How do I clean the brick on my fireplace?

Dawn Grundy
by Dawn Grundy

I have a brick fireplace with fake gas logs. When we have the fire on, the brick above the firebox opening still gets what looks like soot but probably is just gas. What is the best way to clean the brick?

  3 answers
  • Ken Erickson Ken Erickson on Dec 02, 2018

    Do you have glass doors? The doors will help keep the outside clean and minimize heat loss up the chimney. Most cleaners should work, but a stubborn soot removal method is diluted muriatic acid and a scrub brush. Follow safety precautions.

    • See 1 previous
    • Ken Erickson Ken Erickson on Dec 03, 2018

      You lose a lot more heat up the chimney with doors open. Our gas fireplace has a blower to transfer heat from box into the room. The fireplace has a glass panel that is only removed when I light the pilot light in the fall.

  • Jeanette S Jeanette S on Dec 02, 2018

    Dawn,

    One of the best solutions I have seen was on a "DIY" show where they put down plastic to catch the splatter, then sprayed it with "Scrubbing Bubbles" and used a stiff bristle brush to scrub the brick. You may have to experiment by starting with a small area and figure out how long before you sponge off the brick. If the bubbles turn dirty immediately, wipe down with a wet sponge and respray if need be.


    CAUTION: Be careful and do not apply too much pressure when cleaning brick because you do not want to break the baked finish. And don't get overly "energetic" and splash a mess all over the place.



    • See 1 previous
    • Lynn Sorrell Lynn Sorrell on Dec 02, 2018

      need vent open all the way for carbon monoxide fumes-acid will wreck floors make sure everything is covered well & it isn't tracked anywhere while your using it. it is caustic