Simple tricks for cleaning brickwork above a fireplace
First saturate with water so solution can work on surface grime, writes Jeanne Huber.
A fireplace is a wondrous thing and on practically everyone’s wish list, but it requires upkeep and maintenance and that includes keeping the surrounding brickwork clean, a specialized if simple process that you can do yourself — as long as you know what you’re doing.
Q I tried to wash bricks above a fireplace with soap and water, but I got an uneven result. How can I do a better job? A If you didn’t saturate the bricks with water before you applied the cleaning solution, that could explain the blotchiness.
The Brick Industry Association, a trade group, recommends starting the cleaning process by saturating the bricks with water, because that stops most of the cleaning solution from being absorbed into the bricks. The cleaner will then stay on the surface, where it can dislodge grime. Dry bricks absorb whatever liquid is applied, and if that’s dirty or soapy water, it can become difficult to rinse away.
You may have uneven results because the bricks absorbed cleaning solution that dripped from bricks higher up.
Outdoors, saturating bricks is easy: Just turn on a hose and make sure all the bricks get wet. Indoors, even if you mask surrounding surfaces with plastic sheeting, you obviously want to limit how much water you introduce. A masonry sponge, sold at home centres, makes a good tool for transferring water to bricks while minimizing drips. This type of sponge, sold for cleaning grout, holds a lot more water than typical household sponges.
So what to do now? Start by saturating the brick with water. Scrub with soapy water, using a clear soap or one labelled for use on brick. Scrub with a fibre or plastic-bristle brush, not one with metal bristles. Then rinse several times, using the masonry sponge. Rinse and re-wet the sponge with clear water as you go.
Once the brick dries, check again for stains. If smoke stains remain, the Brick Industry Association recommends using a stiff-bristle brush and scouring powder that contains bleach.
Again, rinse the residue thoroughly.