I live reading old cookbooks, especially the ones that have household hints. Two things I can remember just offhand. One said, " take a piece of butter about the size of a walnut". My thought was I wonder if it is with or without the green husk. The other thing I remember is washday instructions where the lady said when the wash is done to carry the wash water outside and throw it on the porch to scrub it down. Oh sure, like I'm going to do that. Not even if I had the wringer washer and tubs!