How to clean bricks on a fireplace: How to Clean Fireplace Brick

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How to Clean Fireplace Brick

If you’ve got soot stains on your fireplace’s hearth or brick facade, we’ll walk you through how to clean fireplace brick to get rid of unsightly black discoloration and the smell of smoke.

Although a fireplace can provide the perfect centerpiece to a living room, it can also be difficult to clean. No matter how well you maintain your brick fireplace, using it will inevitably lead to some accumulation of soot on the hearth and facade. Since bricks are porous—that is, their surface is covered with small holes—cleaning them isn’t a simple matter of wiping the soot away. However, there are a few tricks to this task that will make cleaning brick much easier.

If you need some cleaning help, you can always call in a professional company like The Cleaning Authority. Although specific services vary by location, these professional cleaners can help with the details of deep-cleaning your home. You can learn more by visiting the company’s website.

Now, read on for a step-by-step breakdown of how to clean soot off a brick fireplace.

1. Clear out the Fireplace

Make sure you start with a completely cold fireplace. When you’re ready to clean, take out the grate and any leftover ashes. Then use a vacuum with a brush attachment to manually remove as much soot and dust as you can.

2. Get the Bricks Wet

If there’s a secret to cleaning fireplace brick, it’s this: saturate the bricks with plain water before applying a cleanser and starting to scrub. Since you’re working inside your home, you’ll want to put a waterproof drop cloth down first, but don’t skip this step.

The porous brick will absorb the water so that when you apply your soap or other cleaning solution, it will stay toward the surface instead of sinking in. You can wet the bricks down with a masonry sponge, which should be available at most hardware stores, or a spray bottle.

3. Mix Your Cleaning Solution

At this step, you have several options for cleaning solutions. Which one you choose will depend on the age of the bricks and the extent of the staining.

How to Clean Bricks with Dishwashing Detergent

Generally, you should start with the mildest possible cleanser and see if that will remove the bulk of the soot. In this case, go with ¼ cup of a clear, grease-cutting dish soap diluted in four cups of water. This cleanser is gentle enough that it should be safe even on older bricks.

How to Clean Bricks with Vinegar

Distilled white vinegar is another option, though it is acidic enough that it might be damaging to bricks older than about 20 years, so use it carefully. Mix equal parts vinegar and warm water to form this cleaning solution. You can also add dishwashing detergent, though only a small amount—about two tablespoons to every gallon.

How to Clean a Brick Fireplace with Scrubbing Bubbles

Scrubbing Bubbles and other foaming bathroom cleaners were created to be used on nonporous ceramic surfaces, but some homeowners swear by them when it comes time to clean brick. You may have to leave these cleaners on for a while (15-20 minutes) before starting to scrub.

How to Clean Bricks with Stronger Cleaners

If you use the above cleaners but still have soot stains, you can consider moving on to stronger detergents. Keep in mind, however, that these might damage older or fragile bricks, and you may need to wear gloves and eye protection as well as ensure good ventilation. Here are some options for removing stubborn stains on brick:

  • Mix two tablespoons of borax with four cups of water and one tablespoon of dish soap
  • Mix ½ cup of ammonia with four cups of water and ¼ cup dish soap
  • Mix ⅛ cup trisodium phosphate (TSP) with one gallon of hot water

4. Scrub the Bricks

You can put gentler cleaners in a spray bottle and spritz them directly onto the fireplace bricks. If you don’t have a spray bottle, or if you’re using TSP, mix your cleaning solution in a bucket and use a sponge or paintbrush to apply it to the bricks. Make sure to work top to bottom so dirty water doesn’t drip down and cause streaks on areas you’ve already cleaned.

Working in small areas to keep the bricks from drying out, scrub the surface with a firm, plastic-bristled scrub brush in a circular motion. If the soot stains don’t appear to be coming out, lightly reapply the cleaning solution and give it a few minutes to work before beginning to scrub.

5. Rinse

Once you’ve scrubbed a small area, go ahead and rinse it before moving on. Use a sponge dipped in clean water to rinse each spot several times. If the rinsing bucket becomes dirty or soapy, change the water.

