This is a fascinating piece of folklore.  Could we please hear from people
who have encountered this in other locales than the southern US?

I have heard similar in Dutch, used by elder people. It's called ''blauwsel
water'', where ''blauwsel'' is de name of a )old fashoined) blue-ish additive
for white laundry to make a more bright white after washing. (water is the
same in english)
Gonneke

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