How to Clean Dirty Fireplace Bricks

Fireplaces have been a source of warmth, comfort, and relaxation for centuries. The crackling sound of burning wood, the flickering flames, and the radiant heat create a cozy and inviting atmosphere. Many people find sitting by a fireplace to be a peaceful and comforting experience, especially during colder seasons and holiday gatherings. Because of this, cleaning dirty fireplace bricks will help keep that comforting experience going.

Beyond the physical warmth, there’s something inherently soothing about watching the flames dance and hearing the sounds of the fire. It can be a great place to unwind, read a book, have a conversation, or simply enjoy some quiet time. Fireplaces also add a touch of ambiance and aesthetics to a room, making it feel more inviting and homey.

Whether it’s a traditional wood burning fireplace, a gas fireplace, or even an electric one, each type has its own charm and benefits. The choice often depends on personal preferences, convenience, and the available infrastructure.

Overall, the cozy and relaxing nature of a fireplace contributes to the overall sense of well-being and can turn a house into a home.

But, how do you go about cleaning dirty fireplace bricks? I pulled out my cleaning books, did a little research, and found some of the best ways to clean fireplace brick. Now I can relax knowing that a little dirty soot won’t put a damper on my holiday mood.

If you are fortunate enough to have a real brick fireplace, follow these tips to clean your brick and keep your fireplace looking great. Then you can relax too.

What’s The Problem with Dirty Fireplace Bricks?

Soot

Soot is a black powder made from incomplete burning of wood, coal, or other organic matter. It consists primarily of fine carbon particles and can contain oily or tar-like residues.

Even very small amounts of soot can cause problems by discoloring walls and ceilings, which is sometimes called “ghosting.” Soot is a tough thing to clean for 3 reasons:

1. Black carbon particles can easily stain most surfaces.
2. Smoke particles are very small and difficult to remove completely.
3. Soot can contain oily residues that make it smear and cling to surfaces.

Brick

Bricks are made of clay that is shaped and then baked in a kiln to make them strong and durable.

Bricks can be sealed or unsealed. The inside of the fireplace is usually unsealed. Some lucky folks with shiny brick fireplaces have brick that has been treated with a penetrating sealer or oil. Sealed brick is more resistant to soot stains.

Soot will not stain as easily and usually comes off sealed brick with just soap and water. Use caution with stronger cleaners on sealed brick to avoid stripping or damaging the finish.

Brick that has a dull, flat appearance is often unsealed brick. It is harder to clean because soot, dirt, and grime can penetrate easily into cracks and crevices.

Safety First When Cleaning Dirty Fireplace Bricks

Before you tackle cleaning dirty fireplace bricks, there are a few safety tips when cleaning brick that you should follow:

• Wear rubber gloves to protect your skin. The brick itself, not to mention cleaners, can be hard on your hands.
• Use goggles to protect your eyes from splattering. Dirt, grit, and cleaning solutions can cause eye injuries.
• Make sure the fireplace is completely cold and all ashes have been removed before cleaning.
• Always rinse cleaning solutions completely from the brick before trying another cleaning solution.
• TSP can severely burn your eyes and skin, so wear goggles, protective gloves, and clothing that covers your arms and legs.
• Read the cleaning product instructions and follow all directions before using.
• Keep the room well ventilated, especially when using ammonia.
• Never mix cleaning chemicals with one another. In particular, never mix ammonia with bleach.

Tools for Cleaning Dirty Fireplace Bricks

Get your supplies together before you start cleaning the dirty fireplace brick. It’s more efficient, and you won’t have to stop in the middle of cleaning to get another item, possibly getting distracted, or dripping your cleaning solution on the floor, etc.

• Nylon bristle brush
• Sponge
• Paint brush
• Green scrubby
• Spray bottle
• Cleaning rags
• Vacuum cleaner (preferably HEPA-filtered) or broom
• Dry soot-cleaning sponge
• Drop cloth
• Rubber gloves
• Goggles

Prep Work Before Cleaning Dirty Fireplace Bricks

Prep work is very important to start getting your brick clean.

The easiest and most efficient way to start is to remove loose dirt, dust, and cobwebs from the brick wall, fireplace, fireplace surround, or floor before using any cleaning solutions.

Because brick tends to collect dust and cobwebs, vacuuming is a good way to prepare the surface. A HEPA filtered vacuum is especially helpful for fine soot particles. You can also use a dry soot cleaning sponge to remove loose surface soot before introducing water. Avoid rubbing dry soot with a wet rag, as this can spread it and push it deeper into the brick.

