Some people make soap with potash lye. You boil ashes in water until only dry black salts remain. Once the salts melt, a gray-white substance is left. This is potash.

• 有的人用钾碱液制作肥皂。将草木灰放在水中煮，直到剩下干的黑色的盐。一旦这种盐融化了，就会留下灰白色的物质。这就是苛性钾。