12 Inventive Ways to Use Fireplace Ash
When you clean out your fireplace, don’t be so quick to dispose of the ash. There are a number of ways to use this wood-fire byproduct around your home. The Chimney Guys of Pataskala, OH, would like to share twelve of them with you.
Two precautions
Remember that ash shouldn’t be inhaled, so it’s a good idea to wear a breathing mask when you’re cleaning it out of your fireplace and doing anything else with it.
Before working with ash, make sure there are no lingering embers, and always place or store ash in nonflammable buckets or carriers.
Practical uses for ash
Treating your soil and the lawn
Ash is high in potassium and calcium and contains smaller amounts of sodium, magnesium, phosphorus and aluminum, making it a great natural supplement. If your soil tests at below a 6.0 pH, wood ash will add alkaline to bring the level up to the ideal 6.0 to 7.0.
Add to compost
If you keep a compost pile, you can throw in some ash on top of each layer. This will produce an alkaline-rich compost that can be used in a variety of ways.
Make liquid fertilizer
Let three or four pounds of ash soak in a 30-gallon bucket for five days. Strain the liquid and use it to feed plants on your property that thrive in an alkaline environment.
Garden pest deterrent
Snails, slugs, ants and other pests with soft bodies don’t like to walk or crawl over ash. Sprinkle ash around garden plants as a deterrent.
Household pests
Ash can work inside the house to repel cockroaches, rats, ants and some other living nuisances. If you like the results, you won’t have to use potentially harmful chemicals to deal with the problem.
Tick repellant
Ash rubbed over exposed parts of your body is a natural tick, repellent. Yes, it’s not great for your appearance, but if you’ll be in an area known for ticks, it can be beneficial.
Remove adhesives
It can be a pain trying to remove tape, stickers and other adhesives stuck to surfaces. Make a paste out of ash and water, apply it to the adhesive, wait a few minutes, and wipe it away.
Treat certain odors
A coating of ash sprinkled on odors caused by pets will absorb the smells. A little ash in a bowl will help to reduce musty odors in basements and laundry rooms.
Polish metal and glass
Use an ash-and-water paste to clean and buff glass and metal. Test it first to make sure it won’t scratch the surface.
Extinguish fires
Small fires, like on a stovetop or in an outdoor grill, can be quickly extinguished with fireplace ash. You can also put out fires in fire pits and campfires with ash.
Clean spills on the driveway
You may have used or heard of using cat litter or sawdust to help get oil and other spills off driveways. Ash also does a good job with this.
Traction on ice
Some ash sprinkled over icy walking areas will provide better traction. It won’t melt the ice, but it can make walking on it safer.
Chimney and fireplace services from your Ohio chimney experts
The Chimney Guys are here to help with all your chimney needs, from sweeping and inspection to repair and rebuilding. Schedule a meeting or learn more by giving us a call. You can also reach out through our contact form.
