Clean Soot from Brick
A fireplace can be a cozy addition to any home, but one of the inevitable byproducts is soot on the surrounding bricks. Because soot has a propensity to leave lasting stains on the material it comes in contact with, it is necessary to thoroughly clean this buildup periodically. Read the following article to learn how to clean soot from brick in an easy, economical and environmentally friendly manner.
Steps
- Put on rubber gloves to protect your hands during the cleaning process.
- Place a drop cloth, tarp or plastic around your work area. You may want to have some newspaper on hand to help absorb sloshed water, drips from the sponge or wet bottoms of buckets.
- While you clean sooty bricks, some soot and ash can dislodge from the fireplace. If you don't put down a protective layer, you will have additional soot stains on your carpet to clean.
- Fill a small to medium bucket with clean, warm water.
- The temperature of the water isn't crucial to its cleaning effectiveness. Rather, the water should be warm simply to keep your hands comfortable through the cleaning process.
- Dip your sponge in the warm water until fully saturated.
- Wring the sponge slightly.
- Wet the affected brick area thoroughly and work from the top down.
- Starting from the bottom will cause sooty water and residue to drip down as you move up the brick.
- Apply a foaming bathroom spray to the sooty bricks and let it sit and foam for 30 seconds to 1 minute.
- To clean soot off brick, generic brands work just as well as more expensive options.
- Scrub the foaming area with a scrub brush.
- Even with heavily stained bricks, you shouldn't have to scrub too hard. You'll know it's working when the foam begins to take on the color of the soot.
- Dip a clean sponge in the warm water.
- Rinse away the foam.
- Repeat this process for heavily stained bricks.
- Dip a clean scrub brush into a small amount of white household vinegar.
- Scrub remaining soot stains.
- As with the foaming bathroom spray, work from the top down.
- Repeat as necessary.
- Combine 1 ounce (28.3 grams) soap, 1 ounce (28.3 grams) salt and just enough water to form a thick paste.
- Rub paste onto the bricks that are still sooty using a cloth or sponge.
- Dry for approximately 10 minutes.
- Scrub paste off with a stiff brush or scrub brush.
- Rinse area thoroughly with water and allow to dry.
Tips
- Only burn dry wood in your fireplace as this cuts down on the production of both creosote and soot.
- Liberally sprinkle slightly wet coffee grounds on the cold ashes in your fireplace. This will inhibit dust and particles from being dispersed while cleaning. Alternately, clean out the ashes from your fireplace before cleaning.
- Forgetting to open or only partially opening the flue of your fireplace can contribute to increased smoke and soot on your bricks. Remember to open your flue for less soot buildup.
- Have a larger scrub brush to cover the large areas, and a smaller stiff one to get into the joints and hard-to-clean spots.
Warnings
- Never use abrasive chemicals when you clean soot from brick. Many will leave a flammable film which could be dangerous the next time you use your fireplace.
- Only clean the fireplace when you are certain all ashes are entirely cold. Heat can remain trapped in the ashes for several days after a fire and you could inadvertently burn yourself.
Things You'll Need
- Rubber gloves
- Drop cloth, tarp or plastic
- Bucket
- Warm water
- Sponge (2)
- Foaming bathroom spray
- Scrub brush
- White household vinegar
- Soap
- Salt
- Damp coffee grounds (optional)
Related Articles
- Stain Brick
- Clean the Exterior Masonry Wall of a Fireplace
