What is the best and easiest way to clean soot from inside of our wood burning brick fireplace?

September 9, 2012 9:26 AM

What is the best and easiest way to clean soot from inside of our wood burning brick fireplace?

We've cleared the fireplace and we want to clean the soot from the walls.

posted by Tziv to Home & Garden (3 answers total)

Sabrina Soto on HGTV always recommends a stiff wire brush and "scrubbing bubbles" type bathroom cleaner. I couldn't find a link to the tip on her website, but I've seen her use it on a number of shows and it appears to work very well. Wear gloves and goggles and put down a drop cloth because it does spatter some. Use clear water to rinse off.
posted by agatha_magatha at 10:25 AM on September 9, 2012

I have not tried this, so this is more in the nature of an experiment than a recommendation. My experience has been that a really hot fire leaves the bricks pretty clean, so I would try burning the soot off with a propane torch.
posted by Bruce H. at 12:21 PM on September 9, 2012

A very hot fire is the best solution. The soot / creosote will burn more completely and flake right off the brick.
posted by ssg at 10:24 AM on September 10, 2012