What to you do with wood ash from fireplace?

[woodchipper]

As ashes (wet) is caustic, I firstly gather them in a stainless pot with lid. When full, I dump it in a five gallon container.
I then sift the ashes, to keep only the very fine particules. With those, I make laundry soap. Works excellent, but not very efficient against stains and grease.
The ashes not used for this purpose is all going in the compost bin, as well as on the menure pile. It could also very get broadcast on the garden.
Ashes are great for equilibrating an acidic soil.
As an other poster mentioned, it is supposed to be good for lilacs. Come to spring, I will try it.
I try not to spread it on the ground where traffic (foot or vehicule) goes by, as it makes a bit of a mess...

 

[Soundguy]

. With those, I make laundry soap. Works excellent, but not very efficient against stains and grease.
...

I think the 'not very efficient' part is the soap process or recipe you are using.

I do the same and it's QUITE effective on grease. In fact.. I no longer buy commercial soap.. I've been making my own for years now. In a head off comparison I found my soap was far superior to commercial soaps ant specifically removing oil and grease.

I make 'shampoo' bars and laundry or dish bars as well.

PS.. if you ar emaking those super high content glycerin bars.. those look great around a bathroom sink or for gifts.. but are practically worthless for actually washing greasy or dirty stuff. They are mainly for non dirty hands, and soft skin.

 

[jymbee]

... after the ash has cooled a day or two in a coal bucket

Good point. It is amazing how long embers can remain hot in a pile of ashes.

Too many fatalities caused by people not understanding this.

 

[oldpilgrim]

My high school friend had a fireplace in his house. They had a fire going in it all one evening. His mother was a neat freak and the next morning she vacuumed out the ashes.

Somehow she managed to get the burning vac outside without burning down the house.

 

[Industrial Toys]

Back when I was fifteen at my first job, I was etching prototype circuit boards. I think we were using lye. Anyway my boss told be a joke. Mommy, mommy, the mouse ate the lye (soap) and now the lye is eating the mouse. Funny, the things you never forget!

As far as using ashes, I spread them in untravelled areas. I save some for traction on ice being carefull from the time I used them, only to discover, despite reclaimation attempts, that I had scattered countless nails on my roadway.

 

[jerrybob]

Ash can be used to remove the skunk smell from you dog. Also......cleans silver really well. Also.....a small amount to a fish pond helps control algae and is good for the plants. Most of ours goes on the lawn.

 

[SSdoxie]

Haven't had to worry about cleaning ashes yet this winter, just started fire in wood stove tonight for second time this winter. When I do have ashes they go on the drive if there has been freezing rain otherwise in yard or garden as needed.

 

[joefromga]

Put them in gold cups and give them to the funeral homes.

 

[dmccarty]

Haven't had to worry about cleaning ashes yet this winter, just started fire in wood stove tonight for second time this winter. ...

Me too. Started the fire yesterday for the first time this winter! :shocked: Tis a good thing because I have been too busy with work and family to split wood. I have maybe 1/2-1 cord split with quite a few piles of wood ready to split but no time to split. I had hopped to get a bunch of chores done this holiday season but we had heavy rain for the two weeks around Christmas. Oh well... At least it was warm and we did not have to light the fire.

Later,
Dan

 

[clemsonfor]

Me too. Started the fire yesterday for the first time this winter! :shocked: Tis a good thing because I have been too busy with work and family to split wood. I have maybe 1/2-1 cord split with quite a few piles of wood ready to split but no time to split. I had hopped to get a bunch of chores done this holiday season but we had heavy rain for the two weeks around Christmas. Oh well... At least it was warm and we did not have to light the fire.

Later,
Dan

Your the same climate as me. Wood barly dries untill split around here and takes another 2 years to dry totaly to burn well in an EPA stove. What are you burning it that likes wet wood?