- Since almost all collectors
collect the covers or boxes only, the first thing done with new
acquistions is to take the matches out (carefully). Usually,
this results in a goodly pile of unwanted matches . What's the
best way of safely getting rid of those matches?
-
- Well, despite what you
might suspect, the answer is not always a given. I took a quick
poll in 2007 on just this question with the following results:
-
- -Throw loose in garbage………………………....18
-Bag and throw in garbage………………….......21
-Soak and throw in garbage w/wo bagging….....48
-Burn in:………………………………………….11
Fireplace………………………………………......4
Outside………………………………………….....6
Paper recycle bin……………………………........1
-Only deal with stripped covers or full books......5
-
- I was amazed at how many
people just threw their matches into the garbage without soaking
them first. Several of the respondents specifically reported
that they had been doing so for years with no reported problems,
but, personally, I’d be scared to do that...based on personal
experience. Once I just casually dumped quite a few stripped
matches into my garbage can in the garage and the whole thing
ignited like a jet engine while I was still pouring the matches
in!...Last time I did that! Now, I soak them in a large bowl
in the sink before I dump them into the garbage. If I happen
to be stripping in the winter (matches, Ladies!), I’ll use
them in the fireplace, but if it’s any other time of the
year, I’m wary of keeping all those stripped matches around
the house, so I’ll use the soaking method...which is definitely
the method of disposal suggested here.
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