Write an article based on this "Place an old newspaper on the ground in front of the stove. Scoop the ashes out of the fire box. Cover the ash can. Dispose of the ashes."
Do this as a protective measure before you begin scooping ashes out of the stove, as they are liable to drop onto the ground. A newspaper will make cleanup much easier. As you're spreading the newspaper, open the air dampener so that any ash stuck to it will fall into the firebox. The air dampener will be a small knob on the front of the cast iron stove, that you should pull outward to open. If the stove is still warm, use a piece of hooked metal to pull the air dampener open. Open the glass door on the front of the cast iron stove and, using your metal ash shovel, scoop up all of the leftover ash inside of the stove. Place the shovelfuls of ash into a metal ash bucket. Be meticulous when cleaning the ashes out of the stove; you'll be able to start your next fire much more easily if there are no leftover ashes in the firebox. Before you begin scooping up the ashes, make sure that the fire is completely out, and there are no live coals. If there are still any red-hot coals, wait for them to cool and go out before shoveling them up. After you've finished shoveling the ashes out of the firebox, place the lid back on the ash can. Set the can on a non-flammable surface, like brick or tile. It's important to let the ash can sit for at least 48 hours before you dispose of the ashes, in case there are still any live coals in the ash. It's important to keep the can covered, as a slight breeze could lift ash and soot from the can and send it flying through your house. Once you've tossed the ashes, you can also pick up the newspapers that you initially spread on the carpet. Be careful not to spill any ash on the floor. Throw the newspapers away. When the ash bucket is full (after you've shoveled out the fire box several times), you'll need to dispose of the ashes and empty the bucket. If you live in a rural area, you can simply walk a few hundred feet from your house and spread the ashes out on the ground. Alternately, if you have a compost pile or a garden, toss the ashes on top of the soil. If it's windy outside, wait for the wind to die down before you spread the ashes. Dormant embers may re-ignite in a strong wind.