Content

• Steps
• Method 1 of 4: Choosing Tools and Tools
• Method 2 of 4: Removing soot
• Method 3 of 4: Cleaning your fireplace glass
• Method 4 of 4: Keeping your fireplace clean
• Warnings

The crackling fire in the fireplace is a real pleasure. However, the accumulated soot eventually condenses into creosote, a tarry, toxic and potentially deadly substance that can ignite a chimney. The fireplace should be cleaned regularly. To do this, you can use homemade or purchased products. First sweep in the fireplace, then use a cleaning agent. You can also clean your fireplace glass, if you have one. In the future, take some steps to keep your fireplace clean.

Steps

Method 1 of 4: Choosing Tools and Tools

1. 1 Use a commercially available cleaner for simplicity. The fireplace can be cleaned using standard household products. There are also products on sale that are specially designed for cleaning fireplaces.
   • Ammonia is a good cleaning agent, but it can be too harsh for brick fireplaces.
   • You can use an oven cleaner. It works well if a lot of soot and grime has collected in the fireplace.
   • Check your local supermarket for a cleaner made specifically for fireplaces. Such remedies may be less stringent. Some of these must be diluted in water, so read the instructions provided carefully.
2. 2 Make a homemade cleaner as a natural option. If you don't want to use a variety of harsh chemicals, you can make your own cleaner. Usually, there are enough available tools for this, which are available in almost every kitchen.
   • You can mix 2 tablespoons (30 ml) of potassium hydrogen tartrate with water to create a quality homemade cleaner.
   • You can also make a cleanser with equal parts vinegar and water. Mix them together and pour into a spray bottle.
   • Mix 2–3 tablespoons (30–45 milliliters) of dish soap with ½ cup (260 grams) of baking soda. The result is a paste that is well suited for cleaning a variety of surfaces.
3. 3 Make sure you have an all-purpose cleaning spray. Before applying any cleaning agent to the surface of the fireplace, it should be treated with a universal cleaner. An all-purpose cleaning spray, available from your local supermarket, will work.
   • If you are using a commercial cleaner, make sure it does not interact negatively with the all-purpose spray.
4. 4 Sweep the fireplace with a small brush. The fireplace should be swept before cleaning, using a small brush. You can find similar brushes at your supermarket or hardware store.
   • Check in the pet supplies department. Often, small brushes and scoops are sold for cleaning cat litter boxes. They work well for cleaning a fireplace.
5. 5 Choose an abrasive tool. With it, you can scrub the dirt out of the fireplace. A stiff brush or abrasive sponge is suitable for this purpose.
   • You can find similar tools at your supermarket or hardware store.

Method 2 of 4: Removing soot

1. 1 Protect everything around you. Wear an apron or old clothing to keep out dirt and debris. Place a tarp on the floor around the fireplace. Cleaning a fireplace is a messy job and soot is difficult to wash off clothes and carpets.
   • If you don't have a tarp, you can spread unwanted old clothes or towels in front of the fireplace. Use the items that you no longer need, as they are likely to deteriorate completely during cleaning.
2. 2 Remove debris from fireplace. Before cleaning, it is necessary to remove the remains of firewood and other debris from the fireplace. Put on household gloves and clean out debris from the fireplace.
   • If some of the wood is still usable, set it aside.
   • You can clean the fireplace from loose loose debris with a vacuum cleaner.
   Specialist Answer Question

   The reader of wikiHow is interested in: "How can ash be removed from the fireplace?"

   
   

   

   Michelle Driscoll MPH

   Mulberry Maids founder Michelle Driscoll is the owner of the Mulberry Maids cleaning service in northern Colorado. She received her Masters in Public Health from Colorado School of Public Health in 2016.

   SPECIALIST'S ADVICE

   Cleaning Specialist Michelle Driscoll replies: “Make sure that the ash has completely cooled down, then scoop it into a bag... Then sweep and vacuum the fireplaceto remove the remains of ash and ash ”.

3. 3 Sweep the fireplace from top to bottom. Use a small brush for this. Sweep the fireplace carefully to remove dust and ash from the chimney.
   • Try sprinkling the ashes with coffee grounds first. As a result, the ash will become thicker and will not be sprayed into the air.
   • Also sweep the mantel door, as ash is likely to collect on it as well.
4. 4 Spray the fireplace. Use an all-purpose cleaning spray first. Spray it in a thin layer on the surface inside the fireplace.The purpose of this is to wet the surface before cleaning.
   • Moisten the entire interior of the fireplace before proceeding.
5. 5 Wipe the fireplace with an abrasive tool dampened with a cleaning agent. Get the cleaning product of your choice (purchased or homemade). Dip an abrasive tool into it and start cleaning the fireplace.
   • Do not scrub the fireplace surface too hard, as you are already using a stiff brush. Clean the fireplace in a circular motion until the entire surface is covered.
   • If your fireplace is hard to reach or cracked, use a toothbrush to clean it.
6. 6 Leave the cleaner on the surface of the fireplace. If the fireplace is not very dirty, 10-15 minutes should be enough. If it contains stubborn stains, wait at least 30 minutes.
   • If you are using a commercially available cleaner, read the instructions supplied carefully. There may be specific instructions on how long to keep the product on the surface to be cleaned.
7. 7 Remove any remaining grime and dirt from the fireplace. The cleaning agent should pull the soot off the surface so that you can scrape and wipe it off fairly easily.
   • Dampen a rag with warm or hot tap water.
   • Wipe off any remaining soot. This should be pretty easy.
   • Usually after this the cleaning process ends. However, if the fireplace is heavily soiled, a second or even third cleaning may be necessary.

Method 3 of 4: Cleaning your fireplace glass

1. 1 Dampen a rag with water. Before cleaning, make sure the fireplace is unlit and cold to the touch. Find an unnecessary rag that you don't mind throwing away after cleaning the glass. If desired, paper towels can be used instead of a rag.
2. 2 Submerge a damp cloth in the ash. Use the ash that is already in the fireplace. Covering the rag with ash completely will help remove soot from the glass, although it may seem a little odd.
3. 3 Rub the glass with a rag. Apply proper pressure to the rag! It is necessary to rub the glass firmly to clean it. Continue rubbing the glass until you have removed all the grime and grime.
4. 4 Wipe the glass with a microfiber towel. After you've cleaned the glass, remove streaks and remaining debris with a clean microfiber towel.

Method 4 of 4: Keeping your fireplace clean

1. 1 Use dry wood. Dry wood burns much more efficiently than other types of wood. In addition, it produces less smoke and, as a result, the fireplace remains cleaner.
   • Buy only dry or dried wood.
   • If the wood is not labeled, ask the vendor about it.
2. 2 Vacuum the fireplace daily. In this case, you will have to sweep less in the fireplace and remove debris while cleaning. However, take certain precautions. Make sure all coals have gone out at least 12 hours ago before vacuuming in the fireplace.
3. 3 Only add water to the fire as a last resort. The fire in the fireplace should burn out naturally. When water is added, the ash will turn into a pasty mass, which will be very difficult to clean. Use water only as a last resort.
   • In the event of a fire, call the emergency services immediately. Even if you believe you were able to control the fire yourself, professional firefighters should inspect the home to ensure that all fires are completely extinguished.

Warnings

• Some of the substances listed above are poisonous to varying degrees, so always wear plastic gloves when cleaning the fireplace.