Everyone enjoys a nice, roaring fire, but very few of us like the black build-up that can accumulate over time. Smoke and soot can billow out and coat your brick or stone. The mantle, the firebox and every other area can become dingy and ugly over time. Most people think this is an impossible cleaning chore due to the dark black stains and the surface they are on, but as with any job, if you have the right tools, it is easy. Follow these easy steps to ensure you always have a clean fireplace.

Fireplace Maintenance:
In order to ensure safe efficient use of your fireplace, it will need regular care and cleaning. Creosote, a flammable tar like substance, accumulates in the chimney and flue and can be hazardous if it is not removed. Give your fireplace and its accessories routine cleaning throughout the wood-burning season to eliminate an accumulation of soot, ashes, and creosote tars. Here are some easy steps to take to keep you fireplace clean longer:

• Burn only seasoned, well-dried wood. This will eliminate soot, smoke and creosote accumulation.
• Inspect the firebox, flue, and chimney annually. Check for creosote build-up or blockage.
• Vacuum the hearth area weekly. Make sure all the embers have been extinguished for at least 12 hours.
• Do not use water to drown a fire unless there is an emergency. It will make a nasty paste out of the ashes.
• Never use an abrasive cleanser inside the fireplace. Many contain dangerous chemicals that will leave a flammable residue.
• When cleaning your fireplace, sprinkle damp coffee grounds over the cooled ashes to keep down the dust.

Soot and Smoke Residue Cleaning:
Most often when people recommend solutions to clean soot and tar off brick, they will suggest a harsh chemical cleanser, something involving a wire brush, or a solution of acid. Each of these methods is either too much effort, or too dangerous to be considered a good way to clean. The following is a short list of outdated brick cleaning methods. These are common, but require special steps or significant effort. For a quick and easy method that is also chemical free, read the section that follows.

Formula 1: Mix one ounce of soap and one ounce of table salt with enough water to make a cream. Rub mixture into brick surface with cloth; allow to dry at least ten minutes and remove with stiff brush. (the stiff brush part sounds like hard work-salt is not known for it’s cleaning ability)

Formula 2: Make a thick mixture of soap or detergent, pumice, a little ammonia and hot water. Paint the mixture on the surface and let dry. Rub off with a wet scrub brush. You are using alkali and a mild abrasive to remove the greasy soil. (quite a mixture…again with the stiff brush)

Formula 3: Shave a bar of naptha soap into a container and add 3 quarts of water. Bring mixture to a full boil until the soap melts. Cool. Add 1 cup ammonia and one pound of pumice. Mix thoroughly. Brush in onto all sooty surfaces and let stand one hour or more. Rub off with a stiff-bristle brush. Rinse “gook” away with warm water, then finish off with a medium to strong detergent and rinse again with warm water. (this sounds too hard to make…too many steps)

Formula 4: Dissolve 8 tablespoons (1/2 cup) Trisodium Phosphate (TSP) or Spic & Span in one gallon of hot water. With stiff scrub brush, scrub brick surface. Rinse with plenty of warm water. Repeat if soot or greasy stain is not removed. More TSP may be added if necessary, up to 1 cup per gallon. This is a very strong solution; avoid getting on skin, carpet, or fabrics. (acid is dangerous and better left to the pros)

All of the previous methods involve using a stiff brush to scrub away the soot. Using a scrub brush and water would produce similar results because it is the elbow grease doing the cleaning. Save yourself time and effort when cleaning soot stains from brick, stone walls, carpet and more by using Quick n Brite.

The Easiest Way to Remove Soot Residue:
Using Quick n Brite is the easiest way to clean hundreds of things all over your home office or vehicle, but it works great on soot, creosote and tar specifically. It is an enzyme cleaner, so it is designed to break apart and remove organic stains and build-up with little effort. There are no chemicals or harsh substances involved and you won’t have to drive yourself crazy scrubbing either. QnB will make quick work of any soot or tar stain on any surface. You don’t have to worry about it ruining anything you use it on and it is so safe you don’t nered to wear gloves when you clean with it. Just apply the cleaner and let it do the work for you. Your fireplace will be left looking like new after you clean it with Quick n Brite.

How To Use It:
It is important to remove any loose particles with a vacuum in order to make the job easier. This way you are only using Quick n Brite to remove the stain and you are not creating a bigger mess by wetting ashes or other loose chunks. To clean any affected surface use a wet brush or scrub sponge to apply the cleaner. You can use either the paste or the liquid, but you should apply it full strength. Work it into the stains using a circular motion(like waxing a car). Once it is on, just let the cleaner sit for 10-15 minutes to allow it time to work. After that, take spray bottle with plain water in it and rinse the area. Take a dry terry cloth towel to completely buff out the stain. For extremely bad areas, repeat the process, if necessary. You can use it on the hearth, the mantle, the screen, glass doors, surrounding walls, the carpet and more. QnB will remove smoke, soot, creosote and pitch.

Buy it for your fireplace and use it everywhere else when you are done. Quick n Brite is the best stain fighter, tub and tile cleaner, carpet shampoo and more. It has hundreds of uses unlike other specialty cleaners. It is also 100% biodegradable and chemical-free. It is totally safe around children and pets, yet works better than virtually anything else on the market.

In case you are still undecided, Quick n Brite comes with a full money back guarantee from the manufacturer and a 100% satisfaction guarantee from us. If you are not happy, or it doesn’t work like we say it does, you can return it for a full refund.