In winter, nothing better than a good wood fire in the fireplace or the stove!
But then, what to do with the wood ashes?
Do you know that ashes have many uses?
It can be used in the garden in many cases or as a cleaning product at home.
Surprising but effective... and 100% free!
Here are 11 Secret Uses of Wood Ash Everyone Should Know . Watch:
Wood ash is an excellent scouring powder. Why?
Because it is gentle enough not to damage surfaces and effective in dissolving grease.
It perfectly cleans stainless steel surfaces, sinks and worktops.
Even glass-ceramic or enamelled hobs, ceramic sinks, enamelled steel bathtubs can be cleaned effortlessly in this way.
To use the ash as a scouring powder, it must first be sieved finely. You can use a tea strainer for this.
Then simply take a damp cloth and dip it in the ash and then pass it over the surface to be washed.
All that remains is to rinse with plenty of water.
However, do not use ash on aluminum or chrome surfaces:these do not tolerate ash.
Plastic surfaces or objects should also not be cleaned in this way as they are susceptible to scratching.
To discover: Here's how to make your homemade scouring cream.
A simple and economical way to clean silver is to use ashes.
With very fine, well-sifted ash, you can rub and polish silver jewelry, cutlery or any other silver object.
Once done, rinse them thoroughly and dry them well. You will see, your silver objects will shine again as if they were new.
Here's a little extra advice:to prevent your silver objects from becoming dull too quickly, put a piece of chalk in the box in which you keep them.
It removes moisture and prevents the precipitation of silver sulfide. Baking powder and toothpaste are two other simple tips for cleaning silver objects.
To discover: How to Clean Silver Jewelry? My Economic Council.
Brushing your teeth with ashes was part of the daily life of primitive peoples.
But it was also very common in Europe until the early post-war period.
The ashes, when very finely sifted, have 3 benefits for the teeth.
On the one hand, as a cleaning agent, ash is abrasive.
Then, it provides many minerals such as zinc, potassium, magnesium and calcium.
Finally, thanks to its alkaline pH, it helps neutralize acid attacks in the mouth, responsible for cavities.
So much so that you can very well do without other ingredients to make your toothpaste.
To brush your teeth with ash, simply sprinkle ash on a slightly dampened toothbrush. Then you can brush your teeth as usual.
But remember:a thorough rinsing of the mouth is necessary. Care must be taken to prevent fine particles of ash stuck between the teeth from damaging the delicate skin of the gums.
If you are making homemade toothpaste, you can also combine the ash with other ingredients.
To discover: My Homemade Toothpaste Recipe For Whiter, Healthier Teeth.
In the past, we did not just wash with soap. Ash was also used.
Thanks to its high potash content, it perfectly dissolves grease and oil stains.
To make an ash cleanser, put 8 tablespoons of ash in a liter of cold water.
After 6 hours, the pH value increases to 8.5-9.
You can then collect the liquid carefully. The ashes remain in the container as sediment.
Undiluted, your ash cleaner can be used to clean floors, as dishwashing liquid or as a mild detergent.
If you leave the ash to macerate longer (20 hours or more), the pH value increases further to 10-11. You then get a super strong detergent.
But be careful:the pH of your cleaning product or your ash detergent must not exceed 12, to avoid chemical burns.
For your own safety and to get a more effective cleaner, it is better to check the pH value with test strips.
Single test strips in the pH range 1-14 are available at the big box or cheaper here online.
The more tapes allow for high reading accuracy, the better.
To discover: I Made My Wood Ash Detergent! My Opinion on Its Effectiveness.
Cleaning the soot that has burned on the glass of the stove or the insert of the heating chimney is a hassle.
Of course, there are special cleaning products for cleaning the windows of an insert or stove, on the market.
But why spend your money unnecessarily?
Just dip crumpled up newspaper in cold ashes, then scrub with it for a quick and easy clean window.
You'll be amazed at how well it works!
To finish, pass a piece of dry newspaper and remove the remaining traces.
You now have an unobstructed view of the flames!
To discover: How to Clean the Glass of a Very Dirty Insert WITHOUT Chemicals.
Thanks to its components such as potassium and lime, wood ash can be used to improve and loosen acidic soil.
The roots of the plants thus grow better, deeper and they are thicker.
The plants can therefore feed themselves better, which leads to healthy and abundant growth.
The only precaution to take is not to put too many ashes!
To discover: The 7 Best DIY Fertilizers For The Garden.
Ash is also excellently suited for pest control.
Against cabbage slugs, leaf beetles and earth fleas, a thin layer of wood ash can be scattered around the plant.
You can also use the ash to remove parasites from your hens.
Other natural alternatives to conventional sprays also contribute to the elimination of aphids.
To discover: The Natural Insecticide Every Gardener Should Know.
If dandelions, thistles, or nettles are too overwhelming, you can use wood ash to naturally weed your garden.
It's still better than using an expensive chemical weed killer!
By covering the root weeds with ash, they no longer grow back in the spring.
Be aware that among the weeds we find dandelions, plantain, thistle and horsetail.
Instead of fighting weeds, you can just eat a lot of them and work them into your diet.
They will provide you with many vital nutrients! To find out which plants you can eat, here are 24 edible plants that are easy to recognize.
In warm and humid places, such as terraces, balconies, stairs or greenhouses, algae and moss grow easily.
To eliminate them, apply a thick layer of ash and spray water on it.
Leave on for a few minutes and scrub with a brush and warm water.
And voila, you've got rid of the invasive moss and algae.
To discover: 2 Tips for Removing Moss on the Terrace (Revealed by a Gardener).
Freshly cut flowers for bouquets or flower arrangements last longer if the cut stem is healed quickly.
It works very well for sap-rich plants.
For example, amaryllis, pelargoniums, aralia, orchids, but also useful plants such as aloe vera and asparagus.
For this, soaking the cut stem for a few moments in the ashes is useful to make them last longer.
To discover: The Trick To Make Flowers Last Longer.
Before, we accumulated so much ash by heating with wood that we used it to clear the roads.
Today, this method of use is discouraged due to pollution and negative effects on nature.
But if you use low-polluting ashes from wood whose origin you know, there is no problem clearing the garden path with it.
To discover: 2 Natural And Effective Tricks To Melt Ice.
To have good quality ashes, you have to follow a few simple rules:
- the origin of the fuel is decisive to avoid the presence of heavy metals.
- Only use natural, untreated fuels of known origin.
- Prefer deciduous hardwoods (beech, oak, ash, fruit tree) as they are less resinous.
- Be careful, charcoal and barbecue briquettes are not suitable for making good ashes. Moreover, it is better to avoid them when preparing food. Why ? Because they contain heavy metals such as chromium, lead and harmful phosphates.
- It is also best to avoid fuels containing mineral oil found in printed newspapers, recycled paper, cardboard, wax residue, plastic and rags.
- On the other hand, natural materials such as leaves, sawdust, fine dry branches and birch bark can be used without problems.
Have you tried these tips for using ashes at home or in the garden? Let us know in the comments if it worked for you. We can't wait to read you!
