Making lye with wood ash
What is the purpose of wood ash detergent?
In recent years, many recipes detailing how to make wood ash detergent have appeared, encouraged by a growing awareness of the harmfulness of certain common household products, such as industrial detergents. In fact, as well as being environmentally friendly, wood ash detergent is a highly effective laundry cleaner. Its use goes back centuries. The potash it contains is the main ingredient in effective detergents. However, its usefulness is not limited to washing clothes; it can also be used to extract pigments from plants.
The usefulness of wood ash lye in the manufacture of natural pigments
In addition to potash, whose main role has already been mentioned, this lye contains various other ingredients useful in pigment manufacture. Its exact composition varies according to the type of wood burnt and the elements added to the fire, but it generally contains a significant amount of calcium (between 20 and 50%) in the form of calcium oxide, or lime. The latter can be used as a fixing agent in pigment production, replacing other substances such as calcium carbonate or sodium carbonate usually used.
Recipe
Between 00:10 and 02:00
(depending on pigment and desired fineness)
Easy
Cheap
Ingredients
- 150 g wood ash
- 1 L water (if rainwater, even better!)
Utensils
2 containers
Minimum 2 Litres
1 sieve
1 wooden spatula
1 clean cloth
1 funnel
1 colander
1 bottle of 1 L
Preparation
Step 1
- Sieve the wood ash.
This operation is essential, as the ash must not contain large pieces of coal, nails or any other element other than the ash itself.
Step 2
- Pour the ash intoone of the containers and add 1 L of water.
- Mix together.
Step 3
- Leave to stand for around 24 hours, stirring the mixture 4 or 5 times during the process with a wooden spatula (don't use an iron!).
Step 4
- Place a clean tea towel inside the colander and place it on top of the clean container.
Step 5
- Carefully pour the contents of the first container through the tea towel in the colander, filtering the mixture.
You can see that the liquid is slightly yellowish and soapy.
Step 6
Use the funnel to transfer the liquid into a glass bottle (I recommend a tinted bottle).
Your wood ash detergent is ready!
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