You’ve burned through a healthy, refreshing stick of incense. Whether you used it to do yoga or really concentrate on work, it certainly served its purpose. The only issue is, now you’re done, you’re left with some unsightly debris.
So what to do with incense ashes, anyway?
A little dustpan and a brush should make short work of it, of course. You can just throw it away (assuming it’s not hot!) But are there any other ways you can use incense ashes?
There’s no shortage of good reasons to burn incense in your home — the stress relief it provides alone is reason enough. But failure to get rid of incense ashes properly could lead to major problems. It’s not just a little uncleanliness — it’s more the potential housefire you could start.
This blog will go over what to do with your ashes, and how to make sure you’ve properly extinguished your incense.
Extinguishing Your Incense
The first and most important thing to remember is that you should never leave incense burning unattended. If you need to leave suddenly or you are preparing to go to bed for the night, be sure to put out any burning incense in your house.
Make sure all your incense materials are extinguished when you are putting them out. Incense ash can remain extremely hot for several hours. And if it lands on wood or carpet, it could be dangerous.
Be sure everything is cold to the touch when you are putting it out.
If you are burning stick incense, be sure that you dab the tip in some water when putting it out to ensure it won’t reignite at some point when it’s in the trash.
What To Do With Incense Ashes? Your Plants Might Want Them
If you’re wondering what to do with incense ashes, there are other practical uses for incense ashes. Research has shown that, if natural, incense ash can be great fertilizer for plants!
The problem is that many store-bought incenses contain chemicals that are toxic to plants.
But natural incense is always an option, and it’s also healthier for you to ingest it as well.
Incense paper is not ideal for plants as it often contains the harmful chemicals, however, incense sticks are a different story. Sticks are usually composed of natural materials. The ash left behind after burning is unlikely to have harmful chemicals left in it.
Wood ash is a particularly great source of lime and potassium for plants. It has other elements that plants need to thrive and grow, so it’s actually recommended to use the ash from incense as fertilizer so long as you can be sure it’s natural.
Should You Open a Window When Burning Incense?
The idea, when burning incense, is to allow the aromas to disperse through the air in your home. For ideal results, it’s best to open a window in your home to let air cycle through. This way the incense has a chance to breathe through every room.
You should always pay attention to the incense burning in your home, and make sure it’s properly extinguished before carelessly leaving it unattended.
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