How To Dispose Of Fireplace Ashes?

Incorrectly disposing of fireplace ash is one of the leading causes of house fires all over the world. Let’s take a look at some of the essential things you need to keep in mind while handling fireplace ashes.

Remove the ash when the layer becomes thicker than one inch. Wait for at least 12 hours after the fire has been out before you remove the ash. Scoop it up using a metal shovel and put it in a metal bucket. Leave it in a well-ventilated room for a couple of days and then transfer it to a plastic bag before disposing of it in the garbage.

what to do with firewood ashes

How to Dispose of Fireplace Ashes?

The first thing which you need to keep in mind is not to dispose of ashes every time you light a fire. Some amount of ash is actually good for your fireplace. It provides cushioning at the bottom which insulates the fire and makes it burn hotter and longer. If the amount of ash in your fireplace is more than 1 inch thick, then it is time to dispose of it.

The second factor which a lot of people miss out on is letting the fire completely die down. A lot of people will pick up the leftover ash after a fire and put them in a combustible plastic bag before putting it in the garbage.

This is the worst mistake which you can make. Leftover ash tends to stay hot for a long time even after the fire is dead. It is hot enough to burn through the plastic bag and light the surrounding objects on fire.

Make sure you wait for at least 12 hours after the fire has been put out before scooping up the ash.

Even after this, don’t directly touch the ashes. Use a metal shovel and scoop it up into a metal bucket.

The next step is to dispose of or keep the ashes for further use. If you intend to keep the ash, make sure the metal container is kept in a room that is well ventilated and not near any combustible substances. If the ash is still warm, it can give off carbon monoxide which can be extremely harmful to your health.

Once the ash has been left for a couple of days, you can simply dispose of them with the garbage. On the other hand, you can also use these ashes for your garden or property.

What Can You Do with Ashes?

There are a lot of things which you can use leftover ash for. It is a gardener’s dream as it can be used for making excellent compost. Wood ash has a high calcium content which makes it an excellent liming agent.

  • You can also use the ash directly as manure. It has a high potassium content along with calcium which can balance the Ph levels of your soil.
  • You can also use the leftover ash for pest control. For preventing any leaf-eating pests from infesting your property, you can mix one cup of ash with one cup of hydrated lime in 2 gallons of water and spray this solution all over the foliage of the plants. You can also make a circle around the plants with ash which will prevent cutworms, slugs, and snails from entering that area.
  • If you have a pond on your property and there is a lot of algae presence, you can use ash to boost the growth of competing plants which can slow down algae growth. One tablespoon of ash per 1000 gallons of water should be enough. It has enough amounts of potassium to boost the growth of other plants.
  • You can also use ash for traction control. If you live in an area that receives frequent snow or frost, you can spread some ash on the driveaway. Ash has potassium which is considered to be a natural de-icer. It is also much better than using chemicals frequently as they can harm the ground underneath.
  • You can also use hardwood ash as an ingredient in making soap. Softwood ashes have too much resin and the resulting lye will not mix well with the fat which is necessary for making soap. Boil the hardwood ash in water for about 30 minutes and let the leftover ash settle down. The resulting lye will float on top of the water and can be skimmed out.

Conclusion

You need to be very careful while removing ash. Make sure the fire has been out for at least 12 hours before you scoop up the ash using a metal shovel. Transfer the ash to a metal bucket and leave it in a well-ventilated place for a couple of days. Then transfer the ash to a plastic bag and dispose of it in the trash.

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