There is an increasing interest in the extraction of DNA from soil, since molecular techniques facilitate the analysis of the microbial community including unculturable microorganisms. Though various methods of direct DNA extraction have been devised, it still remains difficult to extract DNA from some soils. We developed an improved method to extract DNA from such “recalcitrant soils”. Andisol, volcanic ash soils are recalcitrant in this context. Skim milk increased the efficacy of DNA extraction from such soils, when added to the extraction buffer as an adsorption competitor to soil particles. This method is applicable to molecular community analysis of soils which strongly adsorb DNA.