6. Spot-Clean Any Remaining Stains

After you’ve cleaned large areas with the solutions above, you may need to go back and spot-clean any particularly stubborn soot stains. To do this, create a paste of either baking soda or cream of tartar mixed with a small amount of water. Apply it to the remaining soot and let it sit for 5-10 minutes. Then scrub with a firm toothbrush or small scrub brush and rinse.

7. Repeat

If a gentler cleaner didn’t work, you may need to repeat your efforts or move on to a more aggressive method. The more often you use your fireplace, the more often you’ll need to clean it.

If soot stains persist, don’t be afraid to call a professional service like The Cleaning Authority, a leading provider of cleaning services in 45 states. Visit the Cleaning Authority’s website to explore its offerings and get a free quote on its services.

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How To Clean a Brick Fireplace

Keep your brick fireplace functioning well and looking good inside and out with these tips for how to clean fireplace brick.

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Whether it’s been there for decades or part of a modern build, a brick fireplace adds authenticity and warmth to any home. It conveys a sense of sturdy longevity that few other interior features can impart.

“Exposed interior brick is a beautiful addition to any home, and commonly appears on fireplace mantels because it’s fireproof,” says Alex Forte, a fire safety merchant at The Home Depot.

But the more you use your fireplace, Forte says “the more dust, dirt, ash, and soot can build up over time.” So naturally, you want to keep your fireplace brick looking good.

Forte says it’s not just about aesthetics. Cleaning fireplace brick and the rest of your fireplace is essential to keeping it operating safely and efficiently. And a thorough cleaning, he says, “gives indoor brick walls and mantels a new, refreshed look.”

Let’s walk through the steps of how to clean fireplace brick.

Gather Materials

Before you get elbow-deep into your dirty fireplace, assemble the right gear to do the job efficiently. Mike Swanson, a cleaning merchant at The Home Depot, recommends the following items. You probably already most of them in your garage or under the kitchen sink:

  • Mini-broom and dustpan. Use these to sweep up accumulated ash and wood remnants.
  • Vacuum. Use a hand-vacuum, shop vacuum or your upright vacuum’s hose attachment to remove the dust and dirt that eluded the broom.
  • Spray bottle. Use this to saturate brick with water before you apply cleaner (see below for recommendations) and to apply the cleaning solution.
  • Masonry sponges. Swanson recommends a basic masonry sponge for removing grime.
  • Scrub brush. A small one will help lift dirt out of grout and uneven brick surfaces.
  • Bucket. For your chosen cleaning solution
  • Disposable gloves and safety goggles. “Even if you’re using natural products,” says Swanson, “wear gloves and goggles when cleaning to protect your eyes from splashes. ”

Go Easy on That Brick

Despite its resilient good looks, fireplace brick needs to be handled with care. “Less is more when cleaning brick,” says Swanson. “Stick with gentle DIY cleaning methods, if possible, when learning how to clean bricks. This is especially true for older brick, which may require special care.”

The Brick Industry Association offers similar advice in its guide to cleaning brick: “Reactions between cleaning solutions and certain minerals found in some brick or their surface coatings may cause stains or worsen existing stains. It is always best to test a small area before subjecting the entire project to the cleaning procedure.”

  • Saturate first. “Brick is very porous and will absorb cleaner immediately, which can discolor the brick,” says Swanson. Spraying brick down with clear water creates a barrier inside the brick that will keep it from absorbing the cleaning solution.
  • Start with a mild cleaner. Take baby steps. Swanson recommends starting with the gentlest solution, then working up in strength based on how well the dirt and soot come off (or don’t) and how the brick reacts. The Brick Industry Association also suggests going with the gentlest effective cleaning method. Try these solutions, from the mildest to strongest:
    • Water and cream of tartar;
    • Household vinegar;
    • Dish soap and baking soda;
    • Dish soap and salt;
    • Quick N Brite Fireplace Cleaner;
    • Boric acid and water;
    • Foaming bathroom cleaner;
    • Ammonia and dish soap;
    • Trisodium phosphate cleaner (follow manufacturer recommendations or your community guidelines for disposal).
  • Wipe. Starting from the top of the brick and working down, wipe the surface with a sponge soaked in the cleaning solution. Squeeze out the sponge and change the solution as needed. Alternatively, you can spray on the cleaning solution, then use the sponge to scrub grime and wipe down the bricks.
  • Rinse. Once the bricks are cleaned to your satisfaction, rinse with clear warm water and a clean sponge. Per the Brick Industry Association, don’t allow the cleaning solution to dry on brickwork. You don’t want it to absorb into or change the surface consistency of the brick.

