handwashing - fels naptha vs zote?

**vigilant20** · 10-23-2008, 07:46 PM

I've been using fels naptha to hand wash clothing. Mostly because that's the way my Great Aunt taught me

I noticed the walmart near my new home is carrying zote. How does it compare? It seems to be a bigger bar for the same price, but it felt softer which makes me think it wouldn't necessarily last any longer.

[ame="http://www.amazon.com/Zote-Soap-Laundry-White-15-Ounce/dp/B001SB6J1Y/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=grocery&qid=1272159636&sr=8-1"]Zote, Soap Laundry White, 15-Ounce (25 Pack): Amazon.com: Grocery & Gourmet Food@@AMEPARAM@@http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/417BCdqA74L.@@AMEPARAM@@417BCdqA74L[/ame]

[ame="http://www.amazon.com/Dial-Corp-04303-Fels-Naptha-Laundry/dp/B001B32NVO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=grocery&qid=1272159660&sr=1-1-spell"]Amazon.com: Dial Corp. 04303 Fels-Naptha Laundry Bar Soap: Grocery & Gourmet Food@@AMEPARAM@@http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/417g9IgWY0L.@@AMEPARAM@@417g9IgWY0L[/ame]

[ame="http://www.amazon.com/Dial-00368-76OZ-Mule-Borax/dp/B000RNBX0G/ref=pd_sim_hpc_2"]Amazon.com: Dial #00368 76OZ 20 Mule Team Borax: Kitchen & Dining@@AMEPARAM@@http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/415kOqBW67L.@@AMEPARAM@@415kOqBW67L[/ame]

**PrairieRose** · 10-23-2008, 08:35 PM

I don't handwash with Zote and have never used Fels Naptha but I do use Zote in my h.m. laundry soap. I like the smell and it works fine. No idea how it would last to handwash with though.

**Cricketlegs** · 10-24-2008, 10:33 AM

I use the fels in my laundry soap. It is a hard soap. I notice that the recipes all call for the fels first and then the zote. Zote here is cheaper than the fels.

I think the zote may have more air or softeners and the fels in more 'pure' type soap.

Now, this is what I THINK and not what I KNOW.

**vigilant20** · 10-24-2008, 04:45 PM

Interesting. I've never heard of anyone handwashing with castile soup. Thanks for the link!

**Cricketlegs** · 10-24-2008, 08:36 PM

I hesitate to use anything like body soap in my wash. I have an HE washer and I need no suds soap.

It does seem funny that you can't use fels on the hands when it is a bar used for the treatment of poison ivy and oak.

Dr Bronners--man I love the peppermint...has essential oils in it and I worry about the effects of adding it to clothes fabrics. I know after a while it makes my drains run slow so I stopped using it on us and just use it to wash the dogs and pedicures.

**Cricketlegs** · 10-24-2008, 11:52 PM

My mom buys the almond(in the orange label) dr bronners and when I bath her dog I want almond ameretto cookies soooo bad lol!

You can buy it in the bar and it doesn't cost as much.

My take is that Ivory is a BODY bath bar and Fels and zote are laundry bars.

Since the OP is asking about hand washing laundry I think the fels is probably better than Zote because it is first choice for all the recipes.

Like I said, I have NOTHING to back that up with LOL!(well except somthing like 30 bars of fels in my stockpile!)