Use This Ancient Technique For A Powerful, Eco-Friendly Home Cleaning Solution

A fireplace or wood burning stove offers more than warmth on cold nights. You can reuse the ash left behind as an eco-friendly home cleaning solution. Because ash seems dirty, cleaning with it may feel counterintuitive. However, this ancient technique has been used in homes for millennia. There are many ways to repurpose fireplace ash around your home and garden.

Humans have used wood ash for cleaning, deodorizing, and pest control for more than 5,000 years. Ancient Egyptians used a paste made of wood ash and water as a pest repellent. Ashes were used dry or mixed with water for a number of purposes. Water was used to extract lye from the ash, and the lye was mixed with animal fat to make soap. Water and ashes in a paste was used for cleaning.

The alkalinity and mild abrasiveness of wood ash make it an effective natural cleaner. When collecting ash from your fireplace, wait for it to completely cool and use mesh to sift the ash and remove any large particles. Put the ash in a container to keep moisture out until you are ready to use it. Only use ash from untreated wood to avoid toxins. When cleaning with ash, don't mix it with other cleaners, avoid inhaling the dust, and wear gloves to protect your skin.

Wood ash is a versatile natural cleaning agent that is effective for degreasing pots and pans or a greasy grill. Mix water with wood ash to make a thick paste that is just abrasive enough to scrub away grime without scratching surfaces. The paste can be applied with a sponge, toothbrush, or scrub brush. Scrub your pots and pans with the paste and rinse with warm water. You can use this method to clean most types of pots and pans, including stainless steel and nonstick.

Cleaning oven doors with ash is the kitchen cleaning hack that's hiding in your fireplace. And you can use wood ash to clean more than just the oven doors. It's oil and grease absorbing properties make ash perfect for oven and stovetop cleaning. Sprinkle dry ash on greasy areas to absorb the grease. Add a little water to scrub the inside of the oven or stovetop.

Ash with a little water can be used for cleaning wood burning stove or fireplace glass. Just wet a sponge and dip it in ash. Use the sponge to gently scrub in circular motions to remove the grime from the glass doors. Wipe with a clean, damp rag to remove any residue. In addition to cleaning glass, polishing silver is among the unexpected and brilliant uses for wood ash. But when dealing with delicate materials, it is a good idea to test a small area first.