This Cheap Laundry Bar Easily Removes Stains… And It’s Under $1!
The Fels Naptha laundry soap stain remover bar has been around for centuries – here’s why we’re still using it today!
Ready to level up your laundry stain-removal game with Fels Naptha?
Here’s a helpful laundry tip! Fels Naptha is an inexpensive laundry bar that has been around since the 1800s, and can become a handy tool to have on hand in your stain-fighting arsenal. This popular reader favorite is also a smart Amazon filler item that can often be priced at just 88¢ a bar! Yes, under a buck!
When not shopping for it online, look for it in-store in the laundry supply aisle of most grocery and big-box retailers for around $1-$2 dollars!
Today I’m sharing how to use Fels Naptha to get rid of stubborn laundry stains like grease, blood, makeup, strawberry juice, and it even works on extra tough stains like baseball pants. I have honestly never used this laundry bar so I was excited to tackle some real-life stains and am super excited about the amazing results!
Here are the steps for using Fels Naptha as a stain remover:
- Get the bar wet and the stain wet with water. You’ll want to lay the stained garment flat.
- Run the Fels Naptha bar back and forth over the stain. You’ll notice it get white in color from the bar.
- Wait a few minutes and let it soak in. (For tougher stains, consider using a toothbrush or scrub sponge to scrub the stain a bit.)
- Wash the piece of clothing like normal using detergent.
- Check to see if the stain came out before placing it in the dryer.
Time to put Fels Naptha to the test!
Here are 4 real-life stains I pre-treated using this laundry bar on pieces of my own family’s laundry. We have no shortage of stains around here, and I was curious to see how Fels Naptha would perform since I have never used it before!
1.) Lipstick and foundation make-up stained t-shirt
This stain I am happy to say was a breeze to get out! At first, I scrubbed on it a little using a toothbrush, but then switched it up to using a Scrub Daddy sponge, and oh my goodness… that worked out so well! The stain disappeared. 😱
2.) Grease stained t-shirt
Fels Naptha worked like a charm on this large t-shirt grease stain! I pretreated it, then washed/dried it like normal, and afterward the stain was mostly gone.
3.) Fresh strawberry stained t-shirt
I honestly thought this stained t-shirt was ruined! I didn’t have high hopes for a dark stain like that on a nice white shirt.
My daughter borrowed her brother’s Van’s shirt without asking permission and then managed to get fresh strawberry on it at lunch. 😬 Thank goodness Fels Naptha managed to get that stain out. After I washed and folded it you couldn’t tell!
4.) Dirty baseball pants
Fels Naptha scored a home run on this stain! As a sports mom, I know white baseball and softball pants are the most annoying to keep clean! I sure wish they would introduce clay dirt-colored pants and I’d be much happier. 😂
To get pants this white, I applied Fels Naptha bar soap and scrubbed the heavy dirt stains with the Scrub Daddy sponge. Then I washed as usual with some OxiClean, and the roughest stains came out pretty well! I can confirm this is a great method for washing baseball pants — home run! 🙌
Conclusion: This stuff works and for a one dollar investment I am totally sold!
I am honestly shocked at how well Fels Naptha works to pre-treat stains on laundry! It got out all the laundry stains I tested and it’s refreshing to buy a product that does exactly what it says it’s supposed to — I will for sure keep some on hand as part of my laundry room supplies!
Fels Naptha also has other uses according to Hip2Save readers!
Apparently, it’s a well-known home remedy for helping with Poison Ivy! I have not personally tried it, but the idea is that you can wash the area with the laundry bar to get rid of the plant’s oil on the skin. Pretty interesting, right?!
“This is the best soap to wash with when exposed to poison ivy. Have used in our family for decades!” – Hip2Save reader Janet
It’s also been used to help glides, such as ones on furniture, function more easily.
“A longtime furniture salesman advised me to rub this soap on the glides of my new DR table to make it easier to open and close the table when inserting the extension leaf. Most people only use the leaf a few times a year for holidays and the soap keeps the table from sticking. Genius!” – Hip2Save reader Sue
Hip2Save readers have also shared that making your own laundry soap with Fels Naptha as a detergent base is also helpful!
