How to Clean a Brick Above a Fireplace
Fireplaces add a level of elegance to a home. However, it is essential that they are cleaned and cared for properly. With a little time and elbow grease the bricks above your fireplace can be cleared of all dust and ashes.
Items Needed:
- Newspaper or a plastic cover
- Baking Soda
- Dish Soap
- Scrub Brush
- Wire Brush
- Prepare your tools for cleaning. The steps to cleaning a fireplace are simple but require special tools to finish the task. Lay out all of the tools so they are close to your fireplace. You need them in close reach for quick and effective cleaning. Also make sure the area is ventilated for your safety.
- Rub cleaner on the bricks. A few ideas for cleaning bricks include using a mildpaste to spread on the bricks. This paste is made of baking soda and dishwashing liquid. This is a well known paste and has been proven to be very effective. Let the paste sit for awhile so it has time to remove all leftover ashes and soot.
- Brush off the excess dirt. Now that you have let the cleaner sit for awhile it is time to use a scrubbing brush to remove the cleaner and dirt. Give the term "elbow grease" a new meaning and scrub the bricks with a light but enforcing stroke. Doing this will protect your fireplace from the cleaners being used on your fireplace bricks.
- Rinse the bricks with warm water. Rinsing the bricks is important as to remove any leftover baking soda and dish soap. You may finish cleaning the bricks with cleaner such as "TSP" or any other brick cleaner of your choice. Always test a small area of your fireplace to make sure the cleaner you is using is safe.