How To Safely Clean The Ash From Your Fireplace
Posted on: 7 January 2020
If you have a fireplace, you need to know how to do more than start a fire; you also need to know how to keep your fireplace clean on a regular basis. Part of keeping the fireplace clean is knowing how to clean up and remove the ash that builds up in your fireplace.
Wait for Your Fireplace to Cool Off
The first thing you need to do is wait for your fireplace to cool off. You don't want to clean up the ash when you have an active fire happening or when you still have hot embers in your fireplace. Ideally, you want to wait a full twenty-four hours for your fireplace to cool off, although that is not always possible in the wintertime when you are using your fireplace on a consistent and regular basis.
Protect the Immediate Area
Next, before you dig in and start cleaning up the ash, you need to protect the immediate area around the fireplace. Ash is a fine substance, and once you start moving it, it can get in the air and get on nearby items.
You are going to want to spread a towel or sheet around the base of your fireplace to protect the flooring. If you have any furniture that is located right next to your fireplace, put a sheet over it as well.
Prepare Yourself
Cleaning up ash can be a messy job, so you are going to want to wear some old, grubby clothing that you don't mind getting a little dirty. You don't want to breathe in the ash and soot, so you should wear a face mask. Put on some protective eyewear as well, and if you have long hair, pull it back.
Get Your Supplies Ready
To clean your fireplace, you are going to want a paper bag for putting the ash in. You are also going to want a small handheld broom and dustpan. You may also want a small handheld vacuum.
Cleaning Up the Ash
If the ash is really thick in your fireplace, you can start by just scooping up the ash with the dustpan. As you reduce the amount of ash in the fireplace, use the handheld broom to sweep the ash into a small pile and then sweep it into the dustpan.
Once you get down to just very small particles of ash, remove the trash bag from the area and use the handheld vacuum to clean up the rest of the ash. Use a damp rag to clean the inside of the fireplace and get rid of any remaining residue.
Wipe off the vacuum, and use the vacuum to clean up any ash that got on the surrounding areas. Remove the coverings and vacuum the floor and nearby furniture.
It is important to remove the ash from your fireplace on a regular basis. You don't want the ash to build up too thick. This is something you need to do throughout the winter. At least once a winter, you also need to get your fireplace and chimney taken care of by a fireplace cleaning service.
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