The original color catchers are terry cloth with no sizing or chemicals at all in the fabric. it is very expensive to buy and make your own with the right fabric. I have made and used my own fabric detergent for years using Napa soap, soda ash, and borax the way my grandmother made hers. Once she was able to buy detergent she liked she never made another batch. LOL. Works great for non really dirty clothes but not for towels or washcloths. After a while the towels will become less absorbent. A vinegar wash is needed every so often for clothes washed in soda ash. Buy cheap detergent on sale and save the hassle. I keep a container of homemade on hand for when I run out and can't get to the store.