Brick fireplace stained with soot?
Here’s how to clean it up, plus the best methods to use for the job.
Luckily, you canclean up your fireplacebricks with different cleaning products and a little elbow grease.
Credit: Helen Norman
Below, we’ve explained different ways you could clean abrick fireplacewith easy-to-follow steps for getting the job done.
Pre-Soak the Bricks
Bricks are like sponges.
To keep them from soaking up cleaning chemicals, spray them down with water thoroughly beforehand.
Spray them several times until they no longer soak up water.
Mix Your Preferred Cleaning Solution
Choose your preferred cleaning solution according to the list below.
We recommend starting with something mild like water with a little soap.
If you find you need a more aggressive cleaner, choose something stronger like scrubbing bubbles or TSP.
When using harsh chemicals, you should work with caution and pay close attention to cleanup and disposal instructions.
If necessary, apply more cleaning solution to the brick.
Scrub the Brick
Scrub the brick with a stiff scrub brush to physically remove the soot.
If your cleaning solution worked, it should have lifted the soot from the brick.
However, physically scrubbing the brick will be more effective for total removal.
Repeat Steps
If your bricks are still dirty, apply more cleaning solution and scrub them again.
Let Bricks Air Dry
Even after towel-drying bricks, they’ll likely still be wet and discolored.
Allow the bricks ample time to air dry after rinsing.
To speed up the drying of the bricks, place a fan directed at the fireplace.
Use your cleaning chemical to spot-treat each stain, following the steps above.
If it works without damaging or discoloring the brick, continue using it on the remainder of the fireplace.
We recommend starting with mild cleaning methods and only utilizing harsher chemicals if absolutely necessary.
While they seem tough and indestructible, bricks can be delicate and they soak up liquid like a sponge.
When to Call a Professional
No luck cleaning your fireplace yourself?
It might be time to call a professional cleaning service.
