Among the most popular materials for the fireplace is brick. It is preferred for its aesthetic classy and elegant look it brings in the living rooms.
Brick is readily available and this makes it cheap both in the upfront and maintenance costs. And that is not all; brick is among the most durable material for a fireplace.
What makes brick so popular when choosing fireplace materials is the fact that it retains heat inside the fireplace and this translates to less fuel consumption and this is money saved.
With good maintenance, a brick fireplace will give you a couple of decades of service before the need for replacement. But no matter how careful you may be, your brick fireplace is bound to stain wit soot and ashes.
Upon starting fire in the fire place, it is the ashes and dark soot that could escape into your living space and settle on the walls, floor, and upholstery. In details lets find out how you can easily clean your brick fireplace and leave it looking new again.
How to Clean a Fireplace – Steps
The success of any project lies in an effective and adequate preparation process and cleaning a brick fireplace is no different. There are a couple of things you will need to do before you embark on the cleaning process.
1. Make a list of the items you need
Making a list of the items and tools you need goes a long way in saving money because bulk buying always comes at a discount. It also saves you lots of time because you do not have to keep rushing to the supplies store when you forget some items and tools.
Among the items you will need for this project include; dishwashing liquid, two buckets, two pieces of sponges or microfiber cloths, spray bottle, distilled white vinegar, table salt, a hard scrub brush, scrubbing bubbles, ammonia, a pair of gloves, a pair of face mask, dawn dish soap, and baking soda.
2. Open the windows
The ashes and soot shaken off when cleaning brick fireplace may rise and settle on your surfaces and upholstery and you do not want that. And because you will be working with potent things such as ammonia, ensure to open your windows for enough circulation of air.
This will help keep you safe while at the same diffusing the ashes and soot that is shaken off in the process. Besides, you do not want your living space left with the fresh odors of the cleaners.
3. Protect your floor
With a task before you already, you do not want to add another one on top. What I mean is that you do not want to mess your floor while cleaning the brick fireplace. To prevent this possibility, cover the floor in a dry drop cloth.
At the same time, remove any decorative items from the mantle to prevent them from catching dust.
4. Remove ashes and debris
After months of using your brick fireplace, especially the wood fireplace, there will be a heap of ashes in the firebox. When dealing with a wood brick fireplace, chances are high that you will end up with some little pieces of wood as a result of incomplete burning.
To have a clear view of the fireplace for effective cleaning, you need to get rid of the ashes and debris. Use a spade to remove these and empty them in a bucket. Do not throw away the contents; they can be used in backyard composite.
5. Vacuum the fireplace
Even after removing most of the dust and debris from the hearth and fireplace, you realize that the bricks are still covered in some bits of dust. You cannot effectively clean with the ashes still on. In this case, therefore, use a rubber broom to scrub the ash dust and debris then use a vacuum cleaner to suck it up.
As you may have noticed, vacuuming the ash dust does not help with stains and soot. It, therefore, means that you are just getting started on the main job; cleaning the dingy stains and soot.
6. Mix the cleaning solutions
Depending on the age of your brick fireplace, it is now time to choose what solution works best for you. An old brick fireplace is weak and will therefore need less corrosive cleaning solution such as a dish wash detergent.
To make this solution, add a 1/3 cup of dishwashing detergent or dawn dish soap in a spray bottle then top it with equal parts of water. Please be advised that this solution is only meant for soft cleaning on a weak and old brick fireplace.
For hard and deep stains on a new brick fireplace, you will need something more aggressive like white distilled vinegar, baking soda, and borax. To make this solution, mix 1 teaspoon of salt, 1 teaspoon of baking soda, ½ cup of white distilled water with 1 ½ cups of water in a spray bottle.
7. Apply the cleaning solution
Direct the nozzle of the spray bottle about an inch from the surface of the bricks and apply the cleaning solution of your choice. Ensure the coat is evenly distributed by overlapping them for uniformity.
Let the cleaning solution soak the caked soot and stains for close to 7 minutes before you start scrubbing.
8. Scrub the solution
Using the hard brush, scrub the surface of the bricks in a circular motion. This should remove the soot and stains off the surface of the bricks. Apply another coat of the cleaning solution because by now the first coat is almost drying off.
Continue scrubbing until the stains disappear completely. If the stains persist, then it means you should reconsider your choice of cleaning solution. There are stronger fireplace cleaners on the market you can now decide on.
9. Rinse the grime
By now the bricks are covered with foam mixed with grime. And since it is now time to see the results of your hard work, use a spray bottle with water to rinse the surface.
Keep the water coating as thin as possible to avoid soaking the bricks. This is because doing so might support the growth of mold and mildew. Then use a soft microfiber piece of cloth to dry the bricks of excess water.
If the stains persist, repeat the process if you have to. But beyond that, you now have to use something more gruesome like ammonia or chlorine bleach. This is where you need to wear gloves and a face mask to protect yourself from the potent fumes.
Also, take extra care when mixing bleach with other chemicals. Follow the above steps when dealing with these two but remember they must be applied to new and strong brick fireplaces.
Tips for cleaning brick fireplaces
- A few tablespoons of salt can help you get rid of soot and creosote before you start cleaning the fireplace.
- You should always use the least abrasive cleaning solution when dealing with an old brick fireplace. This is because abrasive solutions will corrode the caulk and damage the brick itself. A new brick fireplace on the other hand is strong and can be cleaned with just any solution, including the most abrasive.
- You should strive to clean your brick fireplace a few times a year since doing so will make your work easier because you will have less soot and stains to deal with. Most importantly, a clean brick fireplace will perform at its optimal best and prolong its shell life.
Among the many ways of maintaining your brick fireplace to increase its longevity is by cleaning it often. This will also improve the quality of your living as well as giving a good impression of yourself. Besides, who enjoys the sight and smell of dingy soot and ashes?