10 cups cold rainwater
9 cups melted lard, or any grease
1 /2 cup ammonia
3 tablespoons borax
1 /2 citronella (optional)
1 cup Lewis lye
Mix these in the order listed. Sprinkle lye in last and let stand 5 – 10 minutes. Stir frequently for the first 1 1 /2 hours. After that, once every hour throughout the day. Stir several times the next day so that it is all crumbled up. Avoid inhaling fumes. Let this sit for a few more days, stirring often. Put this in a tight container and it is ready to use in the wash water.