Meta: Brick fireplaces are known for being a little more annoying to clean than others, but they don’t have to be. Here is the best way to clean a brick fireplace!
Brick fireplaces can be a nuisance to clean because you won’t be able to simply wipe any soot away since the bricks are porous, meaning they contain several very small holes that can quickly fill up with dirt, soot and any excess the more that the fireplace is used.
Luckily, once you know how to do it, cleaning a brick fireplace can be done very easily and just requires a small amount of your time to have it looking spotless again.
Here is the easiest way to clean a brick fireplace, and some extra tips on how to keep it clean.
Best Method For Cleaning Out A Brick Fireplace
As mentioned previously, because you will need to clean out the bricks themselves, scrubbing up a brick fireplace is often a little more arduous and awkward than many other fireplaces, however, it doesn’t need to be so hard as long as you know what you’re doing.
Step 1: Start Preparing The Fireplace
Before you start cleaning each and every crevice of the fireplace, you need it to be as free of dust and dirt as possible which will save you a tremendous amount of time later on.
Remove the grate and use a vacuum cleaner to clear up any visible soot and dust.
You will also want to make sure that the fireplace is cold before you start cleaning.
This is crucially important as any amount of warmth in a fireplace can cause mini-fires if you use brushes or other delicate tools while cleaning, so it is usually advised to wait a full 24 hours after your last fire before you start cleaning.
Step 2: Soak Bricks With Water
Because bricks are porous, this makes them incredibly difficult to clean without the solution sinking down to the bottom of the holes and becoming a complete waste.
Therefore, so that the cleaning solution stays near the top of the bricks, cover the bricks with about half a bucket of water. This doesn’t need to be too much but enough to cover the surface area of each brick so that the holes are filled.
Step 3: Scrub Bricks Lightly
While the bricks are wet, give them a light scrub for a few minutes using an all-purpose sponge and try and squeeze as much water down the porous holes as possible to ensure your solution will work its magic.
This only needs to be done for 5-10 minutes so that you remove any of the lighter dirt and soot from the bricks before it’s time for a deeper scrub.
Step 4: Mix Your Solution
Depending on the age of the bricks and how many stains you want to remove will dictate which kind of cleaning solution you should use, however for lighter stains that could be removed fairly easily, all you will need is half a cup of everyday washing liquid and four cups of water.
Mix this together and shake it for a few minutes, and then alter between spraying the solution and scrubbing with either a sponge or a bristly cleaning brush.
Washing liquid isn’t too strong so you will be able to use it on just about any type of brick regardless of its age or condition.
For stains that are a little deeper, Borax or sodium borate works perfectly, simply mix two tablespoons with four cups of hot water and a single tablespoon of washing-up liquid.
If you’re going to use Borax, make sure the bricks aren’t over two decades old or heavily damaged since the strong substance can end up damaging them.
Scrubbing bubbles are another type of cleaning solution that works incredibly well on bricks despite being designed for non-porous materials.
Simply leave the solution on the bricks for up to 20 minutes and then start scrubbing, this is most ideal for tougher stains that won’t come off with simple scrubbing.
Finally, one of the best solutions that is best suited for bricks that aren’t too fragile or old is trisodium phosphate (TSP). Simply mix ⅛ of a cup of TSP with a gallon of hot water, and leave for a few minutes before scrubbing.
Step 5: Clean The Bricks With The Solution
While spraying or directly applying your solution to each brick, carefully scrub them down with a bristled scrub brush rather than a regular sponge which will be too soft to get rid of those deeper stains.
Repeat this motion two to three times for each brick to save you from having to clean them again in the near future if you accidentally miss any spots.
To get rid of any soot in the deeper crevices, apply just a little more of your solution and leave it for a few minutes so that it can clean the insides of the brick before proceeding to manually scrub again.
Step 6: Rinse The Bricks
Carefully rinse the areas you have already scrubbed with a sponge and some water and if you do notice any lingering soot, use baking soda and water to create a paste which can be applied to the soot so that it comes loose and is easier to clean.
Once the paste is applied, wait for 10 minutes so that it can work and then use a bristly scrub brush to clean every last inch of soot out.
How To Keep A Brick Fireplace Clean
The unfortunate truth is that no matter how little you use a brick fireplace, it’s still going to pick up dust and soot that is going to build up in the holes of the bricks, meaning the best way to keep it clean is to regularly rinse the bricks with warm and clean water before dry them off.
Doing this once or twice a week avoids having to create another solution and will be enough to remove any loose soot so that it doesn’t become too hard to remove.
Summary
Use this fast and easy method to fully clean out a brick fireplace and have it looking spotless and brand new in no time.
Hi, I am Stevie Morris. As a qualified electrician, I have installed countless electric fires and worked on projects with all types of fireplaces, including wood burning, bioethanol, and gas installations.
By working hands-on with different brands, you quickly become an expert on the best fireplaces and those you should avoid.
My family also owns the largest online retailer of fire pits and outdoor fireplaces in the UK. Although not part of the family business, I regularly help when needed.
I hope you can benefit from my experience and impartiality, which I have gained from installing fireplaces and seeing the family's fire pit business grow.
