Top tips for getting warm and toasty
Cleaner Fireplace
Did you know that a cleaner fireplace also means a warmer one? Try some of these unusual cleaning methods to help you get the most out of your fire.
Potato peels and acorns help prevent creosote buildup in your chimney. Save your potato skins and collect acorns in the autumn. Just a handful thrown on top of a burning fire can help keep your chimney in good shape.
Use ash from the fire to clean your fireplace. To clean a stove or a closed fireplace glass door, simply dampen some newspaper and dip into some cold wood ashes. Rub gently until all the creosote comes off. Repeat if necessary until the glass is clean. Wipe clean with a damp cloth.
Distilled white vinegar is an effective, inexpensive and non-toxic way of cleaning your hearthstone fireplace. Just pour the vinegar directly from the bottle or use a spray bottle to get into crevices. Allow the vinegar to sit for a few minutes, then scrub with an old toothbrush. Wipe clean with a damp cloth. It will be gleaming in no time.
Add coffee grounds to the ash in your fireplace to help keep dirt from billowing up when cleaning. Don’t forget to place newspaper or protective sheeting when cleaning out the hearth to keep from marking or staining flooring.
If you have brick or stone in your fireplace that has soot stuck on it, you can clean it up with minimal effort using salt! Carefully throw a few tablespoons of salt into a roaring fire and watch as the soot stains on your brick or stone fireplace go up in smoke. The salt helps loosen the soot as it burns. The soot will be drawn up the chimney with all the rest of the smoke.
If you have any of your own top tips for a cleaner fireplace then we would love to hear them! Please share to our Facebook page, tweet us or send us an email.
