Cleaning a fire place or a chimney is a dirty and potentially dangerous task to do so on your own. There are many hazards involved, from respiratory issues to eye damage. You certainly do not want to lose an eye!
Therefore, taking the necessary precautions to protect yourself and your home is important. Here are some general tips for cleaning your fire place:
- Make sure your fireplace is cool and not used for some hours with all embers extinguished.
- Start with covering your floor around the fireplace with a drop cloth or old blankets to protect it from debris and soot.
- Get rid of any large debris, such as logs or ash, from that place using a fireplace shovel or a broom.
- With the help of a fireplace brush or vacuum, remove any remaining ash and soot from the fireplace, plus your chimney.
- In case of creosote accumulation – (a flammable substance that can cause chimney fires), hire a professional to remove it.
- Once your fireplace is clean, replace the grate or any other accessories, like a screen or wood holder.
- Make sure that whoever disposes of the ash and debris does it safely. The remnants contain embers that may potentially start a fire if not properly extinguished.
How to Clean a Fire Place?
Here’s a list of what you need before calling your fireplace.
- Drop Cloths or plastic sheets
- Mask for dust
- Safety goggles
- Rubber gloves to protect your hands
- A trash can or a small bucket
- Fireplace shovel
- Hand broom
- Dustpan
- Vacuum
- Trisodium phosphate (TSP)
- Bleach
- Lukewarm water
- Separate bucket
- Spray bottle
- Hard-bristled brush
- Paper towel
- Dish soap
- Fireplace glass cleaner
Clean Out Soot and Debris From Your Fireplace
- First, detach the andirons and grate from your fireplace and keep them aside.
- Now, scrub them off using a nylon brush to remove soot effectively.
- Rinse with tap water and pat dry. You can use a metal polish for extra shine.
- Let them stay outside and go back to your fireplace. With the help of a fireplace shovel, remove ashes and debris piles and discard them in the trash can.
- Once done, it is time to scrub the walls of your fireplace using a nylon brush.
- Put the extra paper on your floor to collect the falling soot.
- Start from the top, and work all the way down.
Deep Cleaning your Fireplace
- After removing all the dust, soot and debris, take a warm-water bucket, and mix bleach and Trisodium Phosphate (TSP) solution. This mixture will deep clean your fireplace walls and the floor.
- To prepare this, add 6 tablespoons of TSP, a cup of bleach to a gallon of warm water stored in a plastic bucket.
- Make sure to don rubber gloves, dip the nylon brush into the bucket, and use the solution to scrub your walls and floor until they go squeaky clean.
- After getting done with scrubbing, rinse your floor and walls with clean tap water and towel dry the area.
- Once done, replace your grate and andirons.
Final Words
It’s better to have your chimney inspected by a professional chimney sweep at least once every year to ensure that it is safe to use. This can help prevent chimney fires and other issues that could be dangerous for your home.
Get in touch with Brusher’s Chimney in Sugar Land, TX, for the best chimney-related services. Call (346) 803-2981 to connect with us.