When you burn wood for heat, you get ashes. Don't get rid of them! Ashes can be used in surprising ways around the garden and house. Here are five ideas that make sense.
For every cord of firewood you burn, you'll get about 20 pounds or more of ashes, depending on how well you burn wood, what you use to heat your home, and how much fuel you use.
Use your ashes in your garden and around your home instead of throwing them away.
Don't throw away the ash from your fireplace. Instead, read these tips to find out how to use it around your house and garden.
Fire Control
If you've ever "smothered a fire" by moving ashes over hot coals at a campsite, you know that ash can make a great airtight barrier that helps put out the flames.
If you don't have a fire extinguisher, soil, or sand, you can use wood ashes to put out a fire.
Soak Up Spills In The Driveway
Getting your car's oil changed? Or did you just drop something that could stain? Wood ash can be used to soak up the spill. The dark asphalt will hide the color of the ash, and the ash's ability to soak up water should make it easy to clean up.
Keep Bugs That Are Harmful Away
Wood ashes can be used to keep slugs and snails away, and they can even keep ants away. Spread a small amount of ash or make a ring around plants that are at risk. If it rains, the ash will be washed away.
Increase Soil Quality And Giving Your Lawn A Boost
Wood ash is more water-soluble than limestone, so it can be used to raise the pH of your lawn's soil faster.
There are also small amounts of aluminum, magnesium, phosphorus, and sodium in wood ash, among other nutrients. Some plants, like alfalfa, hay, and corn, take nutrients out of the soil. These nutrients can be put back into the soil with amendments or crop rotations. If needed, these nutrients can be found in wood ash.
Helps With Traction On Slippery Walkways
Wood ash can be used to give people traction on snowy streets, just like gravel. You can even keep some in a closed metal container in your car or truck in case you get stuck somewhere slippery and need to get out quickly. (Just don't bring the ash back into the house on your feet.)
Wood Ashes For Clean
Want a free way to clean your glass and metal? When mixed with a little water to make a paste, wood ashes can be used as a mild abrasive to polish up tarnished metals, clean dirty glass, and even get rid of glue and other sticky substances. Wearing gloves to protect your skin, spread the paste on with a cotton cloth. First, try it in a small area to see how it works.
Make Home Made Soap With Wood Ash
Homesteads made the first soaps by mixing water and wood ash to make lye, which is a key part of soap. This is done with the ashes of burned hardwoods like ash, hickory, and beech, which have enough potassium to make lye.
You can make homemade soap from things you would normally throw away, but it takes a little more work than buying a bottle or bar. (If you make it yourself, make sure to follow instructions from a reliable source and wear protective gear so you don't get burned.)
Add Ash To Your Compost Pile At Home
You can add a little bit of wood ash to your outdoor compost pile or indoor compost bin as part of your household waste. By adding a small amount to each layer of compost, the final soil or "compost tea" will have more nutrients.
Image Designed By: pvproductions freepik