Want to Know How to Spring Clean Your Wood Burning Fireplace?

Nothing says Spring like Spring cleaning after a very long winter! The cleaning of the wood burning fireplace is often the most forgetful task to do! But, how about the satisfaction that even the dirtiest place at home can be cleaned very easily? Important to note, this is very different from chimney cleaning; Chimney cleaning is recommended to do at least once a year preferably in the fall, by professionals only.

Back to making your fireplace sparkle, Prepping is the key essential!

What you will need:

• large bucket
• warm water
• vinegar, cream of tartar and baking soda (natural alternative), however, you can go with bleach and TSP if you don’t mind chemicals.
• Drop clothes
• Metal waste bin with lid
• Cleaning supplies including stiff bristled nylon brush
• Shop vac
• Rags /towels/ old clothes that you don’t mind getting dirty
• *** protective eyewear, mask and gloves!!

Quick tip- If you have a fireplace with a log holder and andirons, you may now remove and hose them with water outside in your backyard!
Let’s get started, use the drop clothes to cover the surrounding floor. To remove the ash, gently scrub it away and shovel out the build up into a metal waste bin. Use the shop vac to suck up any ash that is left. To remove additional dirt from the walls and the bottom of the fireplace, use the nylon brush followed by the shop vac. For natural approach: mix water and white vinegar with a 1:1 ratio and spray it inside and outside the fireplace while being cautious not to get it on the wood and other structures that may be damaged by water. After it sat for 5-10 minutes, spray again and scrub with a nylon brush. You may repeat this step again if you wish. To neutralize the vinegar, mix 2 tablespoons of baking soda into water and spray.

How about an extra tip? If you have a tough spot you can’t get rid of, use 2 tablespoons of cream of tartar with water to make it into a paste. Put it on the spot and after 5-10 minutes use warm water and nylon brush to scrub it off.
Guess what? You are done! Easy, right? Now you can focus on getting it all pretty and decorated.

Interested in converting your wood burning fireplace to a gas fireplace? Ask us how: 905-597-6033