Sitting in front of a cozy fireplace is one of the best ways to spend a cold winter’s day. However, even if you only use your fireplace every now and then, it needs to be cleaned on a regular basis. Otherwise, dust and soot can make their way throughout your home. Cleaning soot takes more than just soap and water. Here is the proper way to clean your fireplace.
Cleaning Your Fireplace Surround
You may want to begin by cleaning your brick or stone fireplace surrounds Milwaukee. First, you will need to go to your local home improvement store to pick up some trisodium phosphate, or TSP. Begin by putting on rubber gloves, safety goggles, and long sleeves for protection. Mix up a paste of the TSP with a bit of water. Now, sponge it over the stone or brick to help remove the soot that has settles within the nooks and crannies. After you have spread it all over, use a wet sponge to rinse it off.
Removing Debris and Soot From the Fireplace
Make sure that it has been at least 12 hours since you have had a fire in your fireplace before trying to clean your fireplace. Take the grate out and place it outdoors. Scrub it with a nylon brush, rinse with water, and allow it to dry. Metal polish can be used to make it shine. Now, scoop out any ashes from your fireplace and safely discard them. Place newspaper on the bottom of the fireplace to collect debris, and then take a nylon brush and scrub the walls of the fireplace. Discard the newspapers and dust.
Deep Cleaning Your Fireplace
Begin by mixing 6 tablespoons of TSP, 1 cup of bleach, and 1 gallon of warm water in a bucket. As a caution, be sure to never mix bleach with ammonia. With your rubber gloves on, dip your nylon brush into the solution. Scrub the walls and floor of your fireplace with the solution. Follow by rinsing the areas with clean water.
Place your fireplace grate back inside and you are good to go! Now it’s time to gather some firewood and enjoy the comfort and beauty that only a wood-burning fireplace can give your home.