As a homesteader, chances that you are doing a lot with wood is pretty high. Generally, one cord of hardwood can produce about 5-8 gallons of wood ash. Imagine how much wood ash you should have in a month.
One of the characteristics of a good homesteader is the ability to reuse and recycle things in the home. You cannot just keep throwing away all those bags of wood ash as garbage when there are several uses for them.
We know that wood ash might not really seem like something you should reuse, but you would be surprised how useful it can be. This guide contains a list of 30 ways you could use your wood ash around the home.
Soil Balance
If you notice that your soil has so much acidity in it, then adding wood ash might be the solution to it. An overly acidic soil can be harmful to plants.
The excessive acid content in soil can limit the availability of the nutrients in the plants, and increase the soil toxicity, causing only poor and unhealthy plants to germinate from it.
By adding wood ash to your soil, you are giving the soil a balance by reducing its acidic content. If you are confused on the amount to add so that you do not end up adding excess, add about 5-10 pounds for a 100 square feet of soil. The ash is best applied just before planting new seedlings, after tilling the soil.
Reduce the activities of snails and slugs
In gardens, snails are not as harmless as they look. Basil, rosemary, cabbages, and other useful vegetables are some of the favourite feeds of snails and slugs.
You obviously had other uses in mind asides feeding snails, when you planted these crops. If you allow them, they can come in their numbers and wreck your beautiful garden, especially as they are attracted to damp, cool, soils. You can stop them by sprinkling the ash around the plant after planting them.
Save your crops from the frost
A frost will damage your garden. One of the fears of a homesteader during winter is the condition of the plants in the garden. With wood ash, you do not have to worry. Simply rub the wood ash on the surface of the plants, and the frost will be unable to set in.
Apply them on your birds
In order to control pests, chickens bathe themselves in the dust. You can help the breed by adding the wood ash to the chicken’s dust bathe. This will help chase away fleas and lice and other pests.
Clean Windows
Yes, the dusty wood ash would give your windows a sparkle. The next time you are trying to clean out your windows, get a wet sponge, dip it in a bowl of ash and wipe away.
Increase the amount of calcium In your plants
Wood ash is rich in calcium and can help boost the calcium contents of your crops. A crop that is deficient in calcium will have stunted growth, necrotic leaf margins, or strange curling of the leaves.
When there is low transportation of water in the soil, calcium deficiency can occur. Add some wood ash to your plant to boost calcium content.
As fertilizer for your plants
The wood ash tea is an effective method of fertilizing plants. It is called wood ash tea because the method of making it is similar to the method of making tea.
Pour some ash into a bag to form a tea bag, and then soak it into a reasonable amount of water. Leave it in for some days, and you have a wood ash tea. Adding them to your garden will boost potassium content, and cure general problems in plants.
Chase flea from your pets
If you have been battling flea invasion on your dogs for a while, you can try using wood ash. Wood ash contains little particles that kill fleas. So rub them on your pet, and the fleas will disappear.
Compost
If you already have a compost bin, add wood ash to it. A compost bin that has a high level of acid or nitrogen can produce an offensive odour. Wood ash will create a balance in your compost bin, and keep the acidity level in check.
A Substitute for Lime
If you have run out of lime to amend your soil with, then you can use wood ash in its stead. Lime can treat a soil lacking Calcium carbonate, and so can wood ash. The ease with which wood ash breaks down in the soil will make it readily available for your plants.
Boost Lay rates
By adding wood ash to the feed of your chicken, at a 1% ratio, the capacity of the hen to lay eggs can be boosted. You get bigger eggs and longer periods of egg-laying.
De-skunk
A skunk smell can be a total disaster. If you happen to have some wood ash at home when you encounter this, you can sprinkle some of the ash on your pets to keep the skunk smell away.
Remove stains from concrete
Concrete can get stained from stuff like car oil leaks, and getting rid of the stain is usually difficult. If you are pondering on how to deal with a concrete stain, simply pour water on the concrete to make it wet, and sprinkle wood ash on it.
Use it to make Lye
When combined with water, and allowed some time to soak, wood ash can be used to make lye.
