I haven't seen any bad effects from using it. We have broad fabrics and colors and haven't seen anything negative. We have actually seen a huge increase in the life of our clothes. We love it. It lasts a long time. Keep it in a nicely sealed bucket. Occasionally in the older mixture it wants to clump if exposed to humidity, but if you stir it it will break easily. If it clumps in the purex bottles just shake well. Recipe is as follows: 2 bars of either fels naptha or zote. I use one of each, but zote bars are larger and smell really great. The pink are my favorite as compared to the white. You can tell from the packaging. I don't think there is a difference at all it just makes the mixture look better. 2 bottles of purex crystals. We use the lavender scented ones for smell and it helps to visually make sure the mixture is stirred well. 1 box Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda Detergent Booster & Household Cleaner, 55oz. 1 container of Oxiclean versatile stain remover with the yellow lid. The 3lb container. 1 box of baking soda 4lb box. 1 box of 20 Mule Team All Natural Borax Laundry Detergent Booster & Multi-Purpose Household Cleaner. It is a 4lb box as well. Make sure to finely grate the bars with some old cheap cheese grater. Mix it in equal parts and stir well. Then funnel back into the purex bottles and use the lid to measure out your pours. I use half a lid or less.