5 Things You Can Do With Fireplace Ashes
The inevitable byproduct of a cozy evening by the fireplace is having to dispose of the ashes. The Chimney Safety Institute of America recommends sweeping the ash when it accumulates to an inch thick layer. They also suggest shoveling the ashes and keeping them in a sealed metal container outside the house, to prevent disaster in the chance there are still some hot coals in there.
Your ash metal container can fill up pretty
quickly, and you'll be glad to find that it is a pot of gold you got
yourself in the backyard. Let's learn 5 home uses for ash.
1. Ashes Can Add Traction
Slippery icy and snowy pavements are
literally right around the corner. The ash from your fireplace can add
traction to both yourself and the wheels of your car, while also not
damaging the lawn. You can even go the extra mile and keep some in an
emergency box in your car, for when you get stuck on a slippery spot far
from home.
2. Ash Can Polish Tarnished Metal
If you ever polished silver with a chemical cleaner you know how horrid
the smell is. You can make an abrasive paste at home by mixing a little
water with ash until you get a stable consistency. Let it sit on the
surface you want to clean, wipe with a cloth, and buff until it shines.
This paste can also be used to clean limescale from metal and glass
3. Ash Can Fertilize Your Soil
As ash contains readily-available
water-soluble potassium and calcium, it can be a good one-time
fertilizer, especially for fruit bushes (with the exception of
blueberries and potatoes). Mix a small amount into the water rather than
sprinkling it straight on the soil. This will both ensure optimal
penetration to the roots and prevent over-drying of the soil.
4. Ash Can Put out Fire
One obvious way to extinguish a small and dying fire is to turn it over
so it is choked down by its ash. If you need more ash, head to your
stock, and for extra extinguishing purposes you can use baking soda.
This will also deodorize your fireplace.
5. Ash Can Be Pest Control
Snail season is upon us, and cute as they
may seem through the lens of a camera, to the average gardener they're
quite a nuisance. As ash can dry up moisture sprinkling it on the leaves
of your plants will deter slugs.