Chimney Cleaning: How To Make It More Efficient?

At this time of year, the word “fireplace” is only associated with socks hanging from his coat and the Christmas decoration which will sublimate the festive spirit. However, in order to prevent a party that is not marred by soot, dust and spitting smoke, undertake a chimney cleaning beforehand to save yourself the unpleasant moments. Open or closed fireplace, old or old, made to measure or as standard, classic or contemporary fireplace, rustic or urban, this flagship piece of the living room which is neglected for half the year, takes its revenge before the first cold. To our advice to make it effective!

Chimney cleaning: is it necessary?

Nowadays, as atoms are broken down to create energy, fire seems to have its defenders more than ever. Investing in a closed fireplace is a good reason to save money in the future. After having ceased to be exclusively country-style, the fireplaces find their place of honor in the city, in the apartments. Small or large, their function is identical: to ensure the warmth of the accommodation for its inhabitants. Therefore, proper operation depends on cleaning the chimney. How to go about it is as important as it is necessary! In order for the fire to be intense and luminous, dancing and twirling, crackling and singing, the fireplace and its parts must be cleaned properly and efficiently. Taking on this task is not easy enough and there are even appropriate steps except for professionals,but by reading the tips below, you will know how to do a lot of the work.

The most common signs that the fireplace needs cleaning: odors coming out of use, a slowly burning fire, smoke entering the room and a black damper.

How to carry out an effective chimney cleaning?

Whether you're lighting the logs to keep the house warm or using the fireplace as an eye-catching focal point, it's important to keep it free of soot, dust, and debris. Cleaning a chimney can seem like a tough job, it just takes time, patience and knowledge to do it right.

The main function of a fireplace is to provide heat. But, the large amount of black soot that creeps up the front of the bricks can also be an eyesore. The arrival of the first cold pushes you to light the logs. As a result, you find dust and soot making its way all over the house. Imagine what can happen with the fireplace surround and your freshly plastered walls or with ceiling wallpaper.

Before cleaning the fireplace, it should be inspected. A professional can make sure all parts are in good working order, but you can too if you know what to look for. Make sure the lintel is at least 30cm high. The lintel is the steel bar that supports the tops of the opening to the first fuel. Bricks / stones should also be assessed. If they are ordinary bricks rather than refractory bricks, they cannot tolerate higher temperatures. They will start to crack and the mortar will collapse. If you see any signs of it, chisel the mortar and replace it with high temperature cement. The shock absorber is another part that must be reviewed for proper positioning.

Tools and chemicals needed for chimney cleaning

Before you start cleaning, you will need to prepare all your tools so that you do not rush through the process to find what you need. Check the list below to complete it if necessary.

• Long sleeve shirt and pants, old clothes
• Protective glasses
• Safety mask
• Flash light
• Old newspapers
• Towels / rags
• Paper napkins
• Broom and dustpan
• Garbage bag
• Scrub brushes
• Dishwashing liquid

In any case, the list of supplies may vary depending on your preferred methods. The biggest concern is your safety.

How to clean dust and soot: the mechanical way

As dust and soot are the messiest aspects of your brick fireplace, along with very fine ash after a fire, this can make sweeping the fireplace a tedious task. Fortunately, there is no shortage of tips. If you have had a fire recently, you must wait until the fireplace has cooled completely. Patiently wait a whole day so you don't get burned or scatter embers all over the place.

1. After the fireplace has cooled, spread a large towel or old tea towel at the base of the fireplace where you will kneel. This will prevent a fair amount of ash from seeping into your carpet or covering the floor. It's also a good idea to throw sheets or tarps over any furniture in the area and roll up the rugs. And, since it will be a dirty and long-lasting task, put on old clothes and cover the hair with a scarf or a hat.

2. Place a small trash can nearby and using a hand broom, clean the soot or ash from the floor and walls of the fireplace. Dispose of the collected consistency in the trash, but do it gently to prevent fine, light dust from flying around. To minimize dust generation, sprinkle the ash from the coffee grounds.

3. When you are finished, carefully wrap the dust and dispose of it in an outdoor bin. As for the sheets and towels you used to cover the floors and furniture, fold them neatly so as not to blow dust off their surface and shake them outside. Remember to change clothes and wash your hands.

