The Millstone Times January 2020

HOME IMPROVEMENT Swipe Away Fireplace Soot With Baking Soda By, Lauren Kowlacki Everyone loves a warm, crackling fire — but maybe not the smoky buildup and soot it leaves behind on your brick and glass. To clean fireplace glass without leaving a scratch, crumple a piece of newspaper, wet it, then sprinkle some baking soda on it. Rub the dirty area of the glass, then wipe clean with a damp clean cloth.

For larger areas, such as the inside of your fireplace, you can clean the inside of your fireplace using dish soap and baking soda. Again, spot test a small out-of-the-way area first. You’ll also want to remove grates or andirons and set them on a sheet or towel. 1. Mix 3 tablespoons of dish soap with ½ cup of baking soda to make a paste. The paste should be thin and easy to spread, so add more dish soap if you need to. 2. Dip a scrub brush into the paste and work your way up the inner fire- place wall using small circular motions. Let this solution sit for three to five minutes. 3. Rinse the paste off with warm water. 4. Reapply and repeat as necessary.

Knowing how to clean a fireplace at the end of the colder months can make the idea of lighting that cozy fire a bit more enticing. So, until the weather warms up, keep your hearth soot free and enjoy the crackling sounds of the fire that makes your home seem that much cozier.

60 The Millstone Times

January 2020