HOW TO CLEAN FIREPLACE BRICK WITH 5 EASY-ON-THE WALLET HOME DIY CLEANERS

A beautiful brick fireplace is built to last and provides a timeless centerpiece for your home. But it does need some regular care and cleaning

Fireplaces inevitably get really dirty. You’ve got a combination of soot, ash, and sawdust that seems to get sucked into all the nooks and crannies around your fireplace. So when it’s time to clean all that off for another season of snuggling up around a fire, what can you do?

Let’s look at some of the top ways to clean fireplace brick (or stone) with some inexpensive household cleaners you probably already have lying around your home.

But first, follow these simple steps to get your fireplace ready for cleaning.

Prep Your Fireplace for Cleaning

First – You need to clear everything off your fireplace and mantle, you know… all the family pictures, the snow globes, and that cup of tea you forgot about from last week.

Second – Remove the grate and any leftover ashes. Get what you can with a small broom and dustpan. Get the rest with a shop vac.

Third – Spread some plastic and a drop cloth around the base of your fireplace to avoid getting any extra water or cleaners on your floor.

Fourth – Wet the brick. Brick is porous and when completely dry will suck in any water and accompanying cleaners you spray on them. But you want the cleaners to clean what’s on the surface. So get a spray bottle and moisten the bricks with plain water before starting with any of the following cleaning solutions.

Clean Fireplace Brick with Dishwashing Detergent

This method of cleaning fireplace bricks is perhaps the easiest one. If your fireplace isn’t super dirty, this is probably the cleaning method you should start with.

What you need: detergent, water, sponge, scrub brush (assorted sizes)

Steps to follow (once you’ve done the first four prep steps from the first section):

Step 1: Combine ½ cup grease-cutting dish detergent and 4 cups water
Step 2: Mix in a spray bottle
Step 3: Spray the solution onto the bricks
Step 4: Scrub with your brush
Step 5: Apply some warm water with a large sponge to rinse the bricks

*Note: If you encounter any tough areas that are really dirty, try the baking soda method combined with dish liquid. More about that later!

Vinegar Cleaning Solution for Fireplace Brick

To remove stubborn stains, white vinegar with its high acidity can do the trick. Just avoid using it on older bricks that are already starting to deteriorate.

What you need: vinegar, warm water, spray bottle, scrub brush

Steps to follow:

Step 1: Mix equal parts white vinegar and warm water in a spray bottle
Step 2: Spray the bricks with this solution
Step 3: Take a few minutes, rest, have a coffee, and then spray the bricks again
Step 4: Scrub with a scrub brush, spraying more of the vinegar solution on as needed
Step 5: Once done scrubbing, rinse the bricks with warm water.
Step 6: (Optional) If you want to neutralize the vinegar’s acidity, you can apply a mixture of baking soda and water to the bricks. Just mix it in a spray bottle, spray on the brick, and let dry.

Baking Soda for Dirty Old Bricks

Since this brick cleaning method uses non-harsh cleaners like dish liquid, it’s usually safe to use on older bricks that may already be starting to deteriorate.

What you need: baking soda, dish soap, scrub brush

Steps to follow:

Step 1: Combine 2 to 3 tablespoons dish soap and ½ cup baking soda (more or less depending on how much brick you’re cleaning)
Step 2: Mix with a little water to form a paste.
Step 3: Dip your scrub brush into the paste and work it into the brick.
Step 4: Scrub the bricks with small, circular motions working from the top down.
Step 5: Let the paste sit on bricks for a few more minutes.
Step 6: Rinse off with warm water.

Clean Your Fireplace With Scrubbing Bubbles (or Similar Bathroom Cleaner)

You know that foaming bathroom cleaner you just spray on your tub or sink and it gets all the deposits off? It can do the same for your fireplace!

Just follow the initial steps to prep your fireplace for cleaning, then:

Bathroom Cleaner Cleaning Solution

You can get bathroom cleaning spray and oven cleaner at any grocery store that sells home cleaning supplies. This solution is not always 100% effective, so let this method be your last resort.

What you need: bathroom cleaning spray or oven cleaner, scrub brush, sponge. Spray the cleaner onto the bricks and let it sit for about 20 minutes. Scrub the bricks and wipe away the residue with the sponge.

How Often Should You Clean Your Brick Fireplace

According to the National Fire Protection Association Standard 211, “Chimneys, fireplaces, and vents shall be inspected at least once a year.” This checking is done to determine the “soundness, freedom from deposits, and correct clearances” of your brick fireplace.

The once-a-year cleaning applies even if you don’t use your chimney much because animals may have built nests in the flue, or the structure could have deteriorated, making the chimney unsafe. It would help if you get expert advice from Alexander and Xavier Masonry in Garland, Texas, to fix your brick fireplace.

Must-Do Before You Clean a Brick Fireplace

Your urge to jump into cleaning your brick fireplace is understandable. Who wouldn’t want to remove soot building up in a fireplace sooner? But before you proceed with cleaning, here is a checklist.

Check the level of black creosote (condensed soot that has become tarry and toxic). It's combustible, so it must be removed. Paper-thin layers of creosote can a bit longer before cleaning; thicker layers of 1/8 inch require attention, but a build-up of ¼ inch or more means mandatory cleaning before next use!
Clean the fireplace a day after use to make sure it has completely cooled down, and soot in the air has settled.
Put a plastic tarp over the hearth to protect it and the floor from dust and cleaning solution and quickly dispose of soot after cleaning.
Use rubber gloves for safe scrubbing.
Sprinkle coffee grounds on the ashes to prevent debris from entering the air, scoop remains off, and brush off debris and creosote covering the logs.
Sweep the interior or vacuum using the brush attachment.
Check for outside obstructions, especially if you have no chimney cap. Trees branching over the chimney must be trimmed and fallen branches removed.

Time for Cleanup!

Now it’s time to get ready to clean fireplace bricks. Have you decided which cleaning solution to prepare at home?

Tell us about your fireplace brick cleaning experience.

How to Clean Fireplace Brick