The Tale of the Silver Dust Soap

Once upon a time there were a lot of princesses in Joan Crawford hats and suits, who were plagued by an army of dirty dishes.

And then along came a scientific lady in a white coat and a clipboard. She made a box of magic dish soap appear upon her table.  Although ‘Dust’ may not be the best word to put in the name of a soap, it was called Silver Dust Soap, so the princesses would know that it was good. Silver is always a good thing, you see (although gold is not bad either, and calling it Diamond Soap would have been really terrific, but never mind all that).

There will be silver dust, possibly, all over the dishes….No, wait. That can’t be right.

The magic clipboard lady said that she was conducting a social experiment. She wanted to see just how long it took for the ladies in their gorgeous hats to start fighting over the dishwashing soap. After all, it is a white sudsy soap! That is what makes it really special.

Actually, this was what was scientifically known as a “dishpan test.” You swished the soap and some water around in a quart jar. Like magic, sudsy suds appeared.

After the excitement of the dishpan test, the ladies had to answer three questions. This is a fairy tale requirement.

1. Do you want plenty of suds?
2. Do you choose your soap by depth of suds?
3. Are you convinced that Silver Dust deeper suds make dishwashing quick and easy?

(Hint: the correct answer to all these questions is Yes. Yes I said yes I will yes…)

And if you too can answer all these difficult and tricky questions correctly, then you will also live happily ever after with the Silver Dish Soap – and a magically reappearing pile of dirty dishes. Even the magic clipboard lady cannot break that kind of spell.

There may be a prince involved too. He is the fellow out in the dining room yelling for more gingerbread.

1930s ad from that lovely book of fairy tales, the Ladies’ Home Journal.

This is my offering for Vintage Thingies Thursday, hosted by the lovely Queen of Aprons, who reigns over her retro kingdom with enormous finesse and charm.