500 STANDARD RECEIPTS. 



the lye to boiling and then while boiling, if the lye is not strong enough 

 to eat the feather of a quill, boil it down until it is. When it will just 

 eat the feather, let the kettle be a little more than one-third full of lye, 

 and put in grease, skins of the hogs, bacon rinds, meat-fryings, and the 

 like, until the kettle is about two-thirds full. The kettle must not be 

 full, for with the least bit too much fire, over the soap goes. It is bet- 

 ter to put in a little less than the necessary amount of grease. Lye and 

 grease combine in certain proportions; but pass the limit no amount of 

 boiling will take up an excess of grease. It will remain on top hot or 

 cold, and it will be very troublesome; whereas a little too much lye will 

 sink to the bottom when the soap comes. If the proportions are good, 

 a little fire only is required to keep it boiling, and in a few hours it is 

 done. Then take a bucket of weak lye and let it boil up with the soap 

 once. This will not disturb the already made soap, but will wash the 

 dirt out that was in the grease, and with it settle to the bottom. When 

 the soap is cold it can be cut out in cakes. ' ' A small quantity of salt 

 will help harden. 



Pluid Soap. Sweet oil seven parts; caustic potash, one part; rose 

 water, sufficient quantity to reduce it to a proper state. Rub the oil, 

 alkali and a few spoonfuls of the water together in a hot mortar until 

 united, then add the remainder of the water as required. 



Wash-Boiler Soap. Take one pound of sal-soda, one pound of 

 yellow bar soap, and five quarts of water. Cut the soap in thin slices, 

 and boil together two hours; strain, and it will be fit for use. Put the 

 clothes to soak the night before you wash, and to every pail of water in 

 which you boil them, add a pound of soap. They will need no rubbing; 

 merely rinse them out, and they will be perfectly clean and white. 



White Hard Soap. To fifteen pounds of lard, or suet, made boil- 

 ing hot, add slowly six gallons of hot lye, or solution of potash, thai 

 will bear up an egg high enough to leave a piece big as a shilling, bare. 

 Take out a little and cool it. If no grease comes to the top it is done. 

 If any grease appears, add lye, and boil till no grease rises. Add three 

 quarts of fine salt, and boil up again. If this does not harden well on 

 cooling, add more salt. If it is to be perfumed, melt it next day, add 

 the perfume and run it in moulds, or cut in cakes. 



Hard Soap. i. Take six pounds of sal -soda, six pounds grease, 

 and three pounds lime. Thoroughly mix the soda and lime in four gal- 

 lons of water, pour off from the sediment, put in the grease and boil 

 *^wenty minutes; pour off and before entirely cold cut in bars. 



