What to Do With Wood Ash: 5 Clever Uses for Wood Ash in Your Garden and Home

Don’t throw away your wood ash! Turn it into a natural resource for your home and garden with these 5 uses for wood ash

April 17, 2025
By Reece Toscani
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Guides & Knowledge

From Waste to Resource - Uses for Wood Ash

If you own a woodburning stove, you’ll know that regular cleaning leaves you with a pan full of fine, powdery wood ash. Most people simply bag it up and throw it away—but that’s a waste of one of the most versatile by-products you’ll ever get for free. In fact, there are countless practical uses for wood ash that go far beyond the obvious, from improving soil quality and deterring garden pests to cleaning stove glass and even neutralising odours in the home. Instead of thinking of ash as waste, it helps to see it as a free, natural resource that can save you money and reduce the need for chemical alternatives.

Before we dive in, remember: only use ash from untreated wood. Ash from coal, paper, or MDF can contain harmful chemicals. Always store it in a lidded metal container until it’s fully cooled (red embers can stay alive for days).

1. Use Wood Ash to Melt Ice in Winter

When paths are slippery and grit bins are empty, wood ash makes a brilliant eco-friendly alternative. Sprinkle a thin layer on icy steps, drives, and pavements. The mineral salts in the ash help break down the ice, while the powdery texture adds traction underfoot.

Tip: It won’t stain shoes or carpets like grit sometimes does, but sweep away any excess once the thaw is over to keep things tidy.

2. Neutralise Odours Naturally

Ash is alkaline and highly absorbent, making it a natural deodoriser. Sprinkle it in outdoor bins, mix it with cat litter to reduce smells, or scatter a little on problem patches in the garden. Historically, ash was even rubbed into animal coats to mask strong odours (though your dog may prefer a bath instead).

Still love doing things the old-fashioned way? Check out our guide on how to use your stove air controls manually to get the most from every burn.

3. Protect Your Garden From Slugs and Snails

If you’re tired of slugs treating your plants like a buffet, wood ash can help. Scatter a fine barrier around flowerbeds or vegetable plots—the gritty texture makes it uncomfortable for soft-bodied pests to cross. Just remember to reapply after rain, as moisture quickly reduces its effectiveness.

4. Improve Soil With Wood Ash Fertiliser

Wood ash is rich in calcium carbonate and trace minerals, making it a valuable soil improver in the right conditions. Use it to neutralise acidic soils or add nutrients to compost heaps. Avoid adding it to already alkaline soils, and don’t use it around acid-loving plants like blueberries or rhododendrons.

For more detail, the RHS (Royal Horticultural Society) has excellent guidance on when and how to apply wood ash to garden soils.

5. Clean Stove Glass With Ash

One of the simplest tricks in the book: dip a damp cloth or newspaper into cooled ash and gently rub it on your stove glass. The fine particles act as a natural abrasive, removing soot and tar without harsh chemicals. If your glass blackens quickly, check your firewood’s moisture content—wet logs are usually the culprit.

Prefer a quicker clean? We also recommend dedicated [stove glass cleaners] for heavy deposits.

Don’t Waste Your Ash

Next time you empty your stove, don’t think of ash as rubbish—think of it as a free resource. Whether it’s keeping your garden healthy, your paths safe, or your stove glass sparkling, there are lots of different uses for wood ash all of which have practical uses in your home and garden.

💬 Do you use ash in your home or garden? Share your best tip in the comments below—we’d love to hear it.

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Reece Toscani

Reece has over two decades in the fireplace and stove world — testing, reviewing, and occasionally getting covered in soot, all in the name of wood-fired home heating. He cuts through the nonsense, busts the myths, and shares straight-talking advice to help you enjoy your stove without the confusion. From Fireplace Products to Redefining Woodburners, if it burns wood, he’s probably tested it, fixed it, or argued about it. Now, through Woodburner Insights, he shares that experience with the world — both here and on YouTube.