10 ways to use the ashes of the fireplace

It is not something of the past. The wood burning fireplaces They continue to be aspirational and both rural houses and houses for sale are appreciated if they have a fireplace.

The natural heat they generate, the fascination of fire and its crackling, the feeling of security and protection from the darkness that they provide and all their symbolism, make them a heating system that is proof of fashion and technology.

but there is another benefit collateral that will encourage us to install one in country houses or on the outskirts of cities and is the use of the ashes.

This residue from the combustion of firewood It has numerous uses both in the home and in the garden, the garden or the pond and becomes in one of the most ecological, sustainable and zero waste that exist, since by reusing it we close the circle of Nature.

The firewood from the tree can end up as fertilizer for future plants.

Also, it’s a free, natural, versatile and effective product as a degreaser, stain remover, plunger and absorbs odors, among many uses that we are going to discover.

10 different ways to reuse fireplace ash

Although we do not have chimneys in the cities, it is still worth ordering a sack from someone who lives in rural areas to use them in some of the following 10 uses of ash:

1. Natural degreaser

It shouldn’t surprise this ash cleaning function because they contain potash, which serves both to remove stains and bad odors.

It is useful to clean very dirty pans -Like the paella pans on Sundays… and it is recommended to leave them to soak for half an hour with water and several tablespoons of ashes and then scrub them as normal, rinsing very well.

The usual crockery could also be cleaned, but it is better to reserve it for moments of a lot of accumulated grease or when the dishwasher runs out because the ashes, although they degrease, They are not antibacterial.

2. Cleans windows and mirrors effectively

Moistening a cloth, sponge or newsprint with cold ashes well sieved you can get some shiny crystals. The key is to dry them well at the end.

And this also works on the fireplace glass itself. With a damp sponge, ashes and several passes we will remove all the stuck dirt.

3. Stain remover on floors and furniture

It is effective and does not attack the pavement like other detergents. The paste formed by ash and water It can be applied to furniture and floors and removed with plenty of water.

It even works for gasoline spills. The ash is poured to absorb it and then it is swept away.

4. Natural detergent

Although the usual detergents are based on soap, ancestrally soap was made with ashes and animal fat and lThe ashes by themselves also wash.

They can be used in different ways: adding about two tablespoons with the usual detergent in very dirty clothes, in pre-wash, leaving the clothes to soak in water with ash and then to the washing machine, and the third way is prepare a detergent from ashes.

Ash Detergent Recipe:

All you have to do is mix a glass of sieved ashes in a liter of boiling water, let it decant for a day and then strain through a cheesecloth or fine strainer. You can add about 10 drops of essential oil that we like to flavor.

The use is simple: about 200 ml of this liquid is poured into the detergent drawer and wash normally. Avoid delicate clothes or clothes with strong colors that can fade.

The author Annie-Jeanne Sauvage in the book Towards self-sufficiency at home (The Fertility of the Earth) recommends do not use chestnut or oak ashes for this use because they contain tannins that could stain clothes.

5. Silver and shiny metals

The ash and water paste is applied liberally to the silver or metal object and then it is polished with a cloth.

6. Deodorize the house

As with baking soda, ashes have the ability to absorb bad odors from the environment and, since they are harmless, they can be used by rubbing the fur of pets or in their sandboxes or beds, and in any room.

Containers or cloth bags with ashes can be placed in the fridge and in the cupboards. They must be replaced every week.

7. Unclog pipes

As simple as pouring a cup of ashes with a glass of water in the pipe, rest for about two hours so that it eliminates the residues that obstruct it and then let the water run.

8. Melt ice when there is snowfall

Not all houses have enough salt, but in many there may be ashes from the fireplace and they will serve to melt snow and ice when it is scattered on the road.

Also, compared to salt, It is more environmentally friendly and does not affect the soil, Neither plants nor animals. The only “but” is that afterwards it will have to be cleaned.

9. Original humidifier

A little known use of the ashes is that they act as good desiccant for the environment placing large containers with them in damp areas of the house or garages to absorb moisture from the air.

10. SUV in the garden and pond

But if there is a place where the ashes roam freely, it is outside the houses due to its versatility. From control algae in ponds, repel pests such as slugs, snails and some types of caterpillar spreading ash around the crop until remove fungus of the damaged leaves.

In addition, they serve to enrich the compost because ash contains magnesium, phosphorus, calcium and other nutrients. But this fertilizer should not be used more than twice a year because it changes the acidity and pH of the soil.

Due to its potassium and mineral content, the ashes are also a good fertilizer. Mariano Bueno explains in The organic family garden (RBA) that the ashes are good for flowers, garlic and loquats especially.