While the brick inside the fireplace will be dirtier and take more time to clean than the on the outside, Swanson says the same cleaning steps work for both. Just make sure you change out your cleaning solution frequently, and rinse or swap out sponges so you’re not working with a dirty sponge.

Looking for ideas to revamp your plain brick fireplace? Consider German smear, a mortar wash technique that transforms the look of plain brick.

Safety note: For peace of mind, especially in the winter months when you use fireplace more, install a smoke and carbon monoxide detector or make sure your existing one functions properly.

Elizabeth Heath

Elizabeth Heath is a travel, lifestyle and home improvement writer based in rural Umbria, Italy. Her work appears in The Washington Post, Travel + Leisure, Reader’s Digest, TripSavvy and many other publications, and she is the author of several guidebooks. Liz’s husband is a stonemason and together, they are passionate about the great outdoors, endless home improvement projects, their tween daughter and their dogs. She covers a variety of topics for Family Handyman and is always ready to test out a new pizza oven or fire pit.

How to clean soot from bricks with modern means

soot deposits, soot

Recently, it has become very fashionable to make fireplaces in houses. They look very beautiful and aesthetically pleasing in any room and can not only decorate long winter evenings, but also heat a large room.

It is important to know how to maintain and care for your fireplace so that it lasts longer and does not lose its original appearance.

Very often there is a noticeable darkening or black coating on the inside of the brick from smoke and coals. It is imperative to get rid of them, since soot tends to stain everything around.

Let’s look at some effective ways to clean soot from bricks.

Having a fireplace in the house that is used for its intended purpose, each owner must understand that it will have to be cleaned, and preferably several times a year.

If this is not done, then an unpleasant smell may appear in the room, or if there is a slight draft, then the soot itself will fall on all surrounding objects. Of course you don’t need it.

There are special detergents with which you can remove the formed plaque.

First, apply warm water to the soiled surface, dampen the wall thoroughly from top to bottom.

Next, using a roller or brush, apply the detergent from top to bottom, preferably to form foam. Leave for a few minutes, let the liquid soak well into the pores of the brick.

After this, the foam can be removed with a brush along with the plaque. In order to understand that the detergent is working, look at the color of the foam, it should turn black, or darken noticeably.

Another interesting way is to use vinegar to remove soot from bricks.

This method, like the previous one, is applied in a similar way. First, water is applied to the surface, and then vinegar itself.

After a noticeable darkening, the liquid can be removed from the surface. Cleaning with vinegar is also quite effective. Remember to use protective clothing, gloves and goggles. It is undesirable to hit open areas of the body.

But as practice shows, the methods described above may not always be productive.

Sometimes the soot is very old and cannot be completely removed.

In addition, not always using these methods, you can get rid of the unpleasant smell that spreads throughout the room and impregnates the surrounding objects.

The best solution to the problem of removing soot from bricks is to use cleaners specially designed for this purpose. With the help of them, it will be possible to remove soot in a few minutes, while the cleaners are safe and environmentally friendly, both for the environment and for all people near the fireplace.

If you don’t know how to remove soot from a brick, then use the latest safe and proven method. You will definitely be pleasantly surprised.

DOCKER MAZBIT PLUS is a concentrated fire cleaner. It is intended for effective quick cleaning of any surfaces (wood, concrete, plaster, stone, tile) from various contaminants by combustion products, such as soot, soot, soot.
Odorless. Does not contain chlorine and acid.

More details

How to clean soot after a fire
How to clean soot from bricks

How to clean soot from a brick oven or fireplace

bricks. Today, this problem is not insoluble: many ways have been invented to eliminate it. Do not wait until the entire structure is covered with an unsightly coating. Bricks should be cleaned of soot regularly, even if the black coating is not yet visible. To understand that the brick is starting to get dirty, you need to run a damp cloth over its surface. If a gray coating remains on it, then it’s time to clean the surface.

