cleaning bricks on a fireplace (my fireplace, washer, color, stone)

[surfingatwork]

I need to clean the outside of my fireplace (it's brick) and I don't know what to use that won't damage the bricks. I need to clean the soot (sp? - the black stuff) off the bricks. any advice/suggestions is greatly appreciated. thanks all.

[cynwldkat]

A friend of mine did the inside of her fireplace but it was also for the soot etc. She said she used "Greased Lightening" and it worked great for her. My sister tried "Simple Green" and it worked OK. I think I'd go with trying the "Greased Lightening" if I were you.

[K'ledgeBldr]

My brick mason always used a product called Sur-Clean (if I remember correctly). It is designed specifically for brick. It's better on the brick than muriatic acid (which can sometimes discolor the mortar). Spray on, let sit, and hit it with pressure washer.
But if your talking about the surround (facing around the firebox), a pressure washer may not be the right thing to use. Just use elbow grease and a stiff bristle brush.

[surfingatwork]

when you say inside do you mean literally inside the fireplace on inside the house. i'm referring to the outside part of the fireplace (surround) but inside the house. Greased lighting really?

[surfingatwork]

Originally Posted by K'ledgeBldr

My brick mason always used a product called Sur-Clean (if I remember correctly). It is designed specifically for brick. It's better on the brick than muriatic acid (which can sometimes discolor the mortar). Spray on, let sit, and hit it with pressure washer.
But if your talking about the surround (facing around the firebox), a pressure washer may not be the right thing to use. Just use elbow grease and a stiff bristle brush.

yup talking about the surround (couldn't think of the word until just now). power washer not a good idea inside a house.

[cynwldkat]

So sorry. I guess I thought you could read my mind. Inside the house on the outside part of the fireplace. Yes, she had tried several different products but found the Greased Lightening to work the best. She sprayed it with the Greased Lightening and then brushed it and then wiped it off. You may need to let it sit for a few minutes to soak in.......

[surfingatwork]

Originally Posted by cynwldkat

So sorry. I guess I thought you could read my mind. Inside the house on the outside part of the fireplace. Yes, she had tried several different products but found the Greased Lightening to work the best. She sprayed it with the Greased Lightening and then brushed it and then wiped it off. You may need to let it sit for a few minutes to soak in.......

great. thanks. guess what I'll be doing this weekend.

[Tesaje]

Watch out using Simple Green. It sometimes stains with its green color!

The soot on the outside of the surround means you don't have a good draw up the chimney.

[surfingatwork]

Originally Posted by Tesaje

Watch out using Simple Green. It sometimes stains with its green color!

The soot on the outside of the surround means you don't have a good draw up the chimney.

What do you mean when you say a good draw? Some of the soot is actually on the upper part of the fireplace (above the mantle i have two stones that stick out and act as shelves the soot is on the bottom side of one stone) from a candle (thanks to hubby)

[Mike78613]

Since were talking about brick cleaning. I like to ask one also


I have a limestone fireplace.
last year I got some black smoke that stained the limestone. I tried to scrub it, use bleach and none of it worked. Anyone know what can remove smoke stains of a lime stone fireplace? No I can't power-wash it

Thanks