There’s nothing more comforting than having a roaring fire in your home stove when the weather is cold outside, or having your chiminea or fire pit crackling away on a warm evening. One downside to the luxury is having to clear up the ashes once the fire has burnt down.
It can be a messy job, but someone has to do it. But what do you do with all that ash? Most local councils accept fireplace ashes in your regular black bin, as long as they are completely cooled beforehand, but there are other, more useful, ways of disposing of your ashes that you may not have heard of:
- Compost heap
Sprinkling layers of ashes in your compost heap will help break down the organic compounds and accelerate the composting process as well as help keep the smell down and control the amount of insects that it attracts, especially in hotter weather. If you are using your ashes in your compost heap always make sure that the wood you’re burning does not contain any chemicals such as preservatives or paint or varnish.
- Garden
If you have the capabilities to test your garden soil’s PH levels and find that it is slightly acidic, you can add thin layers of pure wood ashes to help return the soil’s PH level back to neutral. Simply scatter a thin layer of ash over your soil and use a rake to combine the two. Don’t use ashes on your soil if it is already alkaline, as the ashes will send the PH balance too far in the other direction.
- Defrosting slippery patches
Fireplace ashes can actually be used as a natural de-icer for your paving stones in winter. By sprinkling a little on slippery surfaces you can create some traction immediately and start thawing the ice underneath to prevent people form slipping over.
Contact your local coal merchants today for more information.