How to Clean Chimney Sweeps
The chimney sweep accumulates much dirt and soot when using it to clean the fireplace. It can easily transfer the same dirt and soot you clean from the chimney back inside the chimney. As soon as the season is over, you should give it a thorough cleaning. You should also clean it when it becomes extremely dirty.
How to Clean Chimney Sweeps
Materials Needed
- Hot water
- Bucket
- Liquid dish soap
- White distilled vinegar
- Steel wool pad
- Clean cloth
- Rust protectant
- Pour 1 gallon of hot water into a bucket. Add 1 tablespoon of liquid dish soap. Mix in 1 cup of white distilled vinegar. Swish the chimney sweep around in the bucket to thoroughly mix the cleaning solution.
- Place the end of the chimney sweep that has the bristles into the bucket. Allow the sweep to soap for 15 minutes.
- Allow a steel wool pad to soak in the bucket for of cleaning solution for five minutes. Use the steel wool pad to thoroughly clean the bristles as well as the handle on the chimney sweep.
- Start cleaning the bristles first and use the steel wool pad to clean down each section of bristles. After cleaning each section, swish the sweep in the cleaning solution. Continue cleaning the sweep until all bristles are cleaned.
- Pour the cleaning solution out of the bucket and rinse the bucket with clean water. Fill the bucket with clean water. Swish the chimney sweep around in the bucket to make sure all of the soap is removed from the bristles. Rinse the handle as well. Dry the chimney sweep with a clean cloth and allow it to further dry by air.
- Coat the entire chimney sweep with a coat of rust protectant. Make sure the entire sweep is covered. Allow the sweep to dry. Follow the instructions on the can.