Historic Furniture Polish Recipe

     April began with spring cleaning and is going out with spring cleaning! Maybe it's the uptick in allergies or the constant kid's messes, but the vacuum is our house's unending melody.

     It's had me thinking about Frances and the spring cleaning at Springwood. When included that in A Roosevelt Smile, it was based on information from Sara Delano Roosevelt's household book. Spring cleaning in a house like Springwood was a huge undertaking- the largest part being the care of the enormous Persian rugs! If you recall, Mrs. James tasked Frances with polishing mahogany furniture, of which there was no shortage. The smell of the polish aggravated her early pregnancy symptoms for a clue to what was coming!
     
     This month, I'm thrilled to share Mrs. James's original furniture polish recipe with you so you can try it out in your own spring cleaning! The best part is that you likely have the ingredients hiding in your pantry: all you'll need is oil, vinegar, and alcohol.

     Now, in Frances's version, she used an orange-infused vinegar to give this recipe some extra fragrance. To accomplish this, simply save some orange peels. Place them in a clean jar and cover them with vinegar. Allow the jar to sit for 2-3 weeks away from direct sunlight (pantries work great!)

Happy Spring Cleaning!