Over the time, as the fireplace is used, it will leave some dirt. In fact, just a few winters of fires can leave your fireplace in need of a good cleaning. Smoke and soot can waft out and leave the stone dingy. The good news is you don’t need a professional to put the sparkle back in the fireplace. Here is how to clean a stone fireplace, step by step.
Stone Fireplace
Step 1: preparation work
Lay a plastic tarp on the floor to protect it from the cleaner, and duct tape the edges to hold it down and prevent leaks.
Step 2: mixing the cleaner
You can buy a commercially prepare enzymatic cleaner, or you can make your own by mixing trisodium phosphate or TSP (a heavy-duty cleaner available at hardware and home improvement stores) into a bucket of warm water. Check the package for the correct ratios. Generally, the dirtier the fireplace, the stronger you need to make the solution. Add 2 to 3 ounces of bleach per gallon to your TSP solution. Scoop all the fire and ash debris from inside the fireplace.
Step 3: putting ‘safety gear’ on
Pull on a pair of gloves and goggles to protect your hands and eyes. Make sure you have proper ventilation by cracking a window. The reason is that TSP is a strong cleaner that needs to be handled carefully. Keep a pile of towels handy to catch runs and spills as you clean. If your fireplace is very dirty, apply the cleaning solution with a sponge and let it sit for a few minutes.
Step 4: start cleaning
Next is picking up a stiff-bristled brush (metal-bristled brushes are best) and start scrubbing. Stone is porous and holds on to dirt. You’ll need to scrub hard to clean all the nooks and crannies. Scrub the stone and the mortar. If streaking occurs while you’re cleaning, dilute the TSP solution with more water.
An important part of knowing how to clean fireplace stone is removing tough stains that are resistant to scrubbing. Make a paste of water and TSP and put it on the stained area. Let it sit for a few minutes and thenscrub hard. You’re going to use a lot of elbow grease on this project.
Step 5: finishing up the work
Finish by sponging water over the stone to rinse off the cleaning solution. Let the stone air dry before removing the plastic tarp. After cleaning the mantle, apply a stone sealer that will make it more stain-resistant. Now that you know how to clean stone fireplace, you’re going to want to do it as infrequently as possible. It’s hard work.
You may want to test some of the cleaning solutions on a small spot to make sure it won’t bleach or streak the stone. Apply the solution and let it air dry.
