How To Clean Your Fireplace

Fall is a great time to prepare your fireplace for winter. A wood burning fireplace requires constant maintenance.  Just take the cleaning step by step.

First check the outside of your chimney for cracks that need to be repaired.  Shine a flashlight up the chimney to check for bird’s nests or other animals.  Call a chimney sweep if needed.

Do-it-yourself cleaning supplies:  

·         As scrub brush

·         Plastic goggles for eye protection

·         Plastic drop cloth

·         Plastic bucket

·         Old clothes

·         Rubber gloves

·         Wire brush

·         Fireplace vacuum

Remove andirons and grates.  Remove all large debris that will not fit in a vacuum cleaner into a trash can. During cleaning remember that ashes can smolder for up to two weeks. Everything inside the fireplace should be removed.  Open the damper.  Fireplace Tools, andirons and grates should be cleaned outside. They should be washed with a brush, soap and water, and then sprayed with a hose.  If you have brass andirons, polish with a brass cleaner.

Place the plastic drop cloth and newspapers on the floor to protect rugs and carpeting.   Remove accumulated ashes with your fireplace shovel into a trash can.  Vacuum loose dust.  Use wire brush to scrub inside walls and floor of the fireplace.  You can clean glass screens with a glass cleaner.  Mesh screens can be vacuumed.  When all is cleaned put your andirons and grates back into place.

Select your firewood with care. Properly seasoned hard firewood eliminates smoke associated with green wood.  Give your fireplace and accessories routine cleaning throughout the wood burning season.  Use a fireplace vacuum weekly to clean ashes and to prevent dust and soot buildup.