Important: Safety Warning
This page describes practices involving highly flammable materials in ways that create a serious risk of fire or explosion.
In addition, this page directs the use of hazardous substances — such as benzine, gasoline, lye, or strong acids — for household tasks. These materials are highly flammable, corrosive, or poisonous, and the practices described have caused fires, burns, and poisonings.
This information has been left in for historical purposes but should not be acted upon.
Home › To Remove Stains And Spots › To Make Washing Fluid
To Make Washing Fluid
To 1 gallon of common soft soap, (such as is made by the usual method of boiling the lye of wood ashes and fat together), take 4 ounces sal-soda, 1/2 gallon rain or soft water, and 1/2 gill spirits of turpentine; place them all in a pot over the fire, and allow the mixture to boil a few minutes; it is then ready for use, and can be kept in any earthen or stoneware vessel.