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  How to clean interior fireplace brick??
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posted
What kind of solution is used to clean fireplace brick on the interior of a home? it is in need of a good cleaning to freshen it up..I am not talking about the inside where you put the wood I mean the brick going up the wall.

Can carpet cleaning people do that or who would clean fireplace brick inside a home?
Thanks!

This message has been edited. Last edited by: perplexed,
 
Posts: 815 | Registered: Mar 29, 2003Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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You mean the outside of the brick surround/mantel support area is smoked up?
For any brick or masonry cleaning TSP (trisodium phosphate or substitute) is the recommended cleaner. (this would work for the firebox area too, where the wood burns).

A solution of this mixed with water is sprayed on and scrubbed with a stiff brush. Some here have reported some success with Scrubbing Bubbles bathroom cleaner too.

If you do not want to do this yourself, then a cleaning/restoration company is your best bet. They do cleanup after house fires, and other disasters. Most will also do this type of single point cleaning as well as carpet cleaning.
 
Posts: 8523 | Location: Plains & Mountains | Registered: Jun 08, 2003Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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Yes around the mantel from floor to ceiling thanks,it is not smoked up but it just needs cleaning. It just seems to need to be freshened up. It is just dusty and looks like it would be brighter with a good cleaning.

Thanks!
 
Posts: 815 | Registered: Mar 29, 2003Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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If it is just dusty vacuum it using the dusting attachment. If you have a shop vac use that and you will get much better results than with a house vacuum. That's what I do. If it still looks dirty then do as Conrad suggested. But remember you always want to remove as much loose dirt first before washing it.
 
Posts: 2479 | Registered: Jan 08, 2008Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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Yes, as still tryin suggested, a strong vacuum with a stiff brush or working with a shop vacuum hose and a stiff paint brush along side should help with any dust. If the bricks are rough textured, you may very well have a lot of "stuff" to clean off.

If the vacuum job does not do it, you are not cleaning off smoke/soot, then just a brush, warm water with bit of Dawn detergent may be all you need.
 
Posts: 8523 | Location: Plains & Mountains | Registered: Jun 08, 2003Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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We Dyson the half-wall of brick behind our wood burner. A small, stiff brush for the mortar (old toothbrush).
We also have brick fronting a step from one room into the main part of the house.
The top of that brick got very dirty from use.
I sprayed with Simple Green, waited, used a small scrub brush. Those ends look quite good now.
No reason you couldn't try same on brick.
OR steam clean. I've done that, too.
If stubborn, spray Simple Green and then steam it off.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: M-ma,
 
Posts: 5849 | Location: western PA | Registered: Sep 20, 2002Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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