How to clean your fireplace
Introduction
It’s important to keep your fireplace clean. Not only does it make your home more inviting, but it can also help prevent a fire. If you want to know what tools to use and how to clean your fireplace successfully, keep reading!
Get the right tools.
To get the best results, you’ll want to use a vacuum cleaner with a crevice tool. You’ll also want to have on hand a wire brush, dustpan, and damp cloth for cleaning glass.
Remove the grates and logs.
- With the logs removed and a vacuum or dustpan in hand, you’ll want to start by removing the bulk of ashes, dust, and soot and disposing of it in a trash bag. Once that’s done, you can now move on to the grates.
- Get rid of the old ashes and other debris stuck in your fireplace grate using a small wire brush (an old toothbrush will also work if you don’t have a wire brush). Start using water with the wire brush to scrub away all those pesky particles! If you find it difficult to remove with water, use a cleaner or mild dish soap. Just make sure it’s not something that will ruin the material of the grates.
Vacuum the interior of your fireplace and flue.
Once you’ve removed the logs, grates, and ashes, it’s time to clean out your fireplace and flue. Vacuum the interior of your fireplace with a brush attachment, and use a crevice tool to clean out any crevices in the ash pit. If you have a shop vacuum that can be used outside, you can also use it to remove any loose debris from between bricks or on top of your chimney cap.
Remove stubborn soot.
If your fireplace is dirty, there are a few ways to get rid of it. If the soot is not too difficult to remove, you may be able to do so with a vacuum cleaner. However, if the soot has been building up for some time and is particularly stubborn, you may need something a little more powerful—like steel wool or a wire brush. Some people prefer high-pressure steam cleaners for this purpose; others prefer to use cleaning products and a little elbow grease. Whichever method you use will depend on how old or new your fireplace is and what type of stone it’s made from (granite requires a different treatment than marble). Always make sure to research your cleaning methods based on what kind of fireplace you have. You don’t want to damage any of your surfaces!
Polish metal and glass surfaces.
Next, polish the metal and glass surfaces of your fireplace. Metal polish can be found in the cleaning section at most large grocery stores or hardware stores. A glass cleaner will also do the trick, but be sure not to use paper towels or abrasive cleaners on these surfaces—they’ll scratch and dull them over time.
Bring back the sparkle to the hearth.
Use a polishing cloth on all surfaces, including the hearth and firebox. Be sure to remove any loose paint chips, which can cause the surface to dull over time. If your fireplace has become discolored from soot or ash, use a soft-bristled brush with water and a household cleaner to scrub away grime and restore luster. A damp cloth will also help remove dust from areas that are less accessible than others, like corners and crevices where dust tends to gather more quickly as it settles onto flat surfaces. Finally, if there’s still some stubborn dirt on your fireplace after using these cleaning methods above (or if you’ve got some hard-to-reach spots), vacuum those off using a vacuum cleaner with an attachment designed for cleaning upholstery or carpets—it’ll do wonders.
Conclusion
We hope you found these tips helpful for cleaning your fireplace. If you have any questions about this process, please do not hesitate to contact us at (248) 620-9410, we are always happy to help our customers with their cleaning needs.
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