Cleaning a wood-burning fireplace sounds challenging, don’t you agree? Not to mention that you’ll have a lot of wood ash to dispose of, which can make things a little messy. But you know what? There are uses for wood ash that can make you rethink your perspective on chimney maintenance.
Wood ashes have various benefits, making them a valuable resource.
Wood Ash in Compost
If you live in a rural area, a common problem is that animals such as bears can show up to check out your compost pile.
Sprinkling wood ash on top of it will help to reduce the possibility of any unwanted visitors while also increasing the quality of the compost.
Melting Ice With Wood Ash
If you don’t know what to do with wood ash from your fireplace, you can use it if your driveway and sidewalks get slippery in the winter. Wood ash can help with that.
Spreading it over icy surfaces will go a long way toward melting the ice. You just have to be careful not to accidentally track any ash inside afterward.
Wound Cleaning With Wood Ash
How can you use wood ash to clean wounds? Wood ash is a good antiseptic and if spread on a wound, it can disinfect it.
Some studies show it can speed up tissue repair and healing time, so it is a useful thing to have in your toolkit!
Uses for Wood Ash in Managing Oil Spills
Do you want to know what to do with ashes from fire pit when you have oil spills on your driveway or garage floor?
A little bit of wood ash can help to soak some of it up. It will absorb the oil before it permanently stains the concrete.
Increasing Soil pH
If the soil in your garden is too acidic, wood ash can work to change its properties. It’s an alkaline substance, so sprinkling it on the soil will help to balance things out.
Wood Ash Helps With Fending off Ant Invasions
It’s clear that ants really hate wood ash, yet it’s not toxic enough to kill them. If you have a troublesome anthill in your yard, sprinkle a pile of wood ash on it. The ants should evacuate and move on to another location.
Cleaning Glass
A wood ash scrub has a little more texture to it than traditional glass cleaners such as Windex.
It is perfect for cleaning the glass door of a fireplace or even the dirty headlights on a car. Just don’t try it on your delicate crystal.
Wood Ash in the Garden: Beneficial in Saving Seeds
Storing seeds in wood ash works to prevent fungus and insects from arriving.
It will keep them viable for a very long time. In the old days of agriculture, saving seeds every year was crucial if you wanted to stay alive.
Making Cheese With Wood Ash
Cheesemaking is an art form and something all cheese-makers understand is how beneficial wood ash is. Many kinds of cheese don’t grow well in acidic environments.
A layer of wood ash prevents the growth of unwanted organisms and off-flavors.
Takeaway
It turns out that there are many uses for wood ash. When you clean your fireplace, you no longer need to think of a way how to throw the wood ashes away. Who knows? It might help you solve some issues at home.
Source: Practical Self Reliance, How To Clean Stuff, Barza Wire