Charlie’s Soap of Mayodan, NC began in 1976 when the yarn company where he worked asked Charlie Sutherland, Jr. to find a soap to clean the oils and grime from the yarn machines. Charlie and his brother-in-law, Ron Joyce started making soap themselves in an old barn. Charlie came up with a formula that worked. Charlie’s dad said, “It cleans everything from false teeth to diesel engines.”
The soap company struggled, but Charlie stuck with it, buying Ron’s shares in 1983 and leaving his job. The day Charlie took over the soap company, the old yarn company started modernizing and shipping thousands of old machines to China. The machines had to be clean before shipping, and soap sales soared. Charlie diversified by inventing a liquid laundry soap. But in 1992, all of the textile machines had been shipped to China, the yarn company was sold, and 75% of Charlie’s soap business was gone overnight. Times were tough again, but the laundry soap sales kept the doors open.
Over the years, the original Charlie’s Soap, the new Laundry Liquid, and the newer Laundry Powder found their way around the globe. The company added spray bottle cleaners and additional laundry products. Today, Charlie’s Soap is thriving. Charlie’s three boys joined the family business in 2002.
Charlie’s formulas have been fully tested for non-toxicity, biodegradability, and effectiveness. They contain a coconut oil base and pure, highest grade, completely soluble, Green River, WY soda ash (washing soda). The Laundry Powder also contains a bit of sodium silicate to help with grease stains and help keep the powder dry in wet environments. Learn more about Charlie’s Soap on their website, http://www.charliesoap.com/. Check out the research results that show how most cleaners increase the weight of clothing by leaving residues, while Charlie’s does not.