- 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, Id 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!), Ill use
them in the fireplace, but if its any other time of the
year, Im wary of keeping all those stripped matches around
the house, so Ill use the soaking method...which is definitely
the method of disposal suggested here.
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