The Hungry Canary

From Mother’s notebook · Personally used and preferred

Toilet Bombs

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Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup baking soda
  • 1/2 cup citric acid
  • 1/2 cup borax
  • Water, added a little at a time from a spray bottle (no fixed amount recorded)
  • 25 drops essential oil (variety not specified)

Directions

  1. Place the baking soda, citric acid, and borax in a gallon-size zip-top bag. Seal and knead the bag to combine the dry ingredients.
  2. Open the bag and mist the mixture two or three times with water. Close it and knead until moisture is absorbed. Repeat gradually until a squeezed handful holds together with a consistency described in the notebook as like pie dough.
  3. Add the 25 drops of essential oil and mix again.
  4. Shape the mixture into small portions or molds (the notebook does not specify a mold or size). Let dry for a few days.
  5. Once thoroughly dry and firm, unmold carefully. The notebook warns that pieces can initially be fragile but harden as they dry.
  6. Store in an airtight, clearly labeled glass jar, out of reach of children and pets.

Original notebook notes

This formula continues onto a second page. The notes describe adding moisture through a spray bottle, kneading the bag repeatedly, checking the mixture by squeezing it, adding essential oil, then drying for a few days and storing in a tightly closed glass jar. The original does not establish how many tablets the batch makes or exactly how they were used. The recipe is not visibly crossed out. According to her daughter, Mother regularly made and used these toilet bombs and preferred them over buying commercial toilet-cleaning products.

Safety and use

Archival formula, not a validated cleaning or disinfecting product. Borax can cause harm if swallowed or mishandled; avoid breathing dust and keep the mixture away from children and pets. Essential oils may be inappropriate around pets, especially cats. Do not use with bleach, acidic toilet cleaners, or other products, and never place one in a bowl containing another cleaner. Citric acid reacts with baking soda when wetted, so add only minimal water during preparation. The finished tablets can be mistaken for bath or food products; label them clearly. Mother’s reported preference reflects her personal experience; no independent disinfection testing or plumbing compatibility data are available.