After a nice barbecue organized outdoors on a beautiful sunny day, we often tend to get rid of the barbecue ashes. These are very useful for improving the growth of plants in the garden, as well as cleaning and degreasing various surfaces in the house. That said, instead of throwing away barbecue ashes, consider storing them. To do this, collect them after they have cooled and sift them to remove any residue. Find out why barbecue ashes should not be thrown away.

Rich in magnesium, phosphorus, potassium and calcium, barbecue ashes can be recycled to benefit the plants in your garden. You can also use them to scrub and clean different surfaces around the house.

Why shouldn’t you throw away barbecue ashes?

Barbecue – Source: spm

Barbecue ashes can be recycled in different ways.

• Using barbecue ashes in the garden.

Barbecue ashes are very effective in correcting soil acidity and therefore help plants   develop better.   In fact, earthworms and microorganisms essential for good soil health may not develop in acidic soils. Soil acidity also prevents plants from   assimilating certain nutrients.

To avoid any excess that could suffocate the soil,   use ashes in small quantities.   Add only 70 to 100 g of ashes per square metre and repeat this operation   only once a year.   Note that some plants are acidophilous, i.e. they like acidic soil. This is particularly the case with rhododendrons, camellias, azaleas and even blue hydrangeas. That said, avoid spreading barbecue ashes around these plants.

You can also sprinkle a little barbecue ash on the lawn. This stimulates the activity of worms and microorganisms and therefore   prevents the appearance of moss on the lawn,   as well as improving water infiltration.

Using ashes in the garden – Source: spm

Thanks to its mineral content, especially potash, ash is   a good fertilizer for your plants.   In fact, potash is essential for the development of tubers, roots and fruits of plants. It also helps to give color to fruits and flowers, as well as strengthening the resistance of plants to diseases.

Barbecue ash is also a good repellent for slugs   and certain pests such as aphids,   flea beetles and sitons. To protect your seedlings from these pests, form a natural barrier with ashes. This will prevent slugs from invading your plants. Do not hesitate to renew the ashes   after each watering   or after rain. In addition, it is advisable to sprinkle the ashes   at the end of winter,   to prevent them from being soaked by rain. They would thus risk   losing all their qualities and would no longer be effective.

Collect the ashes – Source: spm

• Using barbecue ashes at home

Thanks to their degreasing action, ashes are effective   at removing stains from windows.   To do this, first sift through the barbecue ashes to remove any large residue and debris and avoid scratching your windows. Then, put on gloves and lightly moisten sheets of newspaper with water, then cover them with barbecue ashes. Scrub the windows and wipe them with   a microfibre cloth   to remove any excess.

Barbecue ashes can also be used   to make copper cutlery and items shine.   To do this, slightly moisten a cloth and dip it into a container containing the ashes. Then rub your items and rinse them with clean water. Then dry them with a dry microfibre cloth.

Effective at removing grease stains, barbecue ashes can be used   to clean the oven glass.   To do this, dilute a little ash in a bowl of water and soak your microfibre sponge in it. Squeeze it lightly   and rub the oven glass.   Then dry it with a clean cloth.

Thanks to these different uses for barbecue ashes, you will no longer have to throw them away. You can recycle them to care for the plants in your garden or to clean different surfaces in the house.