How To Clean A Brick Fireplace (Indoor or Outdoors)

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Your brick fireplace is bound to get dirty from dust, soot, ashes, and dirt the longer you use it. A dirty brick fireplace looks unkempt and makes your home appear neglected even if the rest of the house is clean.

Moreover, it can affect its functionality, causing issues like blocking the damper, less heat production, polluting indoor air, and compromising the fireplace’s integrity. Considering what’s at stake, cleaning your brick fireplace is necessary, but doing it correctly is essential.

In this guide, we’ll show the steps to clean a brick fireplace to make this task less messy.

How To Clean A Brick Fireplace

1. Prepare The Fireplace For Cleaning

Before you start cleaning, make sure the fireplace is fully cold. Lay plastic sheeting around your fireplace to catch debris and protect the floor and hearth from chemicals and water.

Remove any leftover wood, log holder, fireplace tools, grate, and the screen. Set these parts aside for separate cleaning if they are dirty. Next, scoop out debris and ashes from the firebox with a brush and dustpan and dispose of them safely.

2. Vacuum The Fireplace

Before introducing any cleaning solutions, use the vacuum’s brush attachment to remove loose soot, dust, and ash from the surfaces. Vacuuming will make the cleaning process simpler.

Start by vacuuming the firebox and then gradually move through the brick surfaces.

3. Wet The Bricks

Lightly spray the fireplace bricks with clean water several times until all the bricks are saturated but not oversoaked. Alternatively, use a sponge. Why is this step necessary?

Pre-wetting the bricks will keep the cleaning solution from seeping through the porous surface. You want the cleaner sitting on the brick surface where it can act on the grimme. Wetting the bricks also loosens the grime and soot.

4. Choose a Cleaning Solution

Now that your brick fireplace is ready for cleaning, it is time to pick the right cleaning solution. This will depend on the level of dirt, soot, and stains.

Options include:

a) Dishwashing Solution

It is suitable for routine cleaning and removing light stains. Dishwashing solution should be the first cleaner you try, especially if the bricks don’t look too dirty. It is safe on older bricks since it is relatively harmless.

Prepare this cleaner by mixing 4 cups of clean water with ½ a cup of dishwashing detergent.

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b) Baking Soda Paste

This cleaner is mildly abrasive and suitable for mild to moderate brick fireplace cleaning. It effectively helps scrub away soot and grime without damaging older bricks. It is safe for homes with pets and kids since it doesn’t contain harsh chemicals.

Mix a cup of baking soda with water in a bowl, then stir the mixture until a smooth paste that spreads easily develops. Let the paste sit on the fireplace bricks for around 5 minutes.

c) Baking Soda and Dish Soap

With this solution, you can tackle grime, dirt, and soot on your fireplace’s exterior and interior bricks without damaging them. It doesn’t produce strong fumes or contain harsh chemicals.

Combine 1/2 cup of baking soda, about a ¼ cup of water, and 2–3 tablespoons of dish soap in a bowl. Stir the mixture to create a smooth solution. Leave the solution sitting for about 5 minutes.

d) Vinegar and Water

This solution works due to vinegar’s acidity, which helps break down the grease, dirt, grime, and soot buildup on the bricks. However, since vinegar is abrasive, use this method sparingly and avoid using it on over 20-year-old bricks.

Also, scrub the bricks from top to bottom when using this solution to prevent streaking. Cancel the vinegar’s acidity by spraying the bricks with baking soda and water after scrubbing.

Mix vinegar and water in equal proportions.

e) Baking Soda and Vinegar

The bubbling reaction caused by vinegar and baking soda helps lift stubborn grime and soot from the fireplace bricks. Use this solution to tackle heavy stains or deep clean your fireplace.

Sprinkle baking soda generously over the bricks, ensuring it covers all the dirty bits. Next, spray or pour vinegar solution (equal parts water and vinegar) over the baking soda. You’ll notice bubbling as these products react.