4. Vacuum the furniture in the room to remove any sneaky ash that has fallen from your coverings. Then vacuum the floors and the inside of the fireplace to finish with the leftovers. Also clean the edge of the shock with the stuff brush attachment on the vacuum cleaner, this is where creosote dust collects the most.

Clean the chimney thoroughly? Which detergents to use?

Now that you've removed all the dust, soot, and debris, you can use a solution of hot water, bleach, and trisodium phosphate (TSP) to deep clean your fireplace's walls and floor.

1. Mix 6 tablespoons of TSP, 1 cup of bleach and 4 L of lukewarm water in a plastic bucket.
2. Wearing rubber gloves, dip your nylon brush into the bucket, then use the solution to scrub the hearth walls and floor until clean. (Old fireplaces may have stains that you cannot remove.)
3. Rinse the floor and walls with clean water and wipe dry with a towel.

You can also effectively use mothballs and crystal sea salt to remove soot residue, but first consult a specialist on dosages. This hides risks …

Tip for checking the quality of the chimney cleaning: by placing a mirror under the flue. If the sky is reflected there, your fireplace is ready to use.

Chimney stone cleaning after the cold season

When the weather promises a rise in temperatures and you are getting ready to clean the fireplace for next season, you need to know how to clean the bricks or stones from the fireplace. But before you undertake any of the following tasks, make sure you have swept away the soot and dust by following the instructions above. You should also vacuum the walls of the fireplace with a brush to remove any extra dirt. Once this is done, you can move on to the next steps.

Spot cleaning

Small unpainted areas can be cleaned with cream of tartar and water. Be sure to perform a pinpoint test before using the method below. Here's how to clean a fireplace using these ingredients:

1. Mix 2 tablespoons of cream of tartar with a little water to make a paste.
2. Spread the paste on the affected areas of your home. Let sit for 5-10 minutes.
3. Rinse the paste off with lukewarm water.
4. Reapply and repeat if necessary.

Detailed stone cleaning

For larger areas, like the interior of your fireplace, you will need a different solution as it will likely be too expensive to buy enough cream of tartar to get the desired results. However, there are two household products that you can clean the inside of your fireplace: dish soap and baking soda. As the smoke and ash leave a greasy tar, half a cup of dish soap and four cups of hot water will help remove the film. Use a nylon bristle brush to scrub the brick.

If a residue remains after the dish soap and water have had time to do their job, try dish soap and salt. A cup of table salt mixed with a cup of dish soap will provide that needed extra abrasiveness. Again, test a small area out of the way first. You will also need to remove the grates or andirons and lay them on a sheet or towel.

1. Mix 3 tablespoons of dish soap with ½ cup of baking soda to make a paste. The dough should be thin and easy to spread, so add more dish soap if needed.
2. Dip a scrub brush into the paste and move up the interior wall of the fireplace in small circular motions. Let this solution sit for three to five minutes.
3. Rinse the paste off with lukewarm water.
4. Reapply and repeat if necessary.

The glass of the fireplace must be clean

Usually, the fireplace glass gets quite dirty during the heating months. Of course, you don't want that layer of gunk lying around all year round. What would you say if you heard that the ashes were effective in cleaning the glass of the fireplace? It is true. You will need paper towels and water, but first, carefully read the manufacturer's chimney cleaning instructions to be sure you honor the warranty until the end. In addition, testing on a small area is recommended.

1. Make sure the fire is completely out and the glass is cold.
2. Make a ball of paper towel and wet it in a bowl of water.
3. Dip it in the ash until you have a coated surface to work with.
4. Rub the glass until it is clean. You will need to put a little effort behind this to see the results.
5. Once all of the dirt is gone, wipe off the streaks with a dry microfiber cloth.

If this method doesn't work, you may need to resort to a stronger cleanser or a straight razor. Until the weather warms up, keep your fireplace clean and enjoy the crackling fire that makes the house even more cozy. A cleaned chimney operates efficiently and safely.

To sanitize naturally without using chemicals, add borax to dish detergent. Two tablespoons of borax, one tablespoon of dish soap and four cups of hot water will create an unbeatable solution. For a stronger mixture, use half a cup of ammonia, four cups of hot water, and a quarter cup of dish soap.

The more you use your fireplace, the more often it needs to be cleaned. We recommend that you clean it every 50 heaters or so to ensure safety, improve appearance, and avoid disaster.

Keep your fireplace cleaner longer by using dry wood, vacuuming weekly, and using only water to put out a fire in an emergency.