Brick cleaning is essential to maintain exterior cleanliness and structural integrity.

Contents

  • 1 Methods for cleaning soot off brickwork
  • 2 Wet cleaning method
  • 3 Cleaning brickwork with vinegar
  • 4 Vacuum cleaner against dirt on a brick wall
  • 5 Use special detergents

Methods for cleaning brickwork from soot

There are several effective ways to clean soot from brickwork:

Brick can be cleaned with a regular household sponge.

  • the brick can be washed with a normal damp sponge;
  • brick is not afraid of detergents, it can be vacuumed to remove dust or cobwebs;
  • many housewives use soda and vinegar for cleaning;
  • on sale there are special products for cleaning brick products;

Depending on the chosen method, different supplies may be needed:

  • rubber gloves;
  • water supply hose and special nozzle for it;
  • broom;
  • brush with stiff bristles;
  • vacuum cleaner;
  • rake.

Wet cleaning method

How do I clean soot off bricks? Flushing a fireplace in a wooden house is the simplest and most common method; no special efforts will have to be made during the work. First you need to prepare all the necessary tools and cleaning products. Next, you need to proceed as follows:

A mixture of powder and salt can be used for cleaning.

  1. The floor around the fireplace or stove must be lined with special film or newspapers, in which case the soot will not stain the floor covering.
  2. Next, you should prepare a special mixture for washing bricks. To do this, you need to take the usual washing powder and salt. The amount of cleaning agents is determined by the degree of soiling or the size of the masonry. Usually they take no more than 30 g of salt and add water in such an amount that a thick paste is obtained.
  3. To make it easier to clean the dirty surface, you need a sponge. It is wetted in water and used to clean the surface. It must be remembered that you need to wet the brick in the direction from top to bottom.
  4. The prepared cleaning agent is whipped to a foam, and then applied to wet masonry. The tool is left on the wall for 15-20 minutes. The exposure time is determined by the degree of blackening of the foam.
  5. For rinsing, you will need a brush, with its help it will be more convenient to remove all the soot, provided that the pollution has not been too neglected.

This method is suitable for traditional cleaning and may not be useful in case of severe contamination. Then the procedure can be repeated, but it is best to carry it out using more effective methods.

Cleaning masonry with vinegar

Vinegar can be used for cleaning.

A folk remedy such as vinegar will help clean the brick of soot. In this case, working with it will be extremely simple, since you do not need to prepare a special solution. To get rid of soot, you should moisten the wall with a damp sponge, and then apply the vinegar itself on it in its pure form. Vinegar must be given time to act, so after about 20-30 minutes the soot can be cleaned off with the same nylon brush.

Vinegar has an excellent analogue – ammonia, which also works well on the dirty surface of a brick wall. It cannot be used undiluted, ½ tbsp. enough for a bucket of water.

After treatment with ammonia, the brick wall must be thoroughly rinsed, otherwise the unpleasant odor will not exhale for a long time.

After acetic and ammonia treatment, the room must be ventilated, as the vapors of these substances can adversely affect the health of residents.

Anti-dirt vacuum cleaner on a brick wall

A washing vacuum cleaner is suitable for cleaning.

Immediately it is worth mentioning that a conventional vacuum cleaner is not suitable for this method. Detergent is needed here. This cleaning method will resemble the traditional one, only the vacuum cleaner in this case will replace the nylon brush. To begin with, it will be necessary to moisten the contaminated area, apply a paste of powder, salt and water on it, leaving it all for 15-20 minutes. After the time has elapsed, the dirty foam is removed with a vacuum cleaner.

For cleaning to be effective, 2 conditions must be taken into account:

  • before using the vacuum cleaner, you will need to change into special clothes, since the work itself will be quite dirty;
  • this cleaning method is not suitable for old brickwork, as water jets will simply destroy it.

Using special detergents

You can also use special detergent to remove dirt from a brick wall. They are used by professional cleaning companies, and in general, experts advise resorting to them: in this case, the dirt will be washed off and the brickwork itself will not suffer. These are easy to find at any hardware store. The effective brands are Neomid 550, Antisoleks, special impregnation Tiprom OTs. The principle of their operation is approximately the same:

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