How to Clean a Fireplace

Posted on April 6th, 2009 by Carmelia

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Cleaning a fireplace is one of those chores that you typically have to do when winter is gone. But don’t take too long, because an unclean fireplace is a fire hazard. Here’s how you can clean your fireplace quickly and thoroughly.

Materials

Shop vacuum or ash vacuum
Bucket
Newspaper
Tarp
Bleach
Oven cleaner
Glass
Scrub brush
Rags
Glass cleaner
Shovel

Procedure

Make sure that the ashes have cooled and that all fires are out.

cleaning fireplace

Use a shovel and a brush to sweep away the bigger portions of the debris out of the fireplace. Use a shop vacuum or an ash vacuum to remove all the remaining ash, especially around the corners. Avoid using a household vacuum cleaner as this may cause the filters to clog.
Lay out a tarp on top of carpeting that may be near the fireplace.
Next, get newspapers and place them on top of the tarp, at the hearth and at the inside of the fireplace.
Mix a gallon of water with a cup of bleach. Use the scrub rush with the water and scrub the creosote off the interior of your fireplace. Use a wire brush scrub for dirt that is particularly stubborn.
Collect the newspapers and throw them in the trash. Get the rags and mop up any remaining water.
Use the bleach and water solution to clean the floor of the fireplace and mop up with paper towels.
Take the fireplace grates outdoors to clean them. Get some more newspapers to lay them on. You can use the bleach and water solution or an oven cleaner solution.
Use glass cleaner with newspapers to clean any glass fireplace doors.
When cleaning the firebox, you also have other choices in cleaning solutions such vinegar, washing solution or Tri Sodium Phosphate. Another option is to use a mixture of water and chlorine bleach.