Care for incense burner ash before Obon
Before Obon is an important time to prepare the area around your Buddhist altar to welcome your ancestors and loved ones. When cleaning Buddhist altars or preparing offerings, one thing that is often overlooked is the ashes in the incense burner.
When you burn incense sticks every day, unburned incense sticks and small lumps gradually accumulate in the incense burner ash, making it difficult to burn incense sticks or causing the flame to go out midway.
In this article, we will introduce how to properly dispose of old incense burner ashes, how to care for them, and a guideline for replacing them, as well as ``how to choose incense burner ashes to welcome Obon in a pleasant manner, and useful goods that will make cleaning easier.'' Please use this to prepare before Obon.
This product is recommended when replacing the incense burner ash.
See Naniwa Incense Burner Ash 60g (no box)
What is the role of incense burner ash?
Incense burner ash is special ash that is placed inside an incense burner to safely stand incense sticks and burn them gently until the end.
Even if it doesn't seem to have changed much, as you use it, the shortened incense wicks and moisture will accumulate in the ashes.
If the ash is not in good condition, it may cause the incense stick to tilt or even disappear halfway.
Signs that the incense burner ash needs to be cleaned or replaced
It is not necessary to replace the incense burner ash every time, but if you notice the following symptoms, it is a sign that you need to clean it or replace it with new ash.
・The incense stick is difficult to stand upright/It falls down in the middle
・The flame goes out in the middle of burning the incense stick
・The ash is hard and difficult to loosen even when poked with disposable chopsticks
・There are a lot of unburned wicks mixed in.
・The color of the ashes is dark or you are concerned about old smells
・You want to cleanse the entire Buddhist altar comfortably before Obon or Equinox
Especially before Obon, it is the perfect time to refresh the incense burner ash, which is usually difficult to touch.
How to properly dispose of old incense burner ashes and things to keep in mind
When disposing of old incense burner ashes, some people wonder, "Is it okay to throw away the ashes from Buddhist altar utensils as garbage?" However, in general, there is no problem if you dispose of it according to the municipal waste separation rules.There is no problem if you dispose of it according to the garbage separation rules of the local government.。
However, please follow the steps and precautions below to dispose of it safely.
1. Make sure the flame is completely extinguished (most important)
Even if the ashes of the incense sticks appear cool, there may be a small amount of spark (heat) left inside.
・Avoid using incense the day before cleaning
・Leave the ashes to cool completely for several hours to a day(Please allow enough time to ensure safety before disposing of them)
2. Wrap it in newspaper or a plastic bag to protect it from wind.
Incense burner ash is very light, so the slightest breeze or breath will scatter it.
・If you are doing it outdoors or on a balcony, choose a day without wind.
・Wrap it in newspaper or gently transfer it to a double-layered plastic bag (this will keep the room and surroundings clean.)
3. Dispose according to the rules of your local municipality.
Separation specifications for incense burner ash vary depending on the municipality. Generally, it is often classified as ``combustible garbage (burnable garbage)'' or ``non-burnable garbage (non-burnable garbage).''
*If there are any unburned metal parts (incense stick clips, etc.), be sure to remove them.
How to care for hardened incense burner ash
Incense burner ash may harden due to moisture or unburned remains during use.
Once hardened, the incense stick will become difficult to stand and will look disorganized, so regular cleaning is required.
[For light lumps]
It will be easier to arrange it by gently loosening it with disposable chopsticks or a small spatula and leveling the surface.
[If there is a lot of unburnt remains/the whole body is hard]
It is effective to use a fine-mesh ``ash sieve'' to remove shortened incense sticks and large clumps.
However, if you are concerned about dirt or odor, or if the entire incense burner has become hard, we recommend that you do not force yourself to continue using it and replace it with new incense burner ash.
Where can I buy incense burner ash?
Incense burner ash can be purchased at Buddhist supplies stores, home centers, 100 yen shops, and online shopping.
If you are in a hurry, one option is to look for it at a nearby store, but if you are worried about incense sticks disappearing mid-way through or the ash hardens easily, we recommend incense burner ash from a shop specializing in Buddhist altar accessories.
[Reasons for choosing incense burner ash from specialty store (Akira to Kaori Honpo)]
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Fluffy and fine: The incense sticks are easy to stand up straight and look elegant.
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Difficult to burn out during the process: Good ventilation and the incense stick burns cleanly until the end.
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You can choose according to your application: We have a wide range of products available, from standard straw ash and rice husk ash to natural stone (crystal bead) types that can be washed and used repeatedly.
For important memorial services and obon prayers, it is a good idea to prepare incense burner ash from a specialty store that will allow you to comfortably burn incense sticks until the end.
For those who are suitable for large-capacity packs of incense burner ash
Incense burner ash does not stop once you put it in; it gets dirty little by little and the amount decreases as you use it.
Large-capacity packs are convenient for families who burn incense every day or for those who want to regularly replace the incense burner ash before Obon and Equinox. You can use it easily if you have multiple incense burners or if you want to prepare the Buddhist altar area for your family.
Summary
Before Obon is a good time to clean up the area around your Buddhist altar. If there is a lot of unburned ash in the incense burner, or if it has hardened and is difficult to burn, cleaning or replacing it will help you pray more comfortably.
When disposing of old incense burner ashes, make sure that the embers are completely extinguished, and dispose of them according to the local government's separation rules.
If you use incense sticks every day or want to prepare them properly before Obon, it is convenient to prepare replacement incense burner ashes.