Most people clean the ash out of their fireplaces and stoves and throw it away. If you’d rather do something with your remnant ashes, you have a few options.
National Chimney Cleaners of Morris County, NJ, and Fairfield County, CT, would like to share seven uses for fireplace ash you may not have heard about.
1. Use the ash in your compost pile
Ash contains varying levels of potassium, lime and other trace elements, which are good for compost piles. Additionally, ash is on the alkaline side, helping to balance the pH of compost, which generally runs acidic.
2. Use directly on plant soil and the lawn
You can also put a layer of ashes on the soil around plants and on the lawn for a quality fertilizing effect as the ash raises the soil’s pH. Ask your lawn and garden center about soil pH testing before dumping on the ash.
3. Clean glass fireplace doors
Ash does a surprisingly good job of cleaning glass fireplace doors. Moisten the glass, throw some ashes on them and then rub with a damp sponge or cloth. A lot of people swear by this method and will clean their fireplace doors no other way. Don’t forget to take a look at your damper while you clean and make sure it is functioning correctly!
4. Remove odors
Ash can absorb odors in a room or a refrigerator. Use it the same way you’d use baking soda.
5. Make soap
According to the University of Chicago, people have been making soap with ashes for more than 2,500 years. If you’re into that “living-off-the-land” vibe and want to get back to nature, give it a try. Find recipes and procedures online.
6. Repel ticks
If you live in an area where ticks are a problem, ash can repel them. It will be a little messy, and your exposed body areas will look a little weird, but ash is freely available and easy to apply.
7. Repel other pests
Many soft-bodied bugs usually avoid ash. Dry ash attaches to the bugs’ bodies and leaches moisture out of them, which can kill them. Just sprinkle some ash along walls and other places where insects are likely to travel and see how it works.
You can do a lot with fireplace ash, but here are some guidelines for using it.
• Give the ashes in the fireplace at least 24 hours to cool down before handling them.
• Consider wearing goggles or a face shield. A breathing mask might not be a bad idea, either; you probably have a few of those lying around.
• Keep a damp towel handy to wash ash off your hands and arms.
• Avoid using ash in windy conditions to keep it from blowing everywhere, including all over you.
Help for your chimney when you need itNational Chimney Cleaners hopes these tips for using ash around the house have given you a few ideas you might want to try. When it comes to keeping your chimney clean, a little more work is required than scooping ash out of the fireplace. It’s the work we specialize in. We provide expert chimney sweeping as well as all types of chimney repairs and complete licensed chimney inspections. When your chimney needs help, we’re here for you.
Speak with a chimney expert today at (800) 631-6177, or reach out with our simple contact form.
