Fireplace Cleaning
How does your fireplace look now? Are the accessories safe and secure? Are they rusting? Does the fireplace still look good? An extensive fireplace clean-up might be needed.
Fireplace cleaning is a laborious task. It is also among the messiest household chores. Encountering the ashes, the charcoals and some dark particles are not easy to take. However, keeping it clean is very necessary. A huge safety risk is at hand if failure to keep the fireplace in its normal condition.
The first thing to be aware of is that some other living creatures like to live in a fireplace. The chimney is among the favorite places that birds would want to make a nest. The danger to that is the clogging up of the chimney. Instead of smoke going up, it will come back to the house.
The chimney can also stack some dead leaves, twigs or anything that can be put there by animals. Be sure that the chimney is the first thing to upkeep.
In cleaning a gas fireplace make sure the accessories and parts are ready for a spick and span. The same is applied to the electric fireplace. Connection with electricity is hazardous and is prone to various risks.
Tips For FireplaceCcleaning:
On the interior of the fireplace, it is best to vacuum or dust the hearth weekly to prevent the buildup of soot and ashes.
The fireplace mantel should be scrubbed from ash residue.
The firebox contains the fire in the fireplace. It is fabricated from metal sheets or firebrick. Heat helps in keeping the firebox clean; therefore, it requires less cleaning. Gentle scrubbing using a stiff-bristle brush instead of wire brush is required to avoid crumbling the firebrick. Be careful no to bend edges on the metal firebox. It could leave holes to the wall supports that fire may spread.
An abrasive cleaner is not advisable to use in cleaning inside the fireplace. It may leave flammable residues.
Don’t pour down water into a fire unless of emergency. It may leave paste of ashes that is very difficult to remove.
Sprinkle damp coffee grounds over the cooled ashes on the fireplace when cleaning. This helps in keeping down the dust.
In cleaning a painted fire screen, mix ½ cup vinegar with 1 gallon warm water. Add 1 tablespoon clear ammonia. Either spray this solution on the glass or wipe it on with a cloth immersed in the solution. Rinse with warm water and dry with a clean cloth.
Fireplace glass enclosures are fabricated of heated glass. Habitual cleaning of the glass after use is advised to remove remnants of soot. Building up of soot can be hard to remove on the glass; however, a careful scraping with a glass scraper to avoid any scratches from the surface is suggested.
Cleaning a gas fireplace glass has similar procedure in cleaning the fire screen. A clean gas fireplace glass requires a spray of the solution of vinegar, ammonia and water. Mix ½ cup vinegar and a gallon of warm water added with one tablespoon of clear ammonia. Spray the solution on the glass window. Wiping it with cloth immersed with the solution is another way. Be sure to rinse the glass wiped with the solution with clear, warm water. Dry the glass with a clean cloth.
Cast-iron tools of the fireplace such as the grate should be removed from the fireplace. Bring them outside for pressurized cleaning using warm water. Spray on an abrasive cleanser on its surface, and scrub gently with a stiff-bristle brush or soap pad.
For brass and brass-plated tools, pressurized cleaning is also advised. To restore the original beauty of the brass, some products like metal polish are available for wiping and cleaning use.
Creosote is a flammable tar-like substance that accumulates on the chimney and flue. It is a potential fire hazard and must be removed only by a professional. Always make an annual inspection on the firebox, flue and chimney for creosote accumulation.
Fireplace cleaning requires a fair a mount of time and effort. Always check the fireplace regularly. Be certain if the fireplace requires mere cleaning, replacement of accessories or repair.
Safety and care in fireplace cleaning should not be sacrificed. Wearing of protective gears and appropriate clothes are necessary before cleaning. Employ an expert if the fireplace requires an extensive upkeep.