Directions for Laundering with Soap Flakes
- Always follow garment labels for washing instructions.
- Make sure flakes are fully dissolved in water.
- Test for color fastness and wash non-fast colors and whites separately.
- Flame resistant finishes may be impaired by washing with Soap Flakes, refer to the garment label.
Handwashing
In a bucket or tub, use about 1 gallon of warm to hot water and add enough Soap Flakes (approximately 1/4 cup) to ensure a rich creamy lather. The hotter the water, the better the Soap Flakes dissolve. Let the mixture cool to skin temperature or slightly above before starting to wash. Swish water around to mix. Work fabric in the soapy mixture and rinse well in clear water. Squeeze out, but do not wring out, the water from the fabric. After the initial squeeze out, wrap the fabric inside a dry bath towel and squeeze or pat dry to absorb more moisture. Ease back into shape and let dry flat, away from direct heat or bright light.
Automatic washing machines
Top loading machines
Add approximately 1/2 cup of Soap Flakes to the warm or hot water as the machine fills. Agitate briefly. Be sure flakes have dissolved completely before adding laundry. Wash as usual.
Front loading machines
Use approximately 2 tablespoons of Soap Flakes. Use the machine's "delicates program". Moderate water temperatures, similar to those used in top loading machines, work best. Do not use spin dry function.
Hard water
In hard water areas (high calcium levels in the water) a soap scum may form. To avoid this, add a water softening agent to the wash water.
Durable water resistant fabrics
Wash according to garment label but do not use softened water. Artificially softened water may adversely affect the fabric. In hard water areas, either use a bit more soap, or handwash using a mixture of Soap Flakes and distilled water.
In general
- Hotter water works best at dissolving Soap Flakes, creating suds, and cleaning. However, not all garments or fabrics or dyes can handle hot water. Always check the garment label for washing instructions and test to be sure.
- Adding more Soap Flakes or using less water, will create a thicker more soapy mixture. Similarly, using less Soap Flakes or more water, will create a thinner less soapy mixture. Go by feel. Feel the soapy water (be sure it is cool enough to not hurt your skin); if the mixture is slippery, and there are enough suds, you are using the correct amount of Soap Flakes. Always rinse well.
- Soap Flakes can be premixed with hot water to make a liquid concentrate which can be added to cooler wash water. Concentrate may become gel like, however this does not impair performance.
-
Softer water works better with Soap Flakes than
does harder water. When using Soap Flakes in a hard
water area, add a water softening product to the
wash water, or use more Soap Flakes.
- For most uses, washing floors, washing horses or dogs, washing or cleaning most things, use approximately 1/2 cup of Soap Flakes to a bucket of water. Warmer or hotter water dissolves the Soap Flakes best. Always rinse well.
-
People with nut allergies may want to avoid
using this product as coconut and palm oils form
the soap base.
