Wood ash: a precious resource that should not to be thrown away

If you have a fire at home - especially in winter - you will certainly have had to dispose of the ash afterwards. And very often the ash is just thrown away, when instead, it could be a useful resource for various tasks - and even useful for plants.

We are referring to wood ash alone, and not - for example - ash from pellets or other combustible materials . Let's see how this wood ash can be reused at home:

Using wood ash at home

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There are various ways in which wood ash can come in handy for household chores:

• To absorb unpleasant odors: A bit like charcoal or baking soda, a small bowl of ash also works to absorb bad odors in closed places, such as inside furniture or the refrigerator!
• Polish silver metal objects: take some ash, mix it with a little water to create a slightly abrasive paste, and apply it to metal objects, just as you would with special metal-cleaning creams (and using a lint-free cloth).
• Prepare lye with which to make soap: to make lye, you will need to simmer some very fine ash in water, then remove from the heat and wait at least 12 hours. After this time, the solids will have separated from the liquids. The liquid (once filtered) is now you fresh batch of lye!

Using wood ash in the garden

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Ash can used in various ways outside:

• If you have snow or ice on the walkways, throw some ash on top to make it melt. Ash works a lot like salt, but it's completely free (if we have a fireplace)!
• If you want to put a fire out quickly, ash is excellent for suffocating any flames (just like sand is).
• It works as a deterrent against snails: fine ash is a natural desiccant, which for "moist" creatures (like slugs and snails), is an effective deterrent/repellent.

Use ash for plant care

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It is often said that ash reduces the acidity of the soil. This is true, especially if you add it to your compost pile, and not just spreading it on the ground.

If you use it in your composter, you can add small amounts all year round. If, however, you want to add ash directly into the soil, the most suitable time to do this is at the end of winter (and the recommended dose is 60 grams of ash per square meter).

It goes without saying, that ash should only be added to the soil of plants that like alkaline-rich soils (and not acidophilic plants or fruit trees).

Wood ash is a good source of potassium, but only when it is produced by the combustion of young, thin branches.

So, stock up on some ash the next time you clean out your fireplace: it can come in very handy!