Open your windows, grab your cleaning supplies, and get ready for spring cleaning! Now that winter is over, it’s time to get rid of the dust and dirt that’s built up during the year. A thorough spring cleaning is a great way to boost your mood and improve the air quality in your home. Cleaning out your fireplace is a good place to start.
While tackling the tough deposits of soot and creosote in your chimney is a job that should be left to the experts, you can tackle the fireplace. You can safely and easily wash away soot stains, clean the glass doors, remove ashes from the firebox (if you have a wood burning fireplace) and wipe down the hearth pad. Get started by rounding up these tools and cleaning supplies:
- Drop cloth
- Sheet metal waste bin with lid
- Wet/dry vacuum cleaner
- Stiff bristled nylon brush
- Large bucket filled with warm water
- Vinegar, cream of tartar and baking soda or bleach and TSP
- Rags or towels
- Fireplace glass cleaner
- Microfiber cloth
- Protective mask, eyewear, and gloves
How to Safely Clean Out Fireplace Ashes
Cover the flooring around your fireplace with a drop cloth. Then remove and set aside the andirons and log holder. Use the shovel in your fireplace toolset to remove ashes from the firebox and place them into a metal waste bin. You can use your wet/dry vacuum cleaner to sweep up any stray ashes.
Keep in mind that hot embers can be hidden in ash and continue to burn for long periods of time after your last fire. Throwing ashes into the trash or outside immediately could accidentally ignite a fire. That’s why it is important to always place ashes from your fireplace into a sheet metal bin with a lid and store them on a non-combustible surface like concrete or stone. It is best to wait at least 36 hours after your last fire to remove ashes. They should be stored in the metal bin for at least a week before being disposed of.
How to Remove Soot Stains
Start by brushing down the walls of your fireplace with a stiff bristled nylon brush. Use your wet/dry vacuum cleaner to clean up the soot and ashes this knocks loose. Then mix together 1 cup of bleach and 6 tablespoons of TSP with 1 gallon of water in a bucket. Or, if you prefer to use less harsh chemicals, mix 50% warm water and 50% white vinegar in a spray bottle.
Be sure to wear protective gloves if you are using the bleach solution. Dip your brush into the solution and use it to scrub out stains on the walls inside the firebox. Once the stains are gone, rinse the fireplace walls with a damp cloth and pat dry.
If you are using the vinegar solution, spray down the walls inside your fireplace with the solution. Make sure not to spray it on any wood surfaces around the fireplace. Let the solution sit on the walls for 5 to 10 minutes before scrubbing them down with your nylon brush. Repeat this process until the stains are gone. For particularly tough spots, mix together 2 tablespoons of cream of tartar with water to make a paste. Apply the paste to the stain and let it set for 5 to 10 minutes. Then scrub with the brush and warm water. Once your fireplace walls are clean, rinse the walls with a solution of water and a few tablespoons of baking soda to neutralize the vinegar solution.
How to Clean Fireplace Glass Doors
Remove the glass following the instructions in the manufacturer’s manual. Then spray the glass with a fireplace glass cleaner and wipe it down with a soft microfiber cloth.
Be aware that it is not safe to use Windex or any other ammonia-based glass cleaner on your fireplace doors. These cleaners can have an adverse effect on the glass. It is also important to avoid using abrasive cleaners because they can compromise the strength of the glass. The safest and most effective glass cleaner will be a fireplace glass cleaner that you can find at your local hearth store or home improvement store.
Now that you’ve cleaned your fireplace, the last step to prepare it for spring is to close the damper. Closing the damper will improve your home’s energy efficiency by preventing air-conditioned air from escaping up the chimney. It will also prevent moisture and critters that might slip through your chimney cap from getting into your home.
If you need a new toolset for your fireplace or other hearth supplies, come on down to FyrePro! We have the widest selection of hearth accessories, toolsets, fireplace doors, screens and more in the Fort Collins area.