10 brilliant uses for wood ash around the home and garden

Most people take pride in making choices that are environmentally friendly, and anything one can do to minimize their carbon footprint is a step toward a better tomorrow. If you burn wood to warm your home or in an outdoor fire pit for ambiance, the leftover ash can be used in multiple ways.

You’ll find 10 useful ways to use wood ash that follow, but there are a few things to remember first. Only burn untreated wood. Paint, stain and chemical sealants emit dangerous toxic fumes. Repurpose bulky pallets for DIY projects, and donate unwanted furniture and picture frames to a charitable organization instead of burning them.

Planting a vegetable garden is an effective way to ensure you eat healthier food. Unfortunately, soil acidity can undermine those efforts. Most garden goodies grow best in soil that is balanced. Test the soil with a pH kit. Adding wood ash to acidic soil can help neutralize it and make plants happier and more productive.

Keeping the garage floor or driveway clean just got a whole lot easier. The next time you notice an oil spill, sprinkle some wood ash onto the slick. Let it sit for several hours. The ash will sop up the oil before the stain sets.

The next time you notice an unsightly grass stain or scuff on the sidewalk, get a pinch of wood ash and rub it into the stain. Ashes have a natural gray color and blend into cement walkways invisibly.

Making fertilizer will save money, and high-quality ash from oak or maple is filled with plant-loving nutrients. Add wood ash to the composting bin. Any excess salt or lye in the ash will be minimized, and plants will benefit from both your eating habits and your lifestyle choices.

Waking up to a snowy scene might sound dreamy, but driving on a slick surface is treacherous. Rock salt can erode many surfaces, and ice-melting alternatives are pricey. Wood ash increases ice melt because it makes the surface area darker, which attracts sunlight. You may not enjoy the slushy aftermath, but at least you’ll be using an environmentally safe option.

Nature has a way of giving us everything we need — we just have to know where to look. Wood ash will send ants running, so place it on top of the offending anthill, and they’ll build their home elsewhere.

Instead of using chemical-laden silver polish to remove tarnish, dip a damp towel into wood ash and rub the towel against the silver. The tarnish will disappear, and flatware and serving pieces will be holiday-ready in no time.

If your fireplace has glass doors, you already know that the interior surface can be difficult to clean. Wet a paper towel or dark-colored washable cloth and dip it into a container filled with wood ash. Gently polish the glass, changing out the towel or cloth periodically as it gets dirty from the soot, and wipe the doors dry with a clean cloth.

These little buzzing wonders play an integral part in our survival by pollinating plants. Without bees, many of the fruits, nuts and seeds we enjoy wouldn’t exist. Encircle the soil around a beehive with wood ashes, and ants will no longer raid the hive.

Baking soda isn’t the only thing that absorbs odors. Wood ash has alkaline properties, which is how it balances the pH content in garden soil. That same alkalinity also allows it to absorb odors like a champ. Set a small dish filled with wood ash in the refrigerator, and you won’t need to worry about strong odors permeating bread and other refrigerated food.

What are your tips for using wood ash? Share them in the comments that follow. We love learning what works for you!