Things You'll Need:
- Rag
- Brush
- Water
- Vinegar
- Salt
- Flour
- Mild detergent
- Bleach
- Mineral spirits
- Stainless steel cleaner
- Lacquer thinner
- Paint for stainless steel
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Step 1
If possible, remove the chimney cap by loosening the screws at the base.
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Step 2
Begin cleaning the cap with a rag saturated with a mixture of water and a mild detergent.
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Step 3
Using a stiff brush, brush off dried or burnt-on gunk. Then rinse clean.
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Step 4
Moisten a rag with undiluted white vinegar or club soda and wipe the cap. This should help remove or at least lighten heat stains.
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Step 5
If unsatisfied with the results of your efforts thus far, continue cleaning with a stainless steel cleaner like Flitz Stainless Steel & Chrome Clean. Or, dip a rag into lacquer thinner and wipe it on your toughest steel chimney cap stains.
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Step 1
Make a paste by dissolving 1 teaspoon salt in 1 cup white vinegar; then add flour. Depending on the size of your chimney cap, you may need to double or triple the recipe.
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Step 2
Apply a coat of paste to your copper chimney cap and let it sit for up to an hour. Then rinse with water and wipe dry with a rag.
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Step 3
You can also pour vinegar over your copper chimney cap and then sprinkle it with salt.
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Step 4
After rubbing the salt against the cap with a dry rag, rinse the cap with water and towel dry.
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Step 1
Spray your clay chimney cap with the hose to saturate the clay.
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Step 2
Using a brush and either baking soda or a bleach mixture (1 part bleach to 9 parts water), scrub off the gunk.
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Step 3
Rinse when finished and allow the cap to dry.
