Cleaning Recipe

Look closely at this recipe. It is the ultimate for those who like to make their own cleaning supplies. The time that this was written it would have cost $0.45 to make 5 gallons of cleaner. I was really excited to find this since I have been making my own laundry detergent for the past 6 months. I will share that recipe at a later date.

The ingredient line reads:

• 2 cakes of Ivory Soap — 20¢

• 1 bottle of ammonia — 10¢

• 1 box of Borax — 10¢

• 5¢ worth of glycerine — 5¢

• Total: 45¢

The heading appears to say it cleans rugs, all-over painted walls, drapes, upholstered furniture, and clothing, and that the recipe makes 5 gallons.

Directions

Shave soap fine into 1 gallon of water.
Add all above ingredients and stir until blended.
Then add 4 more gallons of water.
Stir and boil again. Then strain it.

The usage section appears to say:

Use 1 handful to 3 buckets of warm water.
Use sponge for everything except rugs.
Use scrubbing brush for rugs.
First boil brush for rugs—brush to take stiffness off.
1 quart cleans 8–9 × 12 rugs.
A wonderful cleaner.

A few words in the brush instruction remain too faded to state with confidence, but the ingredients are quite clear.

Would modern Ivory work?

Yes, modern Ivory Original bar soap should still work as the soap portion of the recipe. P&G still describes Ivory historically as a soap intended for both personal washing and laundry, although the modern formula is not identical to the early version. Today’s Ivory Original contains palm-based soaps, water, glycerin, fragrance, salt, and stabilizing ingredients. (Smart Label)

Modern bars are about 3.17 ounces each, so use two full bars, finely grated. (Smart Label)

Important modern caution

This as a historical recipe, not automatically use it on every item listed.

• Ammonia can damage or discolor some upholstery, rugs, painted finishes, wool, silk, and delicate fabrics.

• Do not use it on unknown or antique textiles without testing a hidden spot.

• Do not use it on specialty paint finishes.

• Never combine it with bleach or bleach-containing cleaners.

• Make it only with strong ventilation, and avoid boiling the mixture after ammonia has been added. Heating ammonia can release much stronger irritating fumes.

For a safer recreation, dissolve the grated soap and Borax in hot water first, let it cool substantially, and then stir in the ammonia and glycerine without reheating. The surviving recipe may say “boil again,” but that is not a step I would recommend with modern safety knowledge.