Using Dish Washing Powder as a Stain Remover

In a nonaluminum large container, kitchen or laundry sink, put 1 cup powdered dishwasher detergent, 1/4 cup household liquid chlorine bleach and 1 gallon hot water, and mix well until the powder is dissolved. Test for colorfastness of the item on an area that won't show. Place the garments in the solution and soak for five to 10 minutes. If the stains are still there, soak for up to 20 minutes more -- any longer (like overnight) will not work any better! Rinse and launder following the care instructions. That is all there is to it!

This is from Hints from Heloise, it is what our family has been using as long as my mom can remember.

I got this formula from my cousin's wife, who got it from her mother. 1 part Cascade (plain in green box) powdered dishwashing soap and 2 parts Clorox color-safe bleach POWDER. You mix together. You can use as a soak -- safest way, but takes longer. Or you can mix with some water and create a paste. Then you use the paste to do spot cleaning. Leave on for about 15-30 minutes. If you leave the paste on too long, it will bleach the clothes.

I have to say that this post makes me very nervous. There are so many carcinogenic fillers in dishwasher soap, that I would not use it as a stain remover. Ingredients like bleach, alkaline (burns skin), diethanolsamine (poisons your liver), Naptha (damages the central nervous system). Not only does this effect your iternal well being, but also causes exzema. There are so many healthy alternatives that actually work. We have used a product called Solumel to get permanent marker out of a leather chair. We have used Prespot to get red wine out of white carpet. Both products are completely non-toxic and are safe to be used on clothes. If you would like more info on where to find these products, please visit www.livetotalwellness.com/wyn.

Most dish soap has bleach. I like the lady's idea of diluting it. Sounds like it would work. I would test a small area firt.

I've never heard of powdered dish washing soap but I use the original dawn liquid 1tbs, white vinegar 1tbs per 1/2 gallon of warm water and I've gotten a lot out with this little mixture.

A.,
I did not get to read the original post, but I did want to quickly say, if people are using dish washing powder as a stain remover, I recommend they read the ingredients. As many of them out there have toxins in them that may cause serious illnesses within your family. It is a good idea to look the MSDS sheets up on line, you may google MSDS sheets and it will bring OSHA site up and type in the cleaner. For better safer alternatives to many products, look on this site: www.rmbarry.com or gotgreennow.fourpointwellness.com