Get That Ash and Soot Handled Right
When you have a fireplace in your home, it's unavoidable to have ash and soot inside. You will need to take care of them periodically in order to keep your fireplace looking clean. However, you need to make sure you handle them right.
If you have a fireplace in your home,
then you will certainly have ash and soot inside. You will need to take care of them periodically in order to keep your fireplace looking clean. However, you need to make sure you handle them right.
To get rid of ash, you should consider investing in a specialized ash vacuum. It will make it very easy for you to get your all of the ash out of your fireplace. However, you would need to be prepared to pay quite a bit of money for this specialized appliance.
A much cheaper solution would be to use a typical wet/dry vacuum. You just need to make sure the vacuum has a disposable bag. You will want to get rid of the bag after all of the ash has been removed from the fireplace.
When using a vacuum to get ashes out of your fireplace, it is important for you to allow them to cool down beforehand. The ashes can be quite hot without you even realizing it. You definitely do not want to put in a lot of hot ashes inside the vacuum bag because it will cause damage.
It can take quite a while for the ashes to cool down enough to be vacuumed up. It is best to leave the ashes where they are for a period of three to four days. Make sure that you do not use the fireplace and create new ashes in this time.
One of the easiest ways to deal with ashes is to obtain a fireplace ash tray. You would simply need to put it on the floor of your firebox. Whenever the pile of ashes gets too big, you simply need to remove the tray and dump them out. You will not need all the typical tools such as a broom, shovel, or vacuum.
When it comes to dealing with soot, it is best to buy a commercial cleaner. You certainly will not be able to wipe it off with just a cloth. You can also make homemade solutions to get rid of soot. A combination of bleach, hot water, and detergent will get the job done. A combination of vinegar and warm water should work too.
To keep your fireplace looking clean, you will need to get the ashes and soot up periodically. If you follow these tips, you will be able to do so with ease. It is certainly not a difficult maintenance task.
