How to Clean a Fireplace With a Cloth

It doesn't matter what reason you have for wanting to clean your fireplace, you can do it with a wet cloth. You must vacuum the fireplace first, however. Follow these steps to clean your fireplace with a cloth when it needs a good cleaning or before giving it a new paint job.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Scrub brush
• Vacuum
• Bucket
• Cloths
• Toothbrush

1. Scrub loose packed debris that is stuck to the floor and walls of your fireplace with a scrub brush. You might have to scrub rather firmly, depending on how long it has been since the last time you cleaned it.

2. Vacuum your fireplace as thoroughly as you can. If you have a brush attachment, use this to get ashes, dirt and grime out of the cracks.

3. Put some warm water in a bucket and put it close to the fireplace. If you want, you can place a plastic drop cloth on your floor to protect it from possible drips.

4. Wet your cloth in the water and wring it out. Wipe the inside of the fireplace until your cloth is dirty.

5. Rinse out your cloth as well as you can in your bucket of water and repeat Step 3 as many times as needed until your fireplace is clean. If your cloth gets too ragged or so dirty that it won't rinse out completely, start over with a clean rag.

6. Use a wet toothbrush to scrub at stubborn spots that you can't get off with your finger. You can also use this to clean cracks and crevices thoroughly.

7. Remember to keep your fireplace and chimney clean from residues and build up that could cause a fire. Do this home maintenance task as least once annually, before you will need it for the cool season.