“I’ve made my own laundry detergent for years! I grate 2 bars of the Fels Naptha and 2 bars of Zote in a food processor. Mix it with 2 boxes of Arm & Hammer washing soda and 2 boxes of 20 Mule Team Borax. You can add essential oil if you like. I use lemon (25-30 drops). Store in an airtight container. I use a powdered detergent scoop per regular load. I have an HE front loading washer and it works fine. Hope this helps!” – Hip2Save Reader Pam
This could be a money-saving idea too since it’s much less expensive to ship a bar of soap than an entire gallon of liquid laundry detergent.
Fels Naptha has also been impressing our Hip2Save team!
“I bought a bar last week and this really refreshed and whitened my towels! I just shaved off some pieces in with my regular laundry detergent and they came out SO fresh and fluffy! Then my son’s white Adidas shoes needed to be washed and it refreshed those too! LOVE THIS BAR!”
“This product was such a breeze to use. I rubbed the bar right on a blood stain from a rollerblading fall my daughter had and was surprised how quickly and easily the blood lifted right out of the clothes!”
Do you already use Fels Naptha? Share with us in the comments your favorite uses for it!
Thanks, Lina. I bought this a while ago and haven’t used it. I didn’t know it helps with grease stains, that is awesome. (Doing keto here and not used to working with grease!) BTW, If your kids ever look at this site, the jig is up…Gabe will know that Lily😉 took and stained his shirt and Mom came to the rescue! 🤣
Oh haha thanks CJ! I am obsessed with this stain remover and have had so much success with it. Hope you love it too!
I read this and tried it, as I have had a bar on the shelf for years. COMPLETELY got out grease/butter/oil on a mess of my black shirts! Also from our Keto lifestyle. I let it sit for maybe a half hour and washed them and HIZZAH! Thanks for the awesome tip!
This has been my GO-TO for years now for my kids white ball uniforms! It’s a miracle worker! People look at this old school item funny when I share but it works! Three white uniforms this year I have to have a backstock!
Yes! I have heard of it for years but never took the time to try it. I am so glad i did. It’s amazing!
We have a long relationship here too ; ) This bar is awesome! I recently cleaned up backpacks with this bar, rinsed, and hung them up outside to dry. Now they’re so clean!
Wow so smart! thanks for sharing!
I see Purdue in the house! Alum here. Boiler Up!!
Ha yes! My husband went there and is from Lafayette IN and a Boilermaker! 🙂
I was a boilermaker in Illinois!! Small town, Kewanee! It’s a small world!
My teen plays catcher for his baseball team which means his white pants are COVERED in dirt after every game. This bar gets it out every time and lasts for a long time despite using it all over his pants multiple times a week.
Nice! Thanks for sharing!
Was able to order 2 thru another option for same price. Got 1 for my daughter and one for me. Thank you
Nice! Glad you could get a great deal, Jan!
oh good!!
Which store carries these NAFTA bars? Had a long time ago. I have forgotten where I can buy them.
Thank you very much for this reminder I liked so much.
I’ve seen them in the laundry isle of most grocery and big boxed retailers like walmart. Hope that helps!
This is also my husband’s go to for helping heal poison oak! Strange but it works wonders!
oh thanks for sharing!
It is great to prevent poison ivy. I use it after I think I have come in contact with poison ivy
Thanks for sharing!
It’s is amazing!! All I use for stains now
Yay! Yes agree! 🙌🙌
Just a warning, don’t leave it on the stains overnight or so like I did. It took the stain out but left a lighter spot on some colors.
Amazon is so TRICKY. Be sure to search for Purex Fels-Naptha Laundry Bar and choose the one without the price. Then it will show you alternative item of Consider these alternative items
Purex Fels-Naptha Laundry Bar & Stain Remover & Pre-treater, 5 OuncePurex Fels-Naptha Laundry Bar & Stain Remover & Pre-treater, 5 Ounce for $0.88($0.18/Ounce)
By just doing the Fels-Naptha search will show you prices ranging from $3.97 each to $15.99 for 4 bars.
Didn’t know this before. I was going to pickup in store at Walmart for .88 until I searched more thoroughly.
This really helped, thank you!
Thank you!
Very helpful, thank you!
I made laundry soap out of mine at the beginning of the pandemic and just ran out. Time to go buy more!
Oh nice! Thanks for sharing!
Thank you so much for proof of really works! Have seen this in store but had no idea what it did. Will order today.
