For those who utilize a wood-burning or gas fireplace that creates soot due to its combustion, one possible concern in some cases will be stains or streaks that appear on your surrounding bricks. With the right basic approach, these stains are very easy to clean and remove for those who want to keep their bricks and the entire fireplace setup looking great.

At Uintah Fireplace and Design, we’re happy to offer a wide range of fireplace services to clients around Salt Lake City, Park City and Heber, from fireplace installation to service and repair solutions. We also regularly offer clients expertise in areas like these – here are some tips on how often fireplace bricks should be cleaned if they’ve been stained by soot, plus a simple method for doing so.

How Often Should Fireplace Bricks Be Cleaned?

This question does not have a singular answer, and rather will depend on the level of soot buildup, as well as how often your fireplace is used. In some cases, it can be helpful to clean the bricks after every use – for those who are using their fireplaces more regularly and in a way that creates noticeable soot accumulation, this may be necessary.

However, for most people a good rule of thumb is to clean the bricks every three months or so, and take some time to inspect for any visible stains. If you do spot stains, it’s best not to wait – deep-set soot buildup can be more difficult to remove over time and may require special treatments.

Detergent and Salt

Both the simplest and gentlest method for cleaning soot off of bricks near your fireplace is one that involves nothing more than some basic laundry detergent and a few other ingredients or items. These include:

• Salt, ideally slightly larger salt pieces
• Warm water
• Cold water
• One cup of white vinegar
• Two buckets
• A spray bottle
• A scrub brush

Mixing

Your first major step here involves filling your first bucket with one gallon of warm water, plus two tablespoons of whichever dishwashing detergent you have on hand. Ideally, this dishwashing detergent should be one that’s known for its ability to cut through grease and dirt.

Next, you’ll want to fill your second bucket with one gallon of cold water – this will be used later as a way of rinsing the bricks once they’ve been washed. After that, simply add one cup of white vinegar to the bucket of cold water, and mix them up fully.

Spraying

Next up, be sure you have your spray bottle on-hand and dilute it with a little bit of water. From here, you can add your detergent to the spray bottle and shake it up. Once that’s done, you’re ready to begin spraying your bricks with the mixture and letting it sit for around five minutes or so.

We generally recommend working in small patches here, so you’re able to really focus on the specific area that is most affected by the buildup of soot.

Scrubbing and Rinsing

Now, it’s time to put your scrub brush to work. Insert it into your dishwashing liquid bucket, then generously sprinkle some salt on it – coat all of it in the salt, if possible.

Once you do this, use the brush to scrub away at the bricks and soot buildup that’s been loosened by your spray bottle mixture. Rinse with cold water every now and then to ensure a thorough job. Finally, make sure you rinse everything off once more with the cold water bucket – this will help ensure all of the detergent has been washed away.

Once this is done, you should have clean and streak-free bricks near your fireplace – now you can enjoy its warm glow without worrying about any unattractive stains!

Repeat

In some cases, you may need to repeat this process more than once in order to achieve the desired results. If this is the case, don’t hesitate to go through the same steps again, as this will help ensure you achieve a thorough and detailed cleaning of your fireplace bricks.

If It Doesn’t Work

If you’ve repeatedly attempted this method and still find that stains remain, you may need to utilize a specialty cleaning solution or product. Talk to your local fireplace store to see what they recommend, as there are plenty of products on the market designed specifically for difficult-to-remove soot buildup on bricks near fireplaces.

By following these steps and familiarizing yourself with the nuances of cleaning bricks around your fireplace, you can be sure to keep it looking great and performing optimally for years to come!

And for all of your fireplace needs in SLC, Heber or Park City, our team at Uintah Fireplace is here to help. Contact us today!