What You’ll Regret Burning After It Starts Smoking Up the Porch
It’s tempting to toss all kinds of stuff into the fire pit when you’re cleaning up the yard—but not everything that burns should be burned. Some things smoke up fast, smell awful, or send dangerous chemicals straight into your lungs.
Before you toss another log or branch on the fire, here’s what to leave out unless you want to ruin the evening—or worse.
Pressure-Treated Lumber
Old deck boards, fencing, or construction scraps might seem like good firewood, but pressure-treated wood releases toxic fumes when burned.
Even if it looks dry and solid, treated lumber belongs in the dump—not the fire pit. Breathing that smoke is dangerous for everyone around.
Painted or Stained Wood
That leftover scrap from the shed might burn, but the paint or stain on it will smoke like crazy and release harsh fumes. You’ll notice the smell right away.
Always double-check before tossing in mystery wood. If you’re not sure what it’s coated with, don’t risk it.
Green or Freshly Cut Wood
Fresh wood hasn’t had time to season and burns inefficiently. It’ll pop, smoke heavily, and coat everything in soot before it gives you any real heat.
Let your wood season for at least 6–12 months before burning. If it feels heavy or oozes sap, it’s not ready.
Cardboard with Ink or Coating
Basic brown cardboard might be fine for a quick flame, but anything with glossy coating, colored ink, or glue will smoke up the yard in seconds.
Recycling is better for those boxes anyway. If you’re burning for heat or atmosphere, skip the coated stuff.
Wet Leaves or Grass Clippings
These smell awful when they burn and create heavy smoke that clings to clothes and settles in your lungs. It’s not worth the eye-watering mess.
Rake them, bag them, or compost them. Burning wet yard waste isn’t doing anyone a favor.
Plywood or OSB
These are made with adhesives that break down under heat and release nasty chemicals. They also pop and crack unpredictably when burning.
Tossing in plywood scraps is a fast way to smoke out your guests. Stick to solid, untreated wood only.
Driftwood or Salty Wood
Wood that’s been near saltwater contains salt crystals, and when burned, it releases chlorine gas and other irritants.
It might look weathered and pretty, but driftwood’s better for decor than fire. Don’t risk the smoke.
Garbage or Plastic-Coated Items
Anything with plastic—even a small label or sticker—will melt and burn dirty. The smoke is thick, toxic, and lingers far longer than you want.
Check your burn pile before lighting it up. A single piece of coated trash can ruin the whole fire.
Rotten or Bug-Infested Logs
If your firewood’s soft, crumbling, or crawling with bugs, don’t burn it. It’ll smoke more than it flames, and whatever’s inside might spread around your yard.
Rotten wood goes in the compost or trash. Burning it doesn’t help—it just stinks.
*This article was developed with AI-powered tools and has been carefully reviewed by our editors.
