After enjoying a cozy evening by the fire, you might be tempted to scoop up the wood ash and toss it in the trash—but you can put that fireplace soot to good use. It has a lot of valuable properties that can be useful for everything from improving soil health to making soap. In our comprehensive guide, we’ll explore uses for wood ash at home and in the garden and explain why it’s so versatile.
What Is Wood Ash?
Whether you burn wood in a fireplace or fire pit, you’ll end up with its byproduct, wood ash. It’s gray and black, dry, and powdery, and while it isn’t a great idea to breathe in the wood ash since it can irritate your lungs, it’s worth more than you may realize.
Wood ash has significant amounts of calcium and potassium and smaller quantities of aluminum, magnesium, phosphorus, and sodium. As any avid gardener knows, plants love these nutrients and thrive when they’re added to the soil. Wood ash is also very alkaline, which can raise soil pH levels, impacting plant growth. You can use wood ash’s nutrients and alkalinity in a lot of other creative and practical ways.
Enhancing Soil and Lawn Health
You can add wood ash to your soil and lawn care routine. It balances your soil’s pH levels by making it less acidic. Limestone can do this too, but wood ash is more water-soluble, dissolving faster than limestone when it rains. Before you put wood ash in your soil, make sure you test its pH levels. Most lawn and garden soil thrives at a pH between 6.0 and 7.0. Add wood ash if you get a low reading.
Another way wood ash can help your lawn or plants is through its nutrient content. You can replenish soil when crops, such as alfalfa or corn, deplete their mineral panel. Just make sure you don’t add it to acid-loving plants, such as blueberries and rhododendrons, because it’ll make their soil too alkaline.
Composting with Wood Ash
Wood ash’s mineral composition can enhance your compost’s nutrition content in two ways:
- Adding ash to compost: You can sprinkle some wood ash to each layer of your outdoor compost pile or indoor bin.
- Creating wood ash tea: Soak 3 pounds of wood ash in a 30-gallon bucket of water for four to five days. Strain the mixture and use it as a liquid fertilizer for alkaline-loving plants.
Natural Pest Control Solutions
If you aren’t a fan of using pesticides and are on the search for eco-friendly alternatives, wood ash can help you control insects and pests:
- Deterring slugs and snails: Sprinkle some wood ash around the plants that slugs and snails gravitate toward. Those soft-bodied creatures find it uncomfortable to slink over the dry soot.
- Repelling ants: Create a protective ring of ash around plants and other areas you want to keep ant-free.
Household Cleaning Applications
Wood ash can work its magic inside your home too. It’s mildly abrasive, so you can use it for:
Glass and Metal Polishing
When you mix wood ash with a small amount of water, it creates a paste. You can use it to buff tarnished metals and clean dirty glass surfaces. Just be sure you test your paste on a small area first to confirm that it won’t scratch or damage the surface.
Removing Adhesives and Residues
Who hasn’t gotten frustrated by those stubborn stickers on glass jars or other surfaces? That same wood ash paste you created to polish your metals can help you get rid of label residues. Apply the paste to the sticker and let it sit for a few minutes, then simply wipe clean.
DIY Soap Making with Wood Ash
People who practiced homesteading many years ago used wood ash to create lye, which is a component of homemade soap. You can leach the wood ash by combining it in a bucket with water—rainwater works best—and letting it sit for 30 minutes. Once the ashes have dropped to the bottom of the bucket, skim the lye off the top. Use hardwood ash with high potassium content, such as ash, hickory, or beech.
Since lye is caustic and can cause severe burns, always wear protective gear, such as gloves and eye protection. Follow instructions from reputable sources and take all necessary precautions.
Outdoor Maintenance Uses for Wood Ash
Below are some outdoor maintenance uses:
- Absorb driveway spills: Wood ash can absorb a mess, whether you’ve spilled oil while changing it in your car or encountered another liquid mess. Simply sweep the ash up after it’s soaked up the spill.
- Improving traction on icy surfaces: What better time to use wood ash than in the winter? Sprinkle some of it on an icy pathway and keep some in your car in case you get stuck in ice and snow.
Fire Safety and Control
It may seem counterintuitive, but wood ash can aid in fire safety, especially when you have an outdoor fire. Here’s how:
- Extinguishing emergency fires: Use wood ash when you don’t have sand, soil, or a fire extinguisher to put out a small fire. Just make sure the fire is completely out, or you run the risk that it can reignite.
- Smothering campfires: When you’re ready to put out your campfire, shift wood ash over the hot coals. It creates an airtight barrier so flames don’t get enough oxygen to keep burning.
Creating Wood Ash Glaze for Pottery
Wood ash can give your pottery project a rustic finish. Artisans use this traditional technique, which includes:
- Preparing the ash glaze: Sift wood ash from hardwoods and remove any charcoal or debris. Mix it with water until it has a paint-like consistency. Use it on bisque-fired pottery pieces using techniques, such as brushing, dipping, or spraying.
- Firing the ash-glazed pottery: The ash undergoes a chemical reaction during the kiln firing process. When you fire clay pieces in a high-temperature kiln, it creates a glassy surface. Your pottery will take on a beautiful, durable exterior with distinct variations and colors thanks to the ash’s mineral content and the kiln’s atmosphere.
Using Wood Ash To Remove Odors
Wood ash can get rid of smelly odors by absorbing moisture and neutralizing the smell. Use wood ash to:
- Deodorize indoor spaces: This is as simple as placing small bowls of wood ash in musty areas, such as basements or rooms with high humidity. This is a cost-effective solution to purchasing air fresheners.
- Eliminate pet smells: Sprinkle a small amount of ash in areas where pets sleep or mark, and let it sit for a few hours before vacuuming or sweeping it up.
Our Conclusion
Wood ash is an overlooked resource for performing tasks, such as improving your garden, eliminating odors, and even putting out small fires. We recommend you take the proper safety precautions and wear protective gear when you use wood ash. You’ll be a more self-sufficient and sustainable homeowner by utilizing wood ash in your home and garden.