Remember your Fireplace!
10/7/2024 (Permalink)

Is it important to Keep a Fireplace Clean?
YES!
Nothing beats a roaring fireplace on a chilly evening. It doesn’t matter if it is wood or gas-feeling that warmth in your home or business is amazing.
However, keeping your fireplace clean will not just make it burn more efficiently, but it will also help prevent chimney fires. You might be surprised that the cleanup, especially when done frequently, can be quite simple. The number of fires that happen due to an unclean fireplace is unnecessarily high.
For a home with wood-burning fireplaces, chimneys should be swept and inspected annually by a professional. The fireplace has very particular ways it needs to be cleaned.
Gas and electric fireplaces require less frequent professional maintenance, but still need to be maintained properly. No matter the type of fireplace you have, there are steps you can take to keep it clean in between periodic professional maintenance.
Tips on Cleaning a Fireplace:
When it comes to cleaning a fireplace of any kind, the most important things are safety and using all of the appropriate products. But not all fireplaces are cleaned the same way.
Because of this, we recommend consulting a professional chimney sweep (for wood-burning) and/or the manufacturer included instructions (gas, propane, electric).
The following is a general step-by-step tip, follow this guide for keeping your fireplace safe and clean.
Wood-Burning Fireplace
A fireplace that hasn’t been cleaned recently or properly can be intimidating.
Soot, ash, and dirt can build up quickly.
To thoroughly clean your wood-burning fireplace:
- Before you begin cleaning, make sure it has been 24 hours since the last use to ensure your fire is fully extinguished.
- Clear away any loose or caked ashes and dust using a fireplace shovel and/or brush and dispose of them properly.
- Remove the grate to clean in a well-ventilated area. (This can get messy)
- Create a cleaning solution with bowl of warm water and a few teaspoons of dishwashing soap. (Stay easy on the soap)
- Dip a firm but soft scrubbing brush into the solution and scrub the grate clean. Repeat this step until the buildup is removed, then rinse and wipe dry.
- For the interior of the fireplace, use a dry bristle brush to remove ashes along the walls and base (put on a mask anytime you work with ash). Repeat this until the ash is cleared, then vacuum or sweep away the ash. Clean your tools after using them immediately when complete-vacuum, brush, buckets, etc. This mess could get worse if you don’t keep it clean during the process. Wipe down the interior and let the fireplace dry fully.
- Apply a coat of metal polish to the grate if desired and put it back in place.
Gas Fireplace
Cleaning a gas fireplace is much simpler than a wood-burning fireplace. Usually, you’ll just have some dirt and dust buildup. This is much more of a clean burning fireplace. However, we do recommend that you always review the manufacturer's instructions for safety precautions or cleaning methods specific to your fireplace.
To clean a gas fireplace:
- Turn the fireplace and gas valve fully off and check that the pilot light is out.
- If you want to true deep clean, carefully remove all ceramic logs, make note of their position so you can put them back correctly.
If you don’t feel comfortable removing the logs, just move to the next step.
- Use a soft bristle brush to clear away dust, dirt, or possible soot from the logs.
- Check the logs and connections for any signs of damage.
- Use a vacuum or soft broom to remove the debris that you brushed off the logs. You will also need to clear away any other dust or cobwebs inside the fireplace.
- Use a dry microfiber cloth to wipe down any metal parts of the fireplace-very carefully.
- Wipe down the log insert with the same cloth and reassemble them inside the fireplace if removed.
How to Clean Fireplace Glass
Don’t forget about the glass doors on your fireplace! If you want to enjoy your fireplace-the glass is crucial.
If you haven’t cleaned it in a while, you may have quite a bit of buildup. You must be careful about the products and tools you use. Using traditional glass cleaners or harsh scrubbers could damage the surface.
Refer to the manufacturer's recommendations specific to your model before trying any of these tips:
- Use the same precautions used prior to cleaning the inside of the fireplace (i.e-time to cool, turning gas off, etc.)
- Remove the doors (if possible).
- Create a 1:1 solution of vinegar and warm water.
- Put the solution in a spray bottle or dampen a microfiber. Apply the solution to the glass and scrub the surface with the cloth in circular motions.
- Wipe down the surface with a damp cloth, then dry it with a dry cloth.
- Reassemble the doors (if removed).
How to Clean Fireplace Brick-maintain the beauty!
Brick is extremely porous and may be damaged by harsh chemicals.
Working in small sections with gentle cleaners is key but requires some patience.
- Use a spray bottle or wet sponge to apply a layer of water to the surface of the bricks. (Doing this will help prevent them from immediately soaking in the cleaning solution.)
- There are a few different types of natural methods you can try based on the amount of build-up and the age of your bricks. If your bricks are less than 20 years old, start with the mildest solution of 2 cups of warm water and 2 tablespoons of mild dish detergent. If your bricks are over 20 years old, use a solution of equal parts warm water and vinegar.
- With a sponge, work from top to bottom in small sections, applying the solution to gently remove soot buildup.
- If the sponge isn’t removing the soot, try using a soft bristle brush in circular motions to clean the brick. Repeat as necessary.
- After the soot has been removed, use a damp cloth to wipe away any remaining solution.
- If there are any remaining stains, create and apply a paste of baking soda and water. Let the paste sit on those spots for around 10 minutes, then scrub with a bristle brush and wipe with a damp cloth.
- Repeat as necessary. For particularly dirty bricks, you may need to repeat these steps.
Now the big question: How Often Should You Actually Clean Your Fireplace?
Wood-burning fireplaces that are used frequently should be cleaned monthly. The more often you clean the fireplace, the less work it will be to remove thicker layers of soot later.
Gas, propane, and electric fireplaces shouldn’t require as frequent maintenance.
We recommend dusting the exterior and cleaning the glass weekly and tackling the interior surfaces every few months.
When it comes to fireplace inspections and chimney sweeping, these tasks should be done by a professional and on a schedule dependent on their type.
SERVPRO Team Rossum is here to help when incidents do happen. We are equipped to clean soot and damage from soft and hard contents-and will make your property look
“Like it never even happened”.
Contact SERVPRO Team Rossum today to help plan your commercial space restoration ahead of time. We are independently owned and operated.