Remove the stink from your fridge
Baking soda can do this perfectly. In case you run out of baking soda, use wood ash instead. Wood ash can absorb a lot of scents. Place the ash in a bowl and leave it in the fridge.
Whiten your teeth
Yes, wood ash will whiten your teeth. Use the wood ash to form a paste and apply sparingly to the teeth. Note that the process is unpleasant, and should only be rarely done as extended use can damage the teeth.
Anti-Ants
If you have a lot of ants gathering in particular places in your home, you can chase them with ash. Simply keep small heaps on their regular paths, and because they are unable to move it away, they will leave.
Seed Preservation
If you have some seeds you would like to preserve, simply pour the seeds in a pot and fill the pots with wood ash.The wood ash will absorb the moisture preserving the seeds for longer period of time.
Hair Cleaner
If you are battling with dry hair, dandruff or extremely oily hair, try replacing your shampoo for wood ash occasionally. To wash hair with wood ash , you must first add wood ash to your water and allow it to settle overnight. After its settled you may use the water to wash your hair. Using wood ash water to wash your hair will give you great results.
Moth Repellent
Leaving your clothes unused for a long time can attract clothes moths to them, which can damage the fabric of your clothes. If you are leaving your clothes for a while, probably taking a long trip, add some ash around the clothes and shake it off when you are ready to wear it.
Ice melting
The potash contained in wood ash will enable snow and ice melt faster. For slippery driveways or snow-covered windows, use some wood ash.
Small fire extinguisher
If you encounter a small fire outbreak, and the wood ash is the closest thing to you, you can use the wood ash to put out the fire.
Exfoliation
Well, wood ash also has applications on the human skin. By adding quarter a cup of wood ash to quarter a cup of clay and making a paste, you can get one of the strongest exfoliation solutions. Do wash off and apply raw oil afterwards.
Dish cleaning
How useful can wood ash be! The presence of lye in wood ash makes it an efficient grease remover in dishes and pots. If you run out of soap, make a paste with wood ash and water, and rub into the grease.
Keeps Algae in check
If you have a fish tank, you know that algae are regular pests there. Add a little amount of wood ash (one tablespoon per 1,000 gallons) and the ash will boost the growth of the aquatic plant, thereby reducing the algae growth.
Prevent Odour from Litter Boxes
Originally, wood ash was used as a cat litter. Litters can produce bad odour but can be controlled by using wood ash. The ability to absorb odour makes it a good odour controller in litters.
Metal Polish
Wood ash serves as an effective metal polish. Add a little water to wood ash to make a paste. Apply the paste to the metal. Let it stay for a few minutes then wash away with water for a great polish.
Keep household pests away
Presence of mice, cockroaches and rats can be very disturbing in a home. They want to eat all your food and make a mess everywhere. Sprinkle ash in hidden corners, the garage, attic and pantry to keep the pests away.
Treat wounds
Wood ash contains anti-bacterial agents. If your animals suffer an injury, you can use wood ash for initial relief. To use wood ash to treat wound, you can sprinkle the ash on the wound and use antibacterial ointment to trap the ash.
Grill Cleaner
Use wood ash and water to form a paste and apply it to your grill. Leave the paste in for a few minutes before properly scrubbing it off. Be sure to put on gloves to avoid checking the colour of your hand.
This article is intended to provide you with information on how you can use wood ash in and around your home and your body.30 Ways To Use Wood Ash Around Your Homestead
Instructions
Soil Balance
Reduce the activities of snails and slugs
Save your crops from the frost
Apply them on your birds
Clean Windows
Increase the amount of calcium In your plants
As fertilizer for your plants
Chase flea from your pets
Compost
A Substitute for Lime
Boost Lay rates
De-skunk
Remove stains from concrete
Use it to make Lye
Remove the stink from your fridge
Whiten your teeth
Anti-Ants
Seed Preservation
Hair Cleaner
Moth Repellent
Ice melting
Small fire extinguisher
Exfoliation
Dish cleaning
Keeps Algae in check
Prevent Odour from Litter Boxes
Metal Polish
Keep household pests away
Treat wounds
Grill Cleaner
