Fels Naptha

Fels Naptha - 26 Uses (WWII Series)

 

Fels Naptha! I had never heard of it until about 15 years ago and now I can't live without it. My mother introduced me to it when I owned a used children's clothing store. She told me that both my grandmother and great-grandmother always had a bar in their wash rooms.

If you have never used it I suggest that you pick up a bar. You can find it in the laundry isle of most grocery stores and it only costs around $1.00 per bar. This little bar is great for so many things. Check out this list of uses that my family and I have come up with.

 

Bathroom

• Bathtub/Shower - to clean, rub a wet bar of Fels Naptha on a sponge and wipe down  the tub/shower. Rinse.
• Grout - to clean, rub a soft brush across a bar of Fels Naptha before scrubbing the grout.
• Sink - to clean, rub a wet bar of Fels Naptha on a sponge and wipe down the sink.

General Cleaning

• Aluminum - to clean and shine, rub a damp rag across a bar of Fels Naptha and buff the aluminum to a shine.
• Dish Soap - to make your own, dissolve 1 part Fels Naptha in 2 parts water.
• Drawers - to open smoothly, rub the tracks with a bar of Fels Naptha
• Hands
• to remove grease, wash hands with a bar of Fels Naptha
• to remove ink, wash hands with Fels Naptha
• Paint Brushes - to clean, wash the bristles with Fels Naptha

Laundry

• Laundry Detergent - to make your own, try this Laundry Detergent Recipe. I have been using it ever since I found out about Fels Naptha and have perfected it over the last 15 years.
• Poison Ivy - to remove the resin from clothing, wash clothes with some grated Fels Naptha.
• Pre-treatment - to make your own, dissolve 1/4 bar of Fels Naptha in 2 cups hot water and 1/2 cup vinegar. Pour mixture into a spray bottle. Spray the item and allow item to sit for 1-hour before washing.
• Shoes - to clean canvas shoes, run a soft brush across a bar of Fels Naptha and brush away the dirt before washing.
• Stains
• Baby Formula - to remove, rub the stain with a wet bar of Fels Naptha and soak the item in Borax and water for 30 minutes before washing.
• Chocolate - to remove, rub the stain with a wet bar of Fels Naptha and soak the item in Borax and water for 30 minutes before washing.
• Makeup - to remove, rub the stain with a bar of Fels Naptha prior to washing.
• Oil Based - to remove, rub the stain with a wet bar of Fels Naptha and allow it to sit for 1-hour prior to washing.
• Wine - to remove, dissolve 1/4 bar of grated Fels Naptha in 1-gallon of hot water. Soak item for 1-hour prior to washing.
• Whites - to make them brighter, dissolve 1/4 bar Fels Naptha in 1-gallon hot water. Soak the item for 1-hour before washing.
• Wring Around the Collar - to remove, rub the area with a bar of Fels Naptha, then using a soft brush work the soap into the area before washing.

Beauty and Healthcare

• Cold Sore/Fever Blisters - to dry up, wash the affected area with Fels Naptha and rinse.
• Poison Ivy - to treat, immediately bathe, washing with a bar of Fels Naptha.

Outdoors

• Deer - to repel, dissolve 1-bar of grated Fels Naptha in a 5-gallon bucket 1/2 full of hot water. In a cheese cloth, put 2 bunches of chopped scallions, 2 heads of unpeeled garlic, 4 eggs (uncracked) and 1 small can of chili powder. Place the cheese cloth in the bucket and crack the eggs. Top the bucket off with more hot water and replace the lid. The the mixture sit for 1-week then pour it into a sprayer. Spray the area that you want to keep the deer away from. Reapply every 2 weeks or after it rains. Beware, this smells nasty!
• Garden
• Insecticide - to kill bugs, dissolve 3 tablespoons Fels Naptha in 1-gallon of hot water. Allow mixture to cool before spraying on plants.
• Repellent - to keep bugs away, cut Fels Naptha into 1-inch pieces and place them at the base of your plants.
• Hides - to tan, dissolve 1 bar of grated Fels Naptha for each gallon of water. Heat the mixture over low heat until it reaches a boil. Allow the mixture to cool before submersing the hide in the gelatinous liquid. Allow the hide to sit in the mixture for 1-2 months.

** If, by some small miracle, you worked at Amway in Ada, MI in the 1980;s and were the person my mother loaned the notebook to, please contact me. The notebook is a small (approx 6x9), black leather, 3-ring binder, and contains hand drawn patterns (teddy bear), recipes, and household tips and tricks. It would mean so much to my family to have it back.

The original link can be found at: http://www.flusterbuster.com/2013/05/fels-naptha-26-uses-wwii-series.html