1. Lay a plastic drop cloth or an old tarp in front of the fireplace to protect the floor from soot, drips, and cleaning solutions. You can also use old towels or rags around the edges to catch any spills.
2. Use a vacuum with a brush attachment to gently remove loose dirt and dust. Make sure the brush attachment is clean before using it on other surfaces, so you don’t transfer soot and grime to furniture, upholstery, or floors.
3. A broom can be used for larger debris. Once the brick gets wet, you want to avoid scrubbing extra dirty water that you wouldn’t have to.

Now that you have everything ready, get on those gloves and goggles and let’s get busy cleaning that brick!

Different Methods for Cleaning Dirty Fireplace Bricks

The cleaning solutions are listed in order of their chemical aggressiveness. It’s recommended to start with the least aggressive method first and, if needed, work your way up to the stronger cleaners.

It’s likely you won’t need to use all of the cleaning solutions listed. But there are several options for a thorough cleaning.

• Dishwashing liquid (like Dawn)
• Table salt
• Borax (like 20 Mule Team)
• Ammonia
• Trisodium Phosphate (TSP)

The trick of how to clean brick is part cleaning solution and part “elbow grease.” The dirtier the bricks are, the more scrubbing you may need to remove the soot from the bricks completely.

If your brick is really, really dirty – I’d still clean it first with Dawn to remove the greasy grime, rather than proceeding straight to stronger methods like TSP. You’ll get better grease removal by starting with the detergent.

Use caution if your brick is painted or sealed. Use less force when scrubbing and test your cleaning solution in an inconspicuous place to be sure it will not damage the surface.

And before I forget – bristle brushes can spatter cleaning solutions, so wear clothes you don’t mind getting stained or grimy!

Method 1: Dishwashing Detergent (Like Dawn)

This is the easiest and quickest method to remove most dirt and dust from fireplace brick that will not come off with a vacuum.

Dishwashing detergent is a degreaser, which is great for removing greasy tar and smoke residues. Regular dishwashing detergent is a good starting point for cleaning brick.

Combine water and dish detergent in a spray bottle. Use a second spray bottle filled with plain water to rinse.

Cleaning Solution:

• 1/2 cup dish detergent
• 4 cups hot water

Cleaning Process:

1. Spray cleaning solution on a small section of brick.
2. Scrub with a nylon bristle brush.
3. Rinse with clean water.
4. Dry with a clean, dry cloth.

Method 2: Dishwashing Detergent and Salt

Salt is an inexpensive abrasive that provides some extra scrubbing power that plain detergent and water can’t provide. Use this to scrub away extra stubborn spots from the fireplace brick that the dish soap and water won’t clean off.

Cleaning Solution:

• 1 cup dish soap
• 1 cup table salt

Cleaning Process:

1. Mix the salt and dishwashing liquid into a paste.
2. Scoop some of the solution onto a rag and rub the solution into the brick.
3. Let the paste sit for a few minutes.
4. Use a nylon scrub brush or green scrubby and gently scrub to remove the grime.
5. Rinse the brick thoroughly with clean water.
6. Vacuum up any remaining salt debris after the brick has dried.

Use this abrasive paste sparingly, especially on softer, older, painted, or sealed brick.

Method 3: Borax and Dishwashing Detergent

Borax is an alkaline mineral that boosts the cleaning power of detergents. Its alkalinity helps loosen greasy dirt and grime.

Borax is sometimes described as an oxygen cleaner, but it is not the same as oxygen bleach.

Cleaning Solution:

• 2 Tablespoons Borax
• 1 Tablespoon dishwashing liquid
• 4 cups hot water

Cleaning Process:

1. Put the Borax in a 32 oz. spray bottle and add 4 cups hot water. (Hot water helps dissolve the Borax.)
2. Shake vigorously to completely dissolve the Borax.
3. Add 1 Tablespoon of dish soap and swirl to mix.
4. Spray a section of bricks with the cleaning solution.
5. Scrub each brick with the nylon bristle brush or green scrubby. (The bristle brush will work best.) Move the brush in a circular motion to get into all the cracks and crevices on the brick and mortar.
6. If the bricks are especially dirty, you may need to apply more pressure.
7. If you are having trouble removing the dirt, you may need to use more scrubbing or select a stiffer nylon brush.
8. After you scrub each brick or section of bricks, use a clean damp rag to wipe away the grime.
9. It may be necessary to repeat this process more than once.

You can optionally make this cleaning solution in a bucket and use a paint brush or sponge to apply it to the brick.

