How to Prepare to Clean a Fireplace

On a cold winter day, everyone loves snuggling up with a blanket, a good book and a cup of cocoa by a roaring fire. But what not everyone knows when buying a home with a fireplace is that it requires regular cleaning to be fully functional and safe. Chimney sweeps can be expensive for regular cleaning, so take the following steps as you prepare to clean your fireplace.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Latex or rubber gloves
• Heavy plastic tarp
• Large trash can
• Large heavy-duty plastic trash bags
• Old newspapers
• Plastic goggles

1. Protect your hands. To keep your hands free from soot and ashes, buy either latex doctor's gloves or rubber dishwashing gloves. Put them on before you begin.

2. Cover your hearth and floor. The most efficient way to protect your hearth and floor from damage is to use a heavy plastic tarp. Spread the tarp anywhere that ashes may fall so that you can easily dispose of them when you're done.

3. Line up the trash can. Don't forget to bring a large trash can into the room before you begin so that you're not running back and forth with a shovel filled with ashes. Line the trash can with two large heavy-duty trash bags.

4. Move the fireplace screen and grate. The best thing to do is to take them both outside before you start to clean the fireplace. You'll want to clean these items outside, so when you remove them as you prepare for cleaning, simply put them out for later.

5. Keep newspapers handy. You'll want to line the fireplace bottom and walls with old newspapers after sweeping the ashes. This way, when it's time to scrape the soot from the sides of the fireplace, it will have somewhere to fall for easy removal.

6. Wear eye protection. As you prepare to clean the fireplace, buy a pair of plastic goggles to keep your eyes safe from ashes. Once you start cleaning, it's easy for your eyes to become irritated if you don't wear protection.