By Lauren Kolacki
Everyone loves a warm, crackling fire — but maybe not the smoky buildup and soot it leaves behind on your brick and glass.
To clean fireplace glass without leaving a scratch, crumple a piece of newspaper, wet it, then sprinkle some baking soda on it. Rub the dirty area of the glass, then wipe clean with a damp clean cloth.
For larger areas, such as the inside of your fireplace, you can clean the inside
of your fireplace using dish soap and baking soda. Again, spot test a small
out-of-the-way area first. You’ll also want to remove grates or andirons and set them on a sheet or towel.
- Mix 3 tablespoons of dish soap with 1⁄2 cup of baking soda to make apaste. The paste should be thin and easy to spread, so add more dishsoap if you need to.
- Dip a scrub brush into the paste and work your way up the inner fire-place wall using small circular motions. Let this solution sit for threeto five minutes.
- Rinse the paste off with warm water.
- Reapply and repeat as necessary.
Knowing how to clean a fireplace at the end of the colder months can make
the idea of lighting that cozy fire a bit more enticing. So, until the weather
warms up, keep your hearth soot free and enjoy the crackling sounds of the fire that makes your home seem that much cozier.