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TO MAKE MAGIC POLISHING CLOTHS

Mix two pounds of whiting and one-half ounce of oleic acid with a gallon of gasoline. Stir, shake and mix well. In this compound soak flannel rags of the desired size; then wring out and hang up to dry, being careful not to bring them near a fire or open flame. it will be found that cloths treated in this way will give a fine gloss to silverware or any polished surface, without the use of any powder or liquid dressing. They will not soil the hands and will preserve their polishing qualities. indefinitely. Cloths prepared in exactly this way have had a run at the dry goods stores recently, under the name of Magic Polishing Cloths, and retailing at a quarter each.

Notes and Illustrations

• Whiting - 100% calcium carbonate. It is used as a mild abrasive and a filler pigment to improve the coverage of paints. It is an ingredient of whitewash and would have been commonly used on farms then. Learn more about whiting here?
• Oleic acid - According to this website: "Oleic acid is a naturally occurring fatty acid found in various plant and animal sources. It is an unsaturated omega-9 fatty acid that is most commonly extracted from olive oil, as well as sunflower, safflower, and canola oils. Additionally, oleic acid is present in numerous seeds, nuts, and animal fats, making it a widely available and renewable resource." It is also useful in pest control.
• This recipe to make Magic Polishing Cloths can still be found in use today.