Method 4: Ammonia and Dishwashing Detergent

Ammonia is a stronger alkaline cleaner that can help cut through greasy soot and smoke residues. This method is best reserved for stubborn grime that hasn’t come off with the milder cleaning solutions and don’t forget to wear protective protection.

Cleaning Solution:

• 1/2 cup household ammonia
• 1/4 cup dishwashing soap
• 4 cups water

Cleaning Process:

1. Put 4 cups of water in a spray bottle or cleaning bucket.
2. Add 1/2 cup of ammonia and 1/4 cup dishwashing liquid and swirl to mix.
3. Lightly wet a section of bricks with the cleaning solution.
4. Scrub each brick with the nylon bristle brush. Move the brush in a circular motion to get into all the cracks and crevices on the brick and mortar.
5. If the bricks are especially dirty, you may need to apply more pressure.
6. If you are having trouble removing the dirt, use more scrubbing or select a stiffer nylon brush.
7. After you scrub each brick or section of bricks, use a clean damp rag to wipe away the grime.
8. Rinse thoroughly with clean water and allow the brick to dry.

You can optionally make this cleaning solution in a bucket and use a paint brush or sponge to apply it to the brick.

Never use ammonia on brick that still has bleach or another cleaning chemical on it. Rinse away previous cleaners thoroughly before switching methods.

Method 5: Trisodium Phosphate (TSP)

TSP is a strong cleaning solution and heavy duty degreaser that can be used to remove stubborn greasy grime, smoke, and soot stains. It is also used in some professional cleaning and restoration work.

You can purchase TSP sometimes at grocery stores, but it is most commonly found at home improvement stores.

TSP is a powerful alkaline cleaner. It can damage or dull some finishes, discolor certain metals, and harm painted or finished surfaces. Protect nearby flooring, woodwork, metal, and other surfaces from splashes.

TSP cleaning solution is stronger than the solutions above, so be sure to wear your rubber gloves and goggles for eye protection. Make sure you put down your tarp to avoid getting TSP on carpet, flooring, or any other surface.

TSP powder dust can irritate the nose, eyes, and lungs. Avoid breathing in the powder when measuring and mixing it.

Cleaning Solution:

• 1/8 cup TSP
• 1 gallon of hot water

Cleaning Process:

1. Mix 1/8 cup of Trisodium Phosphate (TSP) in 1 gallon of hot water.
2. Apply to the brick using a paint brush or soft sponge.
3. Scrub stubborn areas with a nylon bristle brush if needed, working carefully to avoid splattering the solution.
4. Rinse completely with clean water.
5. Repeat if soot or greasy stains remain.

Additional Stain Removal When Cleaning Dirty Fireplace Bricks

If you are still having problems, there are a few other types of stains you might encounter. Not every dark or discolored spot on fireplace brick is soot, and different stains may need different treatments.

Red, orange, or brown stains could be rust or iron staining, which needs a different cleaner. Oxalic acid is sometimes used in masonry cleaners to remove iron stains, but it is a strong chemical and should not be treated as an ordinary household cleaning solution.

Mold and mildew can cause green, black, or dark-colored staining, especially in damp areas. Color alone won’t tell you whether a stain is mold, soot, or another type of buildup. If you find mold on fireplace brick, the moisture problem needs to be corrected. Mold on hard surfaces can generally be scrubbed away and removed, but the brick should be dried thoroughly afterward. Bleach is not a routine solution for mold on porous materials.

A white hazy stain on the brick is called efflorescence. It’s caused by water moving through the brick or mortar and carrying dissolved mineral salts to the surface. As the water evaporates, the salts remain behind.

Try brushing away dry efflorescence with a stiff nylon brush first. If it keeps returning, there may be an ongoing moisture problem that needs to be addressed. Avoid using pumice stones or muriatic acid as a routine cleaning method because aggressive abrasion and acids can damage the brick and mortar.

There’s just one other cleaner that is stronger than TSP and that can be used to clean certain masonry stains. It’s called muriatic acid. Muriatic acid is a chemical that is very hazardous. It can etch brick and damage mortar, so I wouldn’t touch it with a 10-foot pole for ordinary fireplace cleaning.

If you have tried everything you can think of and the stains still don’t come off, call a brick cleaning professional.

Cleaning Dirty Fireplace Bricks

These are several methods that you can use to clean dirty fireplace brick or other brick surfaces inside your home.

Start with the mildest cleaning method and work your way up only if necessary. With a little patience, the right cleaning solution, and some elbow grease, you can get rid of stubborn soot and grime and enjoy your fireplace again.

So, regardless if your lights are low or your room is bright and sunny, you can relax knowing that you can give soot the boot.

Household Cleaners