At the end of the XNUMXth century, an unusual book of practical advice for solving everyday problems was published. According to the writer and historian Teresa O’Neill, many of them are still working. And we can only rejoice in the fact that our life now looks completely different.
1. Out of soap? Take potatoes
Potatoes are not a magic potion. It does not dissolve dirt and germs. Soap is basically a fat mixed with a strong alkali. The combination of the two creates a substance that attracts grease and dirt and traps them in the water that we rinse off. For centuries, soap has been made from animal fat and lye obtained from ash.
As for the potatoes, there are no chemical components of real soap, but there is a soft graininess. Thanks to her, the potatoes facilitate friction and remove dirt from the surface of the hands, making them unusually soft. Sand, ash, and boiled carrots have the same effect. Grease-free and lye-free cleaning is just a scrubbing,
2. Do-it-yourself fire-fighting agent
At this point, I want to sing the hymn to central heating. Before his appearance, fires in houses happened much more often – sparks from a stove or fireplace did their dirty work. Another hymn – to manufacturers of furniture, curtains, carpets and other interior items. The fact is that now most of them are already impregnated with a non-combustible composition. True, it still rinses off when you wash it, but how often do you wash the sofa upholstery? And earlier it was proposed to do such a composition ourselves. It required borax or borax, the stuff that slimes are now made from. The fabric was soaked in a borax solution and only then was it used. By the way, the borax was always at hand. It was even used instead of soap.
3. Non-prescription crackers
The instructions for making simple crackers have not changed much over the centuries. The convenience and beauty of this recipe lies in the fact that there are no measures in it, and the baker is advised to rely on his own taste and instinct. “Add enough milk to one yolk to knead a tough dough, roll it out and cut into circles with a shot glass. Pierce with a fork and bake in a slow oven. ” The temperature and time are also not indicated, since each housewife, apparently, herself should know when her cookies are ready. What is the value of such a recipe is not clear. You can just as well mix everything that is in the kitchen by eye.
4. Cheap remedy for calluses
In the XNUMXth century, footwear was made exclusively from leather or wood. As a result, the legs hurt and became covered with blisters. Therefore, before long-term walking, it was recommended to soap the socks from the inside. My feet were sweating and whipping up “hard foam”, which prevented the skin from pressing to one spot for a long time. It was recommended that you bring a spare pair of socks with you, because sweat and foam quickly destroyed the former. If the corn nevertheless formed, it was advised to mix a little lard and alcohol and apply it overnight. Everything should have passed by morning!
5. Clay stain remover
His recipe sounds like we dug up a witch’s grimoire somewhere and are trying to brew a hellish potion. “Mix 4 ounces (about 110 grams) of Fuller’s powder (which is a type of clay sold in cosmetic stores and is used as a base for face masks) and half an ounce of pearl ash (which is high quality potassium carbonate). Add lemon juice and mix into a thick paste. Roll it into balls and dry it in the sun. ” Then these balls were supposed to rub the spots until they disappear.