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To removed the ashes, get a small fireplace shovel like the one in this link. I have one and it works great.http://www.efireplacestore.com/fsd-lt0162.html?productid=fsd-lt0162&channelid=FROOG&gclid=CJGYu4Cy9q0CFWnatgodYwRprwYou will also need a metal bucket of some type for the ashes. Make certain the ashes are completely burned out before dumping them in the flower bed or elsewhere outside to avoid a fire.
Open fire or slow combustion?
Use dry wood to avoid build up of tar in the flue. Some types of wood burn more thoroughly than others, leaving only light grey powdery ash as against unburnt charcoal. [Can't help you on types as I'm in Australia and our gum trees are very different to other fire woods]
When you clean the ash out, keep the black lumps and remove the grey ash. The charcoal helps light the next fire.
If you have a garden, spread the ash around your plants [after it's cooled down ]. It's excellent fertilizer.
Cleaning a wood burning fireplace is always a pain. I like the idea of using water to wet down the ash before removing it. just spray it down... If you have carpet anywhere near the FP, cover it.That said, Duraflame logs produce much less soot & ash than real wood, and no chances of embers shooting out. I've been told its 90% less ash & carbon black.
Just don't use a standard shop vac. the air that exits out of the filter will spray fine ash particles all over your room.
As a kid my mom would take a brown paper shopping bag & spray the inside with water, then scoop it all up with a FP shovel, carefully seal the bag & toss out.
I guess it's just common sense for me, been buring firewood my entire life. But you don't put ashes in anything that can catch fire ... unless you like the idea of waking up at 3am to a house full of smoke. That means no vacuum, no paper bags, etc. Coals can stay hot for days when buried under ashes. You use a metal shovel and put them into a metal bucket, period.
FYI - someone didn't make sure all the ashes were out:http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/46083729/ns/us_news-life/t/crews-contain-reno-fire-claimed-homes/#.TybwZvnqKSo