Having a fireplace in your apartment not only provides a great source of heat, but it’s also a great aesthetic addition, as well. However, like other utilitarian and décor items in your apartment, your fireplace requires regular cleaning to keep it functioning well and looking great.
A clean fireplace is also key to preventing home heating fires. According to the National Fire Protection Association, fireplaces or chimneys caused approximately three in 10 fires from heating equipment. A frequent cause of chimney fires was the ignition of creosote, the highly combustible build-up of wood fires that line chimney walls.
Whether you have a gas fireplace or a wood-burning fireplace, here are some tips for how to clean a fireplace in your apartment.
Get prepped
Before you start cleaning your fireplace, gather all the supplies you need to get the job done while keeping the rest of your apartment clean. This includes:
- A tarp or drop cloth
- Trash can
- Rubber gloves
- Handheld sweeping brush and dustpan
- Particle mask
- Cleaning cloth
- Scrub brush
- Paintbrush or soft-bristled toothbrush
- Water
- Cleaning solutions: hearth cleaner, glass cleaner, a mixture of dishwashing liquid and water
- Paper towels
- Shop-vac (optional)
Because this task can get messy, it’s a good idea to wear clothes you don’t mind getting dirty. Also, make sure the fireplace and all contents are completely cooled off before you start to clean. You should never try to clean a fireplace if there’s any warmth remaining in the ashes or gas logs.
How to clean a wood-burning fireplace
For wood-burning fireplaces, start by placing the tarp or drop cloth on the floor in front of the fireplace to catch any debris. Next, remove any unburned logs or wood remnants on the rack and throw them away in the trashcan. Once it’s empty, remove the fireplace grate and set it aside on the tarp or drop cloth.
Then, after putting on your particle mask, sweep up the soot and ashes using the handheld brush and dustpan. Be careful as you empty the dustpan in the trashcan so you don’t have a lot of soot dust lingering in the air. If you have a shop vac, you can vacuum up the soot and ashes. However, don’t use a regular vacuum cleaner as its filter system is not equipped to handle the volume of ash. It likely will clog within minutes and you’ll be left with an even bigger mess to clean up.
Once you remove the ash and soot, wash down the interior walls using water and the scrub brush. If there’s a lot of buildup, you can use a solution of equal parts vinegar and warm water. Depending on the amount of build-up, you may have to repeat this step more than once. Once clean to your satisfaction, let air dry.
Once the walls are dry, you can replace the grate. If there’s ash or soot buildup on the grate, spray hearth cleaner on it and scrub with the scrub brush. Once you replace the grate, clean the hearth with the appropriate cleaner. Clean the brick with water, while you should use a solution of dishwashing liquid and water to clean marble and stone. Be sure to rinse the hearth off with water and dry with a cleaning cloth.
Finally, clean the fireplace doors with glass cleaner and wipe dry with paper towels. Don’t forget to dust off the mantel and wipe down any woodwork or decorative surrounds along the sides of the fireplace. Put your fireplace tools and any decorative items back on the hearth and you’re done.
How to clean a gas fireplace
If you have a gas fireplace, you can skip some of the steps listed above for a wood-burning fireplace, such as removing the soot and ash. Before cleaning your gas fireplace, take a photo of the interior so you can see how to put the logs back when you’re done. Also, turn off the gas valve before cleaning and make sure the gas logs, fireplace walls and doors are cool to the touch.
Remove the gas logs and grate and sweep the entire fireplace — including walls — to remove any dust or cobwebs. To clean the gas logs, start by removing dust using a paintbrush or soft-bristle toothbrush. Next, use the manufacturer’s recommended cleaner or a cleaner designed specifically for gas logs. If you have lava rocks in the floor of your fireplace, use the shop vac’s brush attachment to clean around them.
Now you are ready to replace the grate and gas logs in the fireplace. Use your photo and owner’s manual for exact placement. It’s important to set everything back in place the way it was to help prevent carbon monoxide poisoning. If you have fireplace doors, clean them with glass cleaner and dry them with paper towels.
Dust off the mantel and wipe down any woodwork or decorative surrounds on the sides of the fireplace. Clean the hearth as directed above for your specific hearth material. Finally, follow the manufacturer’s instructions for how to turn the gas back on. Once complete, replace your fireplace tools and decorative items back on the hearth.
Schedule yearly maintenance
Whether you have a wood-burning or gas fireplace, all fireplaces need yearly winter maintenance to keep them performing well. With a wood-burning fireplace, you should have a professional chimney sweep service come out and clean your chimney and flue. If you have a gas-burning fireplace, have a certified technician inspect it to ensure all the parts and pieces are in good working order.
It’s possible your landlord may pay for and arrange yearly maintenance for the fireplace in your apartment. Check with him or her to see if they handle this task and, if so, set a reminder to do it each year. If you have to handle this yourself, make a note on your calendar so you don’t forget to add it to your annual to-do list.
Learning how to clean a fireplace is worth the time
Keeping your fireplace clean not only leaves you with a good-looking design element in your apartment, but it also can help prevent fire hazards in the future due to buildup in the chimney or malfunctioning pieces in the fireplace. Therefore, plan to clean your fireplace monthly when in use, after winter use and again at the start of winter after sitting dormant during warm weather. Reward your efforts with a mug of hot chocolate as you warm yourself by the fire.
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Source: apartmentguide.com