishu** · 07-04-2011, 10:56 AM

I think it must be, because I've never seen it before we moved here. I just opened up the zote and had a good look and I'm not sure how well it's going to work for the dry laundry soap. It's a lot softer and it probably won't grate well. I might try to make the liquid type, I guess. I've never done that before.

**Paws** · 07-04-2011, 04:27 PM

I've used the Zote before in the dry homemade laundry soap...worked fine for me. I just cut up the soap into small blocks and shredded it up in an old food processor. I've found Zote, (cheaper than Fels Naptha), in several stores in my area-North Alabama, but had a hard time finding the Fels Naptha...go figure. lol

**Buc-O-Mama** · 08-03-2011, 09:48 AM

I prefer Fels Naptha for making laundry detergent. For some reason the Zote left an odd film in my washing machine. I didn't use the whole bar because it was so much larger by weight. I've been using the leftover part of the bar as a spot/stain remover and it works wonders, especially on bloodstains. I just wet the corner and rub it into the stain. It works so well, and I've been using that same piece of a bar for going on two years. I won't make any more detergent with it but will always keep it around as a stain remover.

**mauimagic** · 08-03-2011, 01:23 PM

Never heard of Zote soap - but it's good to hear that it works well on stains!! Love the name!!

**piney** · 08-03-2011, 01:43 PM

I have never found zote only in the last few months have found fels naptha.I did get some fels naptha soap,washing soda,and borax today to try my hand at making the powder detergent.

**nuisance26** · 08-03-2011, 04:28 PM

~I've used Zote in my homemade detergent for over a year. I couldn't find it the last time I went so my current batch is FN. Ounce for ounce Zote makes a thicker, more scented detergent. Zote freshens better too. I have to use more of the FN detergent on towels otherwise they aren't fresh enough for me.
Both detergents get out surface dirt, deodorant, perfume, sweat, and most foods. But Zote is absolutely awful for anything with oil or bodily fluids. You can get to the stuff immediately, pre-treat, soak, even add laundry boosters and it will not come out.
It's almost like adding the Zote sets in stuff so it stains. My hand towels had imperceptible stains last year but after a year of homemade detergent the stains are darkening. Even bleach didn't help. I'm going to have to replace them. Urg.
FN is much better on cloth diaper messes than the Zote. The whites are white! But I do use more FN than I did Zote because of the freshness factor.
I'm at the point now that I want to keep some branded detergent on hand for really messy stuff and use the homemade for regular stuff.
So I vote FN but put some essential oil in it or something. My next batch will have some added scent.~

**missyali** · 08-03-2011, 06:30 PM

I haven't tried the Zote, but FN is doing very well for us! We did add essential oil to it, simply because I prefer the scent. I've had to wash my towels in HOT water a couple of times this summer just because they have been left over night in the washer or hamper. I haven't noticed any changes in my laundry (cleaner or not) or my washer (no film or anything), but I do find myself using more simply because it is thinner than store-bought (maybe I added too much water). HTH

**daylily** · 08-03-2011, 10:37 PM

I first learned about Zote from a Mexican friend. She always bought hers at a Mexican store and that is the only place I have seen it. I've never seen Fels Naptha sold anywhere.

**MyMelody** · 09-04-2011, 05:56 PM

I've only ever made homemade laundry detergent with Zote and I don't think Fels Naptha is available in my area. I haven't noticed that it causes stains to be set in as nuisance26 has, and it does not aggravate DH's or my sensitive skin. Works for me.

**HappyMama** · 09-04-2011, 06:00 PM

Originally Posted by Nishu

The walmart near us carries both of them. I think Fels is about 5 oz and Zote is 14, but they're both the same price. Does it matter which one I use in my laundry recipe? Does anyone prefer one over the other?

They both have petroleum in them, if you want to avoid you can use Dr. Bronners or homemade etc. I use a dry recipe. Otherwise I know many use the above choices interchangeably. Have fun making yours there are so many scents you can use.

**thefrug** · 09-04-2011, 06:28 PM

Those who can't find the FN in regular stores....try hardware stores. real ones, not the box stores. Places like an Ace Hardware or one of the others.

**hotprincesscm** · 09-04-2011, 06:34 PM

I can get both in my local walmart now as well. For a long while I could only find the FN in my local Price Chopper(grocery store) Next time I am in the market for bar detergent I may look into Zote. But as of right now, I have about 4 bars of FN to use up first.

**ladykemma2** · 09-04-2011, 07:05 PM

Originally Posted by HappyMama

They both have petroleum in them, if you want to avoid you can use Dr. Bronners or homemade etc. I use a dry recipe. Otherwise I know many use the above choices interchangeably. Have fun making yours there are so many scents you can use.

are you sure: i see beef fat, cocnut oil, or palm oil soap here

Soap (sodium tallowate*, sodium cocoate* (or) sodium palmate kernelate*, and sodium palmate*), water, talc, cocnut acid*, palm acid*, tallow acid*, PEG-6 methyl ether, glycerin, sorbitol, sodium chloride, pentasodium pentetate and/or tetrasodium etidronate, titatium dioxide, fragrance, Acid Orange (CI 20170), Acid yellow 73 (ci43350)