How to Clean a Fireplace

Imagine, on a cold winter night, you are sitting by the fireplace, holding a cup of hot coffee in your hand. Feels like bliss, doesn’t it? In areas that experience extreme cold conditions, a fireplace holds a distinct charm. Not only does it protect you from the biting cold, but also lends a very cozy and warm feel to your house. Getting a fireplace at home is not a difficult task, but most of the people forget to take care of it. Cleaning your fireplace on a regular basis is very important from the health, hygiene as well as safety point of view. Check out the cleaning tips given below and learn about the best way to clean a fireplace.

How to Clean a Fireplace

Things Needed

Gloves
Vacuum
Newspaper
Bucket
Water
Bleach
Tarp
Scrub Brush
Rags
Oven Cleaner
Glass Cleaner

Instructions

You will first have to remove the large debris, which will not fit in the vacuum cleaner, from the fireplace manually.
Now, plug the vacuum cleaner into the socket and vacuum soot and ashes out of the fireplace. Shop vacuum will work the best in this case.
If there is any carpeting near the fireplace, cover it with tarp.
Place newspaper on top of the tarp that has been put on the hearth and also, on the floor of the fireplace.
Take 1 gallon of warm water and add 1 cup bleach to it.
With the help of a scrub and the water-bleach solution, scrub off soot and creosote from inside the fireplace.
Wipe the excess water with old rags.
Remove the newspapers from the floor of the fireplace.
Using the same water-bleach solution and scrub, clean the floor.
Wipe the excess water with paper towels.
Next, you need to clean the fireplace grates.
On a clean surface, put a few layers of newspaper and place the fireplace grates on top of the newspapers.
Use the water-bleach solution or oven-cleaner and scrub, to clean them.
For cleaning the fireplace doors, make use of glass cleaner spray and newspapers.
Polish the exterior metal, if any.

Tips

Wear gloves, preferably made of rubber, to prevent any ash or debris from sticking to your hands and spoiling them. Moreover, you can even hurt your hands in the process of cleaning. So, take care.
Put on old clothes that cover your body well, along with socks and a dust mask, to prevent the contact of ash dust with you. Do wear throw-on safety goggles that will save your eyes.
To ensure that there are no hot coals or ashes before you start cleaning, avoid lighting the fireplace within 24 hours.
Keep a garbage can made of heavy metal close by and cover it after moistening the ashes. Don’t use paper bags or any other material, as it might burn because of hot coal (if any).
Never mix two chemicals in the cleaning process, like bleach or ammonia with vinegar, as it produce a toxic gas that can lead to death.

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