using
wood ashes as soap
Wood ashes have been used
for centuries as a source of lye in the soap making process. When lye derived
from wood ashes is mixed with fats or oils a chemical action takes place to
produces what we call soap. This is a simple process to use on treks and
immersion events when carrying excess gear may be problematic.
Ashes from hardwood trees
are better for making wood ash “soap” than softwood ashes. The wood ashes used to wash your eating gear
must not contain residue from plastic, food, or other trash that was burned in
the fire, as they could be toxic.
The lye from wood ashes can make your hands dry if
left on for a period of time. Be sure to
rinse your hands in clean water after scrubbing your gear. Similarly, do not use wood ashes to wash your
body or any gear which cannot withstand harsh soaps.
- Let your fire burn down to the point where you can
easily extract wood ashes.
- Select the greasiest pot you want to clean. If the food residue is not very greasy you can
help the soap making process by adding a small amount of fat or oil into the
pot. Butter, olive oil, animal fat, etc.
are all good. Just a few drops are enough.
- Add a few cups of ashes into the pot. If there are bits of charcoal mixed in with
the wood ash that is even better since charcoal will aid in scouring.
- Add enough hot water to the wood ashes in the pot
to make a paste. The hot water will
create potassium salts from the wood ashes, which will then mix with the fats
or oils in the food residue. This forms the
crude soap that will cut through the crud and grease on your cooking gear.
- When the water and wood ash paste is cool enough
smear it all over your cooking gear and mess kit. Let it set for several minutes. This is where the chemical reaction takes
place that makes your wood ash soap.
- Scrub your cooking gear and mess kit clean.
- Rinse with water and let dry.