It woyld be funny to me if it turned out the secret was urine instead of seawater. One of the bits of received wisdom i got from my grandfather was peeing on your hands toughened them up. He claimed it as a bit of advice he was given on his first day chopping hardwood for a steam engine at a tin mine. I figured it as a first day prank like being sent to find headlight fluid in modern times but he said it was true.
Before major industrialisation, people used what was at hand. I think the peeing on your hands thing has been long debunked but in roman concrete it may have worked.
Can't really go wrong. After I do some bicycle repair, I toss my greasy clothes into the washer, and add a cup or two of ammonia during the wash cycle. I don't even add detergent, as the grease comes out without soap.
Specifically it makes chloramine gas, the same stuff that (in fairly low concentrations) makes swimming pools stink. It can be lethal so definitely take it seriously, although it's not nearly so gnarly as real mustard gas.
Here's an incident where a woman inadvertently made chloramine gas in an enclosed space while cleaning and was breathing it for 30 minutes. It nearly killed her and she was hospitalized for a week: https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJM199909093411115
Use in the laundry for regular stains: Soak stubborn stains on cotton, polyester, or nylon fabrics with a solution of 2/3 cup clear ammonia, 2/3 cup dish soap, 6 tablespoons of baking soda, and 2 cups warm water. Let it soak for about 30 minutes, then launder as usual. Never use ammonia on wool or silk.
Here's a step-by-step guide on how to wash clothes with ammonia:
1. Read the garment labels: Check the care instructions on your clothing items to ensure they can be safely washed with ammonia. Some delicate fabrics or certain colors may not be suitable for this method, so it's important to follow the manufacturer's recommendations.
2. Prepare the washing machine: Start by setting up your washing machine as you would for a regular load of laundry. Sort your clothes by color, fabric type, and level of dirtiness.
3. Measure the ammonia: For a typical load of laundry, use about 1/2 cup to 1 cup of ammonia. Adjust the amount based on the size of your load and the level of dirt or stains on the clothes.
4. Add the ammonia to the washing machine: Pour the measured amount of ammonia directly into the detergent dispenser or the main wash compartment of your washing machine. Be careful not to spill any ammonia on your skin or clothing.
5. Add detergent: Add your regular laundry detergent to the same compartment as the ammonia. The detergent will work in conjunction with the ammonia to clean your clothes effectively.
6. Start the wash cycle: Close the washing machine lid or door and start the wash cycle using the appropriate settings for your clothing items. Follow the machine's instructions for temperature, water level, and cycle duration.
7. Complete the wash cycle: Allow the washing machine to complete the cycle as usual. Once finished, remove the clothes promptly to prevent wrinkling or odor development.
8. Rinse the clothes: If you prefer, you can run an additional rinse cycle to ensure all traces of ammonia and detergent are thoroughly rinsed out. This step is particularly important if you have sensitive skin or are concerned about potential residue.
9. Dry the clothes: Depending on the fabric type and garment care instructions, dry the clothes by air drying, using a clothesline, or by using a dryer.
10. Clean the washing machine: After completing the load with ammonia, consider running an empty cycle with hot water and a cup of white vinegar to help remove any residual ammonia smell or build-up in the washing machine.
Remember to handle ammonia with care, follow safety guidelines, and avoid mixing it with other cleaning agents, such as bleach, as it can produce hazardous fumes. Always keep ammonia out of reach of children and pets.
Additionally, if you have specific stains or heavily soiled items, it's advisable to spot treat them before washing with ammonia.
Practical questions abound. Do you wash your hands after peeing on them? Do you pat dry? Towel dry? How do you close up your pants without spreading a non-negligible amount of urine onto your pants? Would you want to pee on your hands every trip to the bathroom or more a once-per-day thing?
It's a bit off-topic, but the role of urine in teeth cleaning reminds me one of Catullus' poems, poking fun at someone who was a bit too eager to laugh/smile as trying to show off how much urine he drunk.
For context: Celtiberians used urine to brush their teeth. The Romans were aware of that, but they thought that it was disgusting.
I would expect the opposite - urea is a keratolytic, so it should break down thickened skin, and make the hands less tough. That said, urine is 1-2% urea, and typical medical urea solutions are 5% or more, so i wouldn't expect much of an effect.
Lots of baseball players used to do this. Particularly Dominicans. It mostly stopped in favor of batting gloves but some players continued doing it such as Moises Alou.
Before major industrialisation, people used what was at hand. I think the peeing on your hands thing has been long debunked but in roman concrete it may have worked.