how to use them for the garden and the house?

What to do with all these ashes accumulated after enjoying the heat of your stove or fireplace? Far from being just waste, wood ashes are a valuable resource that you can reuse in a clever way at home and in the garden. While more than three million French households choose wood as their main source of heating, here is how to transform the residue from this heating into an ecological and practical advantage.

Rich in essential minerals such as potash and calcium, wood ashes, particularly those from pellets or logs, offer significant advantages for gardening and home maintenance. They strengthen plant growth, repel pests and even help with household maintenance thanks to their degreasing properties.

In the garden: fertilizer and natural repellent

Used wisely, ashes can become an excellent amendment for your garden. They contribute to the mineral richness of the soil, promoting the health and growth of plants. In the vegetable garden, sprinkling ash directly on the mulch around your plants can stimulate the development of vegetables thanks to the trace elements it releases. Additionally, ash can slightly increase soil pH, which is particularly beneficial for crops that prefer a less acidic environment. However, it is essential to use them moderately to avoid excessive accumulation of certain minerals, which could inhibit the growth of certain sensitive plants.

In addition to their role as fertilizer, wood ashes are effective in naturally repelling insects and gastropods, which are harmful to the garden. A light scattering over plant foliage creates a protective barrier that deters pests without the use of chemicals. It’s a. By sprinkling the ashes around the bases of plants, you can also prevent slugs and snails from reaching the stems and leaves, saving your crops from damage. Additionally, the fine dust from the ashes can help prevent infestations of aphids, which are often attracted to weaker plants.

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For home maintenance: cleaning and neutralization of odors

In the home, ashes can miraculously neutralize bad odors, for example, by putting them at the bottom of trash cans to absorb unpleasant odors. They can also be used as a household cleanerespecially for degreasing surfaces in the kitchen or shining dishes and metal objects. Ashes can be used to remove stubborn stains from kitchen utensils, such as pots and pans, thanks to their mild abrasive properties. They are also effective in polishing and restoring the luster of wooden surfaces, making them look like new without the use of expensive chemicals.

Did you know that you can make a laundry effective with ashes? A simple mixture of ashes and boiling water, left to steep and then filtered, can replace your usual detergent. This ancestral method is coming back into fashion as an ecological alternative to usual chemical products. This type of natural detergent is particularly suitable for washing delicate textiles, as it is gentle and does not contain aggressive substances that could damage the fibers. In addition to its effectiveness, using ashes to do laundry reduces the amount of household waste, thus contributing to a more sustainable lifestyle.

In winter: ecological defrosting

In winter, wood ashes can also be used to make your outdoor trips safer by making slippery surfaces more grippy. Sprinkled on paths, terraces or driveways, they help melt ice and provide additional traction, preventing accidents on ice. Their ability to absorb moisture makes ashes particularly effective in preventing ice reformation, thus keeping passages secure for an extended period of time.

Plus, unlike chemical de-icing salts, the ashes do not harm the plants lining your walkways, providing an eco-friendly solution that protects both your safety and your environment. By using ashes as a de-icing agent, you also contribute to the reduction of waste, since you recycle a by-product otherwise considered residual. This practice not only safeguards the integrity of the local ecosystem but also supports sustainable development efforts by limiting the use of more harmful products.

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Recycle ashes from wood pellets and logs: 7 clever ways to use them in the garden and at home