Having a fireplace at home can be very convenient, except that soot on the bricks cannot be avoided in this case. Soot stains everything it comes into contact with, so you will need to remove it at least once a year. Use baking soda, white vinegar, or a cleaning agent such as sodium phosphate as a natural remedy to remove soot from bricks.
Steps
Method 1 of 4: Preparing your fireplace for cleaning
Step 1. Wait at least 12 hours for the fireplace to cool before cleaning it
Hot bricks should not be cleaned. After extinguishing the fire, leave the fireplace overnight or at least 12 hours before starting cleaning. This will protect your hands from possible burns and the cleaning products will not heat up when you use them.
If you use a fireplace for heating, consider cleaning it during the warmer summer months when you need it much less frequently
Step 2. Remove ash and excess soot
Tidy up the fireplace with a brush and scoop before proceeding with a more thorough cleaning. Throw ash and charred pieces of wood out of the fireplace. This will greatly facilitate the further cleaning process.
You can put unburned wood aside for later use
Step 3. Cover the floor with unnecessary rags or towels to protect it
When cleaning the walls of the fireplace, you may spill water or cleaning agents on the floor. Lay the floor around the fireplace to avoid damaging your carpet or parquet flooring.
A warning
do not use newspapers - if they get wet, the ink can transfer from them to the floor.
Step 4. Put on rubber gloves to protect your hands
When cleaning the fireplace, various substances can get on the skin of the hands. Wear rubber kitchen gloves to protect your skin from irritation. If you are going to use Sodium Phosphate, also wear safety glasses.
Method 2 of 4: Using baking soda
Step 1. Prepare a paste of water and baking soda in a 1: 1 ratio
Mix 4 tablespoons (56 grams) of baking soda with 4 tablespoons (60 milliliters) of warm water. Mix the ingredients well to form a thick paste. If the paste is too thin, add more baking soda.
Step 2. Rub the paste with your hands over the surface of the bricks
Scoop up a generous amount of baking soda paste and spread it over the fireplace. Apply the paste from top to bottom to cover the bricks in a thin, continuous layer. Use more soot on the inside of the fireplace, as this will be the thickest layer of soot. Pay particular attention to cracks and grooves between bricks and heavily soiled areas.
Wear rubber kitchen gloves to protect your hands, or apply the paste with a clean rag
Step 3. Leave the paste on the bricks for 10 minutes
The baking soda will break down the dirt and grime on the bricks. Wait about 10 minutes for the soot to loosen from the surface of the bricks. However, make sure that the paste does not dry out or harden, otherwise it may damage the bricks.
If the paste starts to get too dry, spray it with water to keep it from hardening
Step 4. Scrape off the paste with a stiff brush
Use a stiff bristled brush to remove the paste from the bricks. Dip your brush in water periodically to rinse off any baking soda residue. A brush and small particles of baking soda will help you wipe the soot off the bricks.
Do not rub the bricks too hard to avoid damaging them
Step 5. Dry the bricks with lukewarm water and remove the rags from the floor
Use a soft sponge dampened with warm water to remove any baking soda residue from the bricks. Wait for the fireplace to dry completely before using it again. Remove any rags or towels you put on the floor to cover it.
Method 3 of 4: Cleaning bricks with vinegar
Step 1. Mix 1: 1 white vinegar and water in a spray bottle
Fill a spray bottle with 1 cup (240 ml) white vinegar and 1 cup (240 ml) warm water. Shake the bottle to mix well. Use a clean spray bottle that is free of harsh chemicals.
An empty spray bottle can be purchased at a hardware store
A warning
if the bricks are over 20 years old, vinegar can be detrimental to them. In this case, use an acid-free cleaning agent such as baking soda instead of vinegar.
Step 2. Spray the vinegar solution on the inside and outside of the fireplace
Spray the vinegar water solution onto the bricks from top to bottom. Pay special attention to areas with a lot of soot (for example, directly around the fireplace opening). Be sure to place unnecessary rags on the floor to keep it from getting wet.
If you are left with a vinegar solution, you can use it as a natural cleaner for bathrooms and countertops
Step 3. Leave the mortar on the bricks for 10 minutes
Vinegar contains a small amount of acid, which will break down grime and dirt adhering to bricks. Wait for the solution to work, but do not let it dry. Do not leave the mortar for more than 10 minutes, otherwise the acid can damage the bricks.
Step 4. Wipe the bricks from top to bottom with a stiff brush
Dip a stiff bristled brush in warm water and wipe down the bricks. Pay particular attention to grooves between bricks and areas with a lot of soot. Rub the bricks until they stop smelling like vinegar.
Sprinkle baking soda on the bricks to remove the vinegar faster. However, this will cause a foamy chemical reaction that can leave dirt behind
Step 5. Dry the bricks with warm water and remove the rags covering the floor
Dampen a soft sponge with warm water and quickly wipe off all the bricks. Remove any rags or towels you have placed around the fireplace from the floor. Wait for the fireplace to dry completely before lighting it.
Method 4 of 4: Removing Soot with Sodium Phosphate
Step 1. Put on gloves to protect your hands
Sodium phosphate may damage the skin if it comes into contact with it. Wear rubber kitchen gloves to protect your hands. Try not to touch the sodium orthophosphate with bare hands.
Rubber gloves are available at your local hardware store
A warning
Sodium phosphate can also damage your eyes. Wear safety goggles to protect yourself in case you accidentally splash the cleaner.
Step 2. Mix sodium orthophosphate and warm water in a bucket
Dissolve 8 tablespoons (112 grams) of sodium orthophosphate in 4 liters of warm water. Get a plastic bucket that you are not going to use for food. Stir the solution until you have a thin, watery paste.
You can find sodium orthophosphate at your local hardware store
Step 3. Take a stiff bristled brush and rub the bricks with the resulting mortar
Using a brush, rub the paste over the outside and inside of the fireplace. Move from top to bottom and apply more paste to heavily soiled areas. Rub the bricks to remove the grime. Be careful not to damage the bricks themselves, especially if you are dealing with an old fireplace.
Step 4. Wipe the bricks with a sponge dampened with warm water
Apply warm water to the entire surface of the bricks with a soft sponge and gently wipe off any excess sodium phosphate. Wash the bucket and brush thoroughly with water after using them.
- If soot remains on the bricks, reapply Sodium Phosphate and rub again.
- Remove the rags from the floor after you are finished cleaning the fireplace.
Advice
To keep the fireplace clean longer, only burn dry and clean wood in it
Warnings
- Never use abrasive chemicals to remove soot from bricks. They may leave behind a flammable film that will pose a hazard the next time you use the fireplace.
- Only clean the fireplace if you are sure that the ash has cooled completely. Ash is able to retain heat for several days after you put out the fire, and you can accidentally burn yourself.