Things You'll Need:
- Powdered Pumice
- Ammonia
- Window Cleaner
- Ammonia
- Broom Or Duster
- Scrub Brush
- Small Brush Or Paintbrush
- Towel Or Dust-free Rag
- Vacuum With Small Brush Attachment
- Window Cleaner
- Wire Brush
- Naphtha Soap
- Razor Blade
- Dustpan
- Lidded Metal Container
- Plastic Bucket
- Plastic Bucket
- Safety Goggles
- Dust Mask
- Safety Goggles
- Razor blade
- Chimney brush, flue brush or stiff-bristle brush
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Step 1
Wait at least 24 hours after your last fire. Wearing safety goggles and a dust mask, clean up the fireplace with a broom or duster and dustpan, and place the ashes in a lidded metal container.
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Step 2
Brush the flue (the pipe that runs between the fireplace and chimney) with a short chimney brush, flue brush or stiff-bristle brush to remove creosote buildup.
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Step 3
Scrub the outside of the damper (the metal gate between the firebox and chimney) with a stiff-bristle brush to loosen creosote, soot and ash buildup. Open and close the damper several times to ensure it operates freely.
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Step 4
Brush the firebox and hearth floor with a wire brush to remove creosote buildup.
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Step 5
Create a cleaner by mixing a 4-oz. (125-g) shaved bar of naphtha soap in 1 qt. (32 fl oz/1 l) hot water in a plastic bucket until the soap is dissolved. Cool, then thoroughly mix in 1/2 lb. (250 g) powdered pumice and 1/2 cup (4 fl oz/125 ml) ammonia. Apply the naphtha cleaner to the firebox and hearth floor with a small brush or paintbrush. Since drips or runs onto unclean surfaces may leave marks, start at the bottom and work up. Let it sit for 1 hour.
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Step 6
Scrub with a scrub brush and warm water. Rinse clean. (Not all black or brown residue can be removed from porous brick.)
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Step 7
Scrape heavy buildup from glass fireplace doors with a razor blade. Finish with a spritz of window cleaner, then buff dry with a towel or dust-free rag.
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Step 8
Dust or vacuum the fireplace mantel and screen using a vacuum with the small brush attachment.
Comments
Karlstad said
on 10/4/2008 I just tried the above idea (wet newspaper dipped in ashes) since it sounded the easiest and it worked GREAT! It took literally 5 minutes to clean both doors of a winter's worth of gunk. Sadly, I waited until it was time to use it again before cleaning it because I thought it would be a pain in the butt. Knowing how easy this is, I'll plan on cleaning it throughout the winter even -- no need to procrastinate. ^_^
ntsph777 said
on 11/12/2007 Zep oven and grill cleaner available in the cleaner aisle at Home Depot takes the soot and creasote off fireplace glass better than any thing I have ever tried. I guess any non self cleaning oven cleaner would work just as well. It takes less than five minutes to clean what would have taken over twenty scrubbing with any thing else.
cpeay said
on 1/13/2007 The best way to get ashes out of the fireplace is to use a hard plastic dust pan, scoop toward the back of the fireplace and dump in the garbage. DO NOT use a vacuum cleaner - In fact our high-priced shop vac says not to use on fine dust and ash from fireplaces.
Anonymous said
on 8/8/2006 The absolutely best product, and easiest to use, is Dawn Power Dissolver (approximately $2.50). It comes in a blue trigger container. The glass must be cool of course. Put lots of newspapers down, because it will drip. Spray it on the glass. Wait 15 minutes, and wash off. That's it.
You may want to repeat particularly hard spots or use a single edged razor blade, but it's not usually necessary. No fuss, no bother, no elbow grease. The creosote and baked on gook just melts away.
Anonymous said
on 4/3/2006 The very best product is Rutland Hearth and fireplace conditioning cleaner. It go's on like a paste and wipes off clean every time. Don't waste your money on anything else.