Leaving behind a layer of ash on the floor of indoor fireplaces has its benefits. The ash insulates your indoor fireplace and thus fire lasts longer and becomes warmer. But when left unattended, this layer of ash can build up to several inches and this eventually damages the fireplace, or worse, your entire household.

However, proper care and attention should be given when disposing fireplace ashes. Many house and forest fires are caused by the improper disposal of ash. Wood ash can retain heat for several days, this heat might be enough to incite burning of combustible materials which could end to fires. Improper ash disposals can destroy homes, valuable resources, even lives. So here are some important tips and reminders when handling wood ash:
• Let your fireplace cool down before ever trying to clean it. Do not clean while fire is burning or immediately after the fire has been extinguished. It is usually advisable to wait for a a few hours before starting the cleanup, you can never be sure if there are hot embers buried under the bed of ashes.
• Remove ashes from the fireplace floor using metal tools only (cool ashes may be vacuumed from the fire pit). There are fireplace tool-sets available commercially. Place your metal ash container near the ash pit of your fireplace. You can use gloves but soot smudges are always easily removed by washing with soap and water. Ashes can become airborne if harshly cleaned-out. Be slow with cleaning motions to minimize ashes going airborne.
• Now, carefully transfer the ash from the ash pit of your fireplace to your metal container, but don’t forget to leave behind an inch-thick of ash on the fireplace floor (the benefits still remains).
• DO NOT use paper or plastic bags to dispose of wood ashes! Always use a metal container (can or tin pail) which can tightly closed, douse the ash with water and slowly carry the container outside your house. Secure the closed container away from any combustible material, place it in a designated area and wait for several days before finally disposing the ash; this way, you can be sure that the ash is already cool and safe. It is always wise to bury or spread the ash over soil. It makes a healthy compost pile too.

Always keep in mind that wood ash has a more useful purpose that burning properties. Ashes from many kinds of wood always make a good fertilizer. Wood ash contain phosphorous, potash and about fifty to seventy percent of lime. PH level of soil can be greatly improved by ash. More than that, ashes can be used as repellents against slugs and snails which usually infest gardens.