A shallow bed of ashes in the hearth is a good thing. The ash insulates the fireplace, promoting hotter fires. Sooner or later, though, it will build up to a depth of several inches and much of it will have to be removed.

 

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Handling ashes can be tricky. Take care to stay safe and clean.

First, remember that hot embers capable of starting a second, unwelcome fire can last a surprisingly long time when buried in ash. Always remove ashes with a metal utensil and place them into a metal ashcan or pail.

Second, light ashes will fly all over the place unless you move very slowly when handling them. For this reason, tackle this job first before starting any other cleaning task in the room. Start by placing your metal ash container close to the ash pit or tray. You may wish to use gloves, but soot smudges, which are inevitable while performing a job like this, are easily washed off your hands. Just don’t touch anything until you do wash.

Next, shovel the ashes carefully from the pit into the container and slowly carry the container outside the residence. Leave about an inch of ash in the hearth.

The ashes may be placed in designated area outside for later disposal, or they may be buried or spread on the soil. Consider adding the ash to your compost pile if you have one.

Ashes may be vacuumed from the firepit, but only when absolutely cold! Light ash that falls around the stove or fireplace will cool rapidly and may be safely vacuumed.

Reference:

 

Don Aslett in The Cleaning Encyclopedia: Your A to Z Illustrated Guide to Cleaning Like the Pros.