Sure! I have had lots of success and hope you will too. 🙌
I’ve had this and was afraid it might bleach the stain spot. Looks like you used it on all kinds of fabrics so I’ll be brave and give it a try!😅
It works great for cleaning the soap scum in the tub. Wet it, rub it on a sponge w scrubber side. The tub sparkles with only a little bit of effort. Sinks too
Oh thanks for the tip B!
I use a cheese grater and grate the bar and add it directly into my laundry load, if I am using cold I add the soap into a bit of hot water to melt first and then add it to the load
Oh nice Wendy! Great tip – thanks for sharing 👏💕
A longtime furniture salesman advised me to rub this soap on the glides of my new DR table to make it easier to open and close the table when inserting the extension leaf. Most people only use the leaf a few times a year for holidays and the soap keeps the table from sticking. Genius!
My Mom has been using Fels-Naptha soap in her laundry for 50 years. She always said it was the best in getting clothes cleaner.
I think soaking the baseball pants in Iron Out is even easier. Use 1/4 cup of Iron Out powder with hot water and let them sit. I put my sons pants in a bucket for a few hours. Wash when you’re done and they come out sooooo white!!! One of the moms durring our tournament asked if my sons pants were new.
Oh nice – I know alot of baseball moms that do this also! Will try!
I think soaking the baseball pants in Iron Out is even easier. Use 1/4 cup of Iron Out powder with hot water and let them sit. I put my sons pants in a bucket for a few hours. Wash when you’re done and they come out sooooo white!!! One of the moms durring our tournament asked if my sons pants were new.
I used to scrub now I used 1 scoop oxyclean with my detergent and it works wonders! No more scrubbing!
Has anyone used this with hard water? Does it leave a film?
I have used this for stain removal and as a DIY detergent. I can use it for everyone’s clothes but mine as I’m really sensitive to perfumes/fragrances.
Does this work on mustard stains?
Yes I would try it for sure!
Best laundry soap ever! Have used for over 50 years. My mom ALWAYS used it for stains, and she lived to 103! This one hasn’t been mentioned: Grass stains gone! Have effectively used to prevent poison ivy/oak, if I’ve accidentally walked through a patch. Great product! And thanks to H2S for continuing to point out ways to be budget friendly. You don’t always need the latest and most hyped things to accomplish the goal!
Thanks for the great feedback!! I agree!
It stinks to high heaven I had to throw it out. I just don’t know how people can have so many strong sense in their house from laundry soap and fabric softener and dryer sheets and cleaners and air fresheners and candles.
I don’t know why somebody would say it stinks to high heaven. There is a unique scent to it, but it is not that strong.
I does have an unpleasant scent for sure but worse than that was that it made my skin feel like it was on fire. No more for me no matter how well it works.
Does this work on old stains?
Yes. I have removed older stubburn grease stains so its worth a try!
77 cents at Kroger this week.
Oh sweet! Thanks Chrissy!
I’ve used this for a long time and love it! I wanted to add, I use this on my husbands dress shirts prior to taking them to the cleaners to to be washed. I use it on the collars and the underarms of his shirts. His dress shirts have never looked so good. Before I started using this product I would use a spray and wash or shout but it never seemed to get rid of the yellow under the arms or the ring around the collar. Fels-Naptha does the trick!
Oh wow! That is so helpful to know. Thanks P!
Has anyone tried this to get out the yellow stains on baby clothes? I took out our baby clothes and thought I out them away without stains, but some have the yellow stains
Used it for the first time after my four year old son got a red kool-aid stain on a brand new bright yellow dinosaur t-shirt. Got the stain wet with water and scrubbed the stain with fels-naptha vigorously for a few mins. Washed with cold water and regular detergent once and the stain was completely gone. Dried as normal in the drier and checked to confirm stain was still gone and it was. Very happy with this product and wish I knew about it sooner.
Thanks for the amazing feedback, Anthony!! We sure appreciate you sharing this!🥰
I’ve used this for years but now I can’t find it for less than $6/bar. I’ve seen it on Amazon for as much as $20/bar. What happened?
Good question! I have been wondering the same thing, Leslie as I LOVED grabbing this at just $1 or less! We’ll continue to keep an eye out for any lower pricing that might pop up for these! 👀💞
Yes! It’s over $7.00 a bar @ Walmart! What the heck caused the price to go up SO MUCH???
Will this soap remove steering wheel marks from clothes?