Are you one of those people who have a stone fireplace in their home, but find it difficult to maintain it due to blackened spots? You are not the only one ! Black and brown stains on your chimney are often caused by emissions from wood stoves and fireplaces. Even if these are not present in your home, a patina can form with simple exposure to air over time.
If you’ve wondered how to clean blackened stones from a fireplace, this blog post is for you! We’ll give you some tips on how to remove black and brown residue so you can restore your fireplace to its original beauty. Read on and learn more!
Tips for cleaning soot and smoke from a chimney.
When you clean your chimney, you are exposed to soot which can irritate your skin and lungs. There are several things to do before cleaning the soot from the masonry of your chimney.
- Allow the fireplace and ashes to cool before beginning cleaning.
- Remove ashes and debris from the fireplace with a shovel and ash broom.
- Use a vacuum cleaner to remove remaining dust and soot particles.
- Clean the walls of the fireplace with a mixture of hot water and mild detergent. You can use a sponge or soft cloth to wipe down the walls and remove soot and grime.
- Use a chimney brush or scraper to remove embedded dirt.
If soot and grime are hard to remove, below are effective natural formulas for getting a clean chimney like new.
Cleaning formulas to remove soot and smoke residue.
There are strong chemical cleaners, but they are generally considered dangerous options for your health, especially your lungs. Below are some old-fashioned formulas for removing smoke and soot residue from your chimney. Each of the following approaches to cleaning soot includes using a stiff brush to remove blackened spots. These techniques use good old elbow grease to get the job done:
– 1st formula :
Create a thick mixture from detergent or soap, pumice stone, hot water and a small amount of ammonia. Apply the mixture to the stained surface and let it dry. Then, scrub the mixture using a long-bristle brush to remove the soot.
– 2ᵉ formula :
Mix table salt, soap and enough water to create a creamy mixture. Rub the mixture into the stained masonry using a rag. Then, wait for the mixture to dry for at least 10 minutes. Finally, scrub with a bristle brush.
– 3ᵉ formula :
Take a bar of soap and grate it into a saucepan. Add three liters of water and put it on low heat. Bring the mixture to a full boil. As soon as the soap is completely dissolved, turn off the heat, allowing the mixture to cool. Add pumice stone and ammonia. Mix all the ingredients carefully. Put the mixture on the stained parts and let it sit for at least an hour. Use a stiff bristle brush to remove it.
Regardless of the formula used, rinse the masonry and remove the dirt with hot water. Apply detergent to the surface and scrub, then perform a final rinse with warm water. Your chimney should be free of black soot stains.
How to make the stones of a fireplace white again?
There are several ways to whiten the stones of a fireplace. One of them is to use soda crystals. To do this, follow these steps:
- Clean the surface of the stones which is dirty.
- In a basin, pour 1 liter of hot water.
- Put on household gloves.
- Add a cup of soda crystals to hot water.
- Mix everything.
- Dip a nylon brush into the mixture and scrub the stains with the brush.
- Rinse the stones.
It is also possible to use white vinegar to whiten the stones of a fireplace. Follow these steps:
- In a basin, pour lukewarm water and add white vinegar, respecting the dosage of 3 glasses of white vinegar for 1 liter of lukewarm water.
- Put a cloth in the resulting mixture and pass it over the traces.
- Rinse the stones.
It is therefore recommended that cleaning products be tested on a small area of the fireplace before using them on the entire surface, to ensure that they do not cause damage or unwanted color changes.
Finally, it is a good idea to clean your chimney regularly to prevent soot and grime from building up and to maintain good air circulation. It will also help reduce the risk of fire and improve the efficiency of your fireplace.
