Yes, it is generally okay to open an urn. Most say that cremated remains are sterile, so you shouldn't have to worry about your health or safety from opening an urn. There are no legal reasons why an urn can't be opened either unless there is a question of who legally owns the cremains.
We will attempt to walk you through the process by giving you a guide based on the type of cremation urn you have in your possession. Before we begin, some people ask, “is it illegal to open an urn?” We can assure you that it is perfectly legal to open an urn. Cremated remains are considered sterile.
Ceramic, Metal, or Glass Urns
If it doesn't come off with slight pressure on the lid, soak a cotton swab in acetone or epoxy solvent and run it along the seal. Repeat as needed. Note, a rubber mallet can also be used to help loosen the lid. Lay a cloth atop the lid and lightly tap the lid to help loosen the sealed urn.
Additionally, most will not seal the urn permanently. This is often the preferred option because it makes it easier for families to transfer ashes if need be. After the ashes are given to the family, they are free to do with them what they wish.
Here's what happens when you open the plastic or cardboard urn that you'll receive from the funeral home or crematorium. Inside, you'll find the remains sealed in a plastic bag. You'll be able to see the ashes through the bag.
The process of cremation is highly regulated, and the remains are subjected to high heat (usually between 1400-1800 degrees Fahrenheit) that destroys any bacteria or viruses that might have been present in the body. This means that cremated ashes are sterile and completely safe to handle.
A common question that we find in the cremation diamond industry is do ashes have an expiration date? The short answer is they don't; at least not in our lifetime. It would take around one million years for ashes to dissolve since they are made solely of inorganic material.
An unsealed lid would easily come off once you unscrew the lid and apply gentle pressure. However, if it seems that the lid does not come off after applying gentle pressure, it indicates that it's a sealed urn, and the lid is secured using wax, silicone, or some other type of adhesive.
The most common question that people have is whether ashes are safe to touch. The simple answer is yes, but it is still important to know what comprises ashes so that you know what exactly you are coming in contact with. Traditional flame-based cremation produces a pale, gray powder that contains bone fragments.
You may be wondering how long you can keep your loved one's cremains in an urn. Generally, you can keep cremains in an urn for an indefinite period, but certain factors can influence this.
Cremains contain what is known as rest energy, sometimes referred to as free or dormant energy. This type of energy is still subject to the restraints of natural law, and can have no physical or spiritual impact on those around it.
The container's size, style, and material are all important factors in its overall cost. Most people pay $70 to $2,250 for a full sized, permanent urn and $50 to $350 for green burial containers.
Most wood urns close in a box-like fashion or have a sliding panel at the bottom that is removable. There is no need to seal, but some people prefer to do so. Wood glue or glue designed for porous materials will work for this purpose.
You may see that the urn's lid can be unscrewed from the base. If it seems as if the lid does not come off after applying gentle pressure, this may mean that a silicone, wax, or another type of adhesive is sealing the urn.
Most metal cremation urns have a threaded cap or removable disc that covers the ash compartment. To create a permanent seal, add a small amount of clear, silicone epoxy or metal glue to the threads before closing the lid.
Safety first!
For 8L models that's around 11kg. For 26L models that's around 31kg! DO NOT leave the urn switched on overnight if it is not in use. It wastes energy and the urn could boil dry, which can damage the element.
Your loved one's ashes don't have to stay together either. Families can choose to split the ashes of the deceased among the wider family, where the individual families can choose what they want to do with them.
Cremation Urns
However, even in the best conditions heat and moisture will creep in. The only damage this will do is to cause the remains to harden together and "clump" to some extent inside the urn.
Ashes have no expiry date
You can keep them in the container from the crematorium for as long as you need. You might keep them in your home forever, or you might decide to scatter or bury them at a later date.
Although, in some cases you may need to contact a landowner for permission to see if it is safe to do so with the environment agency. Are Ashes loose in a Cremation Urn? Not necessarily, After your loved one has been cremated, their cremains will be placed into a bag, inside of a temporary urn.
If you prefer to place the entire plastic bag of cremains into the urn, do so by slowly and gently working the bag into the opening of the urn to prevent tearing. Some people like to add extra mementos to urns, such as poems, jewelry, photos, and other personal items that may have belonged to their loved ones.
A funnel may be used to fill the urn directly with ashes. If you wish to keep the ashes in the bag, a new bag will first need to be inserted into the urn with the opening of the bag on the outside. After that, a funnel should be used to fill the bag that is inside the urn.
While wood ashes are considered nontoxic, they contain alkaline material in the form of potassium carbonate and potassium hydroxide, often referred to as pearl potash and potash, respectively. These compounds are very soluble in water and react with water to release hydroxide ions which can produce a pH as high as 12.
While we might think that having the loved-one's ashes in a plain box or beautiful urn, displayed in our home, might be honoring, according to Feng Shui, it is not appropriate, because the energy of the deceased, which is held by their ashes, is Yin. It needs to be returned to the earth, or to water (Yin with Yin).
While finding DNA preserved in cremation ashes is possible, it's unlikely. Some companies offer services to see if a cremation ash sample would potentially hold DNA. Work with a cremation company with specific labeling protocols that they are willing and able to describe to you.