Are you not a fan of products that are full of aggressive chemicals? We have a great tip for you! Try washing with wood ash, which is becoming more and more popular!
Ash is not just waste after burning wood. It is a valuable material from which a lot can still be extracted. It is popularly used by experienced gardeners to fertilize plants in the garden, but you can skillfully use it for other household activities as well. Wood ash can very easily be turned into an effective ecological detergent in a simple way. You just need to know how to make it.
How to make detergent from hardwood ash? For a simple tutorial, check out this YouTube video on the Permacrafters channel:
Source: Youtube
Wood ash for laundry?
Many may be surprised and ask themselves: How to wash with ash when it is a raw material that tends to get dirty? It’s certainly not like you sprinkle ash on your laundry and it’s clean in no time. However, the fact that wood ash can be used for washing is real, and our grandmothers often used this method with pleasure.
Why is that so?
Hard wood, for example from oak, beech, birch, chestnut, but also fruit trees, contains a high percentage of potash or potassium carbonate. Previously, it was also called salajka or potassium. Already in the Middle Ages, potash was in demand and was obtained in a primitive way by burning whole trees, the so-called “standing”.
First, a hole had to be dug into the trunk of the tree, in which the fire was kept. Raw potash was then produced by leaching wood ash and then evaporating the filtered leachate. The technology used was used throughout the period from the 16th to the 19th century and was spread all over the world.
What potash can do
In households, potash was often used to make soap. It dissolves grease excellently and can eliminate a large number of different impurities and stains. It is very gentle on textile materials and its absorption properties have always been valued as well. It can therefore be skillfully used for many useful purposes.
Preparation of detergent
Before you start making this eco-friendly product, wear rubber gloves. To prepare one batch, you will need 4 cups of sifted wood ash, which you put in a container and pour 9 cups of water over it.
Then mix the mixture properly and let it infuse for at least 24 hours. During that time, the potash mentioned above is excluded from the ash. It is better to mix the mixture again from time to time. The next day, pour the ash water through a coffee filter into a sealable container and the detergent is ready. You will definitely smell the aroma of the soap. You can compost the filter residue.
How to use the tool
Use is similar to that of regular liquid detergents. You can pour it into the dispenser in the drawer, or directly into the drum of the washing machine. You use ¾ to 1 cup of ash water for one regular load of laundry. It is suitable for all types of colored laundry, but it is not suitable for white clothes. It can be stored in the refrigerator, where it will last for several months.
Resources: www.permacrafters.com, www.alternativyvpraxi.com, www.dooiy.org
