How To Clean Indoor Brick Fireplace – Removing soot, ashes, and smoke from fireplace brick is possible and not very difficult. You only need one cleaner to remove soot and smoke stains.

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How To Clean Indoor Brick Fireplace

We are renovating the walls around the fireplace. It had ugly purple wood paneling and a small fireplace. We removed the boards and put in drywall. We then textured and painted the walls around the fireplace a beautiful shade of white. I like how it’s going. The only problem is that the soot and smoke stains and grime are very visible on the hearth bricks. The fireplace itself looks terrible on our clean new walls. (One home improvement project always seems to lead to another).

Tips For Keeping Your Fireplace Clean

Before installing the fireplace, I wanted to get the bricks out, as some are difficult to get to when surrounded by wood. So I try to clean them with almost every different cleaning product. Soap and water, Ajax, magic eraser, degreaser, bleach solution, etc. (I tried it in an inconspicuous area so as not to damage the brick). Nothing works. Nothing will remove black.

There are two problems with cleaning fireplaces. First off, the fumes and soot are greasy, so not impossible to remove like most household water problems. I’ve seen homes where the owners have tried to repaint the walls with smoke stains. bad idea. Stains are from water-based paint.

Second, bricks are very porous, so most of the cleaner will get into the pores of the brick and stay there. Dirt remains on the bricks and is difficult to remove with cleaners.

After many unsuccessful Google and Pinterest searches, I asked our chimney sweep for advice on cleaning brick. He recommends. efficient! Here’s how I clean my fireplace tiles.

My Painted Brick Fireplace 3 Years Later

I cleaned three bricks at a time. I spray a few drops of Speedy White cleaner on the brick and let it sit for a few minutes.

Then I start scrubbing. I scrub, scrub, scrub for at least 5 minutes on all three bricks. It foams and then the white foam gradually turns gray. Sometimes, if the suds go away, I add more cleanser.

After a couple of scrubs, I wipe off the lather with a damp cloth. All the oil and grime will get into the lather, so it’s important to wipe it off. I rinsed the cleaning cloth and wiped the brick clean again. Clean again until the cloth is free of dirt or foam.

Eventually, all the soot and smoke black spots disappeared. All the grime on the fireplace is gone! The bricks look clean and almost new.

How To Clean A Brick Fireplace Inside And Out—a Quick Guide

I have to admit, the cleaners didn’t remove some of the stains. There are some dried paint spots from when the previous owner painted it. The cleaners don’t bother them at all. There are also some black dots that look like candle drops. Luckily, they’re small and unobtrusive, as I haven’t figured out how to get rid of them yet. Please let me know if you have any suggestions. Porous bricks interfere with everything I’ve tried.

Now our fireplace looks new and clean and complements the surrounding walls. Now all you need is a brand new contemporary fireplace. Each editorial product is independently selected, but we may be compensated or earn affiliate commissions if you purchase something through our links. Ratings and prices are accurate and items are in stock on the date of publication.

Keep your brick fireplace looking great and looking great, both inside and out, with these tips for cleaning fireplace brick.

Whether it’s been around for decades or as part of a modern architecture, a brick fireplace adds authenticity and warmth to any home. It conveys a sense of durability unmatched by other interior features.

How To Paint A Brick Fireplace White

“Exposed interior brick is a beautiful addition to any home, and is often seen on mantels because of its fire resistance,” says Alex Ford, fire safety buyer for The Home Depot.

But the more you use your fireplace, Forte says, “over time, the more dust, grime, ashes, and soot will build up.

Forte says it’s not just about aesthetics. Cleaning the hearth bricks and the rest of the hearth is necessary for it to operate safely and efficiently. A thorough cleaning “brings new life to interior brick walls and fireplaces,” he says.

Before diving into the grubby fireplace, gather the necessary equipment to get the job done efficiently. Mike Swanson, a cleaning salesman at The Home Depot, offers the following advice. You probably already have most of these in your garage or under your kitchen sink:

Pros And Cons Of Interior Brick Painting

Despite its durability, fireplace brick requires careful handling. “When it comes to brick cleaning, less is more,” says Swanson. “When learning how to clean brick, stick to gentle DIY cleaning methods if possible. This is especially true with older brick that may need extra care.”

The Brick Industry Association offers similar advice in its brick cleaning guide: “Reactions between cleaning solutions and certain minerals in some bricks or their surface coatings can cause stains or worsen existing stains. Best Test a small area before cleaning. Entire project procedure’.

Although the brick inside a fireplace is dirtier and more time-consuming to clean than the outside, Swanson says the same cleaning steps work for both. Be sure to change your cleaning solution and wash or replace your sponge frequently to avoid using a dirty sponge.

Looking for ideas on how to update a plain brick fireplace? Consider German grout, a method of grouting that changes the look of plain brick.

How A Painted Brick Fireplace Will Change Your Living Room

Safety note: For peace of mind, especially during the winter months when you use your fireplace a lot, install smoke and carbon monoxide detectors or make sure your existing detectors are working.

Elizabeth Heath is a travel, cooking and lifestyle writer based in the Umbrian countryside of Italy. Her work has appeared in The Washington Post, Huffington Post, Frommers.com, TripSavvy, and many other publications. Her guide, The Architecture Lover’s Guide to Rome, was published in 2019. Lisa’s husband is a stonemason, and together they love the outdoors, endless home improvement projects, dogs, their out-of-control garden, and their slightly less unruly 8-year-old.

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This article was co-authored by Michelle Driscoll, MPH. Michelle Driscoll is the owner of Mulberry Maids in northern Colorado. Driscoll received his master’s degree in public health from the Colorado School of Public Health in 2016.

How To Paint A Brick Fireplace

If you have a fireplace, you know how nice it is to have a fire at home on cold nights. But you also know how dirty the bricks in your fireplace get from all the smoke and soot. Because they are dirty, they need to be cleaned at least once a year. Fortunately, the process of cleaning these bricks is very simple, whether you use regular cleaning products or common household items!

To clean fireplace tiles, first mix baking soda and dish soap, then brush the paste into the tiles. Then let the paste sit for 5 minutes before washing off with lukewarm water. You can also clean fireplace tiles by spraying them with equal parts water and white vinegar. After spraying the bricks, scrub them with a brush and rinse them off with warm water. To learn how to clean fireplace tile with commercial cleaning products, read on! Ashley trades the small-town tranquility of living in a big house for the hustle and bustle of the Windy City. On any given day, you can find her freelancing or blogging, playing with her toddler, or walking Chuck the Boxer.

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Best Ways To Clean Fireplace Brick 2022: Remove Soot From Brick

Throwing soot into a fireplace can be a tough, hands-on job. While it may be tempting to use powerful commercial cleaners to get the job done quickly, consider trying one of these all-natural cleaners on your fireplace first; they’re just as safe and effective as many other remedies.

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