Let the mixture sit on the bricks for 5-10 minutes.

f) Borax

Borax effectively and safely eliminates soot from bricks. Mix borax (2 tablespoons), dish soap (1 tablespoon), and warm water (4 cups), shake, and spray the mixture on your fireplace’s bricks. Alternatively, apply it with a paintbrush or use a sponge.

g) Ammonia

Ammonia should only be used on sturdier, newer bricks because it can harm fragile or old bricks. It is effective on stubborn stains and heavy soot. Mix ammonia (1/2 a cup), warm water (4 cups), and dishwashing soap (1/4 cup) and apply it on the fireplace bricks.

h) Trisodium Phosphate (TSP)

Go for this powerful, industrial-strength cleaner when you need to break through the toughest stains on your fireplace bricks. It is also perfect for deep cleaning brick surfaces.

TSP will help you remove layers of grime and restore the bricks’ original color, making your fireplace look new once again.

Put Trisodium Phosphate (1/8 cup) and warm water (a gallon) in a bucket. Stir the mixture properly to dissolve the TSP completely. Dip a brush or sponge TSP solution and coat the bricks with it. Alternatively, pour the TSP solution directly on the bricks.

i) Cream of Tartar

Cream of tartar is a great choice if you need to clean a few patches of soot on the fireplace bricks. Mix cream of tartar (2 tablespoons) with some water. Apply the paste on the sooty areas with a sponge or brush and leave it for 5-10 minutes.

j) Commercial Fireplace Cleaners

There are many commercial cleaners suitable for cleaning bricks, so you can buy one to clean your brick fireplace. Below are two excellent choices:

• Quick N Brite Fireplace Gel Cleaner: This safe, non-abrasive, heavy-duty gel cleaner swiftly removes ash, soot, and creosote. It works on brick, tile, rock, and stone and has a scrub brush.
• Rutland Fireplace Cleaning Solution: This spray cleaner cleans stone and brick. It easily removes soot, smoke, and creosote buildup.

5. Apply the Cleaning Solution

After choosing and preparing your preferred cleaning solution, apply it to the bricks. You can use a soft-bristle brush, masonry sponge, cloth, or a spray bottle for application.

Before using the cleaner on the entire fireplace surface, test it on a tiny, inconspicuous part to ensure the product won’t damage or discolor the bricks. Proceed if you don’t see any bad reaction. Start with gentle cleaners, then gradually move to stronger ones if the stains don’t come out.

Clean the fireplace in small sections to keep the cleaner from drying before you are ready to scrub it off. In addition, apply the solution from the top to ensure streaks don’t develop.

Let the cleaning solution sit on the bricks for some time to give it ample time to break down grime and soot. However, don’t leave it too long to avoid weakening the bricks.

6. Scrub The Bricks

The cleaning solution will loosen the soot and grime, but you’ll need to scrub the surfaces to remove them completely. Scrub the brick surface in small, circular motions, but don’t do it with excessive force.

Scrub corners and grout lines with an old toothbrush. Rinse your brush in clean water as you scrub to avoid spreading dirt on the bricks you’ve already scrubbed.

If the stains persist, reapply the cleaning solution, wait, and scrub again.

7. Wipe The Bricks and Dry Them

Once your fireplace is satisfactorily clean, rinse the surfaces to remove residues that could cause damage or discoloration.

Dip a clean sponge or cloth in clean water, wring it a bit, and wipe the brick surfaces working from the top down. Alternatively, spray clean water on the bricks from a spray bottle and wipe it away.

Repeat the process as needed until you no longer see traces of the cleaner and the surfaces feel clean when touched. Dry off the bricks with a towel, and then give your fireplace ample time to air dry before using it. Opening windows or running a fan will help fast-track the process.

Note

If you find stubborn stains after cleaning the fireplace, spot-clean them by applying cream of tartar, scrubbing with an old toothbrush, rinsing, and drying.

Safety Measures When Cleaning A Brick Fireplace

Since you’ll be handling soot, grime, and perhaps strong cleaning solutions when cleaning your brick fireplace, do these to ensure your safety.

• Wear gloves, mask, and safety glasses.
• Open windows and doors.
• Wash your hands thoroughly once you finish cleaning.
• Take heed to warnings on commercial cleaners.
• Do not use overly abrasive tools to clean the bricks.
• Avoid prolonged contact with cleaning agents.

Summary

While bricks are resilient and durable, go easy on them because they can still get damaged. If possible, stick to gentle cleaning solutions, only resorting to tougher ones if needed. If you can’t seem to get your brick fireplace clean on your own, consider hiring a professional fireplace cleaner.