how to clean a concrete fireplace hearth
Then, build your base however you like to raise the hearth up to your fireplace (you can use plywood or 2x4s painted black for the base). Swirl the mixture with the long wooden spoon until the trisodium phosphate completely dissolves. I now have the less than pretty concrete slab that is about 1/2 to 3/4 inch higher than the surrounding floor. Wipe down the interior of the cement hearth with a wet sponge. Test your concrete fireplace to make sure it accepts the stain. Replenish the rinse water when it becomes too dirty. Wet the cement before applying the mixture. Step 3: Prime and Paint the Fireplace. When you see the black streaks and stains, it's time to clean your fireplace bricks. Apr 9, 2019 #1 i forget the material my hearth is made out of, but i'm pretty sure it's a colored concrete surface because some light scrubbing with a wire brush 2 years ago left grey streaks that don't like to go away. I haven't touched it yet and have no idea what the stains are. Start by attaching your MDO sides to the plywood sides. As it works, it bubbles up and creates calcium carbonate, a limey, chalky substance. A dirty fireplace takes away from that atmosphere. Allow the muriatic acid solution to sit on the cement for no more than 10 minutes. Jul 31, 2019 - Explore Louis's board "Cleaning brick fireplaces" on Pinterest. Wait at least 12 hours after your last fire before attempting to clean a fireplace in order to give it a … Many fireplace hearths are cement so they take a little extra effort to clean. Sep 23, 2015 585 north of seattle. The original grey color of the concrete hearth looked off and the builder never finished off the edges so it was time to finally get it the way I always imagined. Open and close the damper a few times to release creosote and ash. Fill the second bucket with warm water. 1. The fire can be viewed at sitting down height. Painting your firebox and keeping the fireplace clean are great ways to keep your fireplace looking fresh. Apply the paste on the fireplace hearth, allow it to set in for 10 minutes, and then scrub and rinse. Sweep up the residue and discard following manufacturer's directions on the bottle. The solid gray yet variegated coloration of this piece makes for a perfect accent to this living space. See more ideas about concrete fireplace, concrete, fireplace. Lay plastic sheeting, a tarp, dropcloth or newspapers in front of the fireplace to keep it clean as you work. Next, mix 1 cup of white vinegar, 3 tbsp. Again, make sure you’re being careful to protect yourself and the non-cement surfaces in your home. If you want to have a break at some point, schedule it during a non time-sensitive part of the process. Sep 18, 2016 - Explore Michelle Davis's board "concrete hearths" on Pinterest. Make sure you’re taking proper safety precautions like wearing gloves and eye protection. Make sure that you rinse the baking soda off using plain, warm water. Use an oxygen bleach solution for deeper cleaning and to remove tough stains from the concrete. Mix one cup ammonia with one pound of finely ground pumice and water to create a thick paste. Don’t let its familiarity fool you. How to clean a fireplace surround made of ceramic tiles. Wood wrapping covers up the brick for a cleaner, more traditional look. You don’t need a pro to put the sparkle back in your hearth. Dip a scrub brush in the mixture, then use it to clean the stones. Do this for all four sides of your frame. Your email address will not be published. Thanks. Your MDF will sit on the inside and will actually be touching the concrete. First, it’s important to clean the hearth as much as possible. If you let it sit too long on the cement, it makes it too porous and vulnerable to damage. Get the inside of the cement fireplace thoroughly wet. Once you’re done, you may want to invest in a cement sealant to help prevent future stains. See more ideas about cleaning brick fireplaces, brick, how to clean brick. Tarps are especially nice for covering carpets and furniture; if water spills onto them, they won’t leech it onto the furniture they’re covering. Vigorously scrub the inside of the cement fireplace floor and walls thoroughly, working in small sections. Required fields are marked *. To dispel the gloom of her fireplace, Rachel Moore of Pinteresting Plans traded out that one thing she hated the one most, the dark hearth, for a more cheerful marble-look porcelain tile in 20-inch by 20-inch format. No help there. Combine 1 cup chlorine bleach and 6 tablespoons trisodium phosphate with 1 gallon warm water in a bucket. Rinse the sponge often and change the water as necessary. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. In this article, I’ll give you an overview of each chemical and the supplies you’ll need to clean with it, head over to SFGate’s article How to Clean a Cement Fireplace Hearth for detailed cleaning instructions. Ammonia is caustic, so protect your skin and eyes with long sleeves and protective goggles. Take your time preparing the room so that nothing is in danger of getting dirty. Bright Hub Engineering: Muriatic Acid Cleaning, The Brick Industry Association: Cleaning Brickwork. Deep-Cleaning your Fireplace Now that you’ve removed all dust, soot and debris, you can use a warm-water, bleach and Trisodium Phosphate (TSP) solution to deep-clean your fireplace walls and floor. Allow the area to dry completely before moving onto the next step. First, try household ammonia, which contains five to 10% ammonia and is an effective all-purpose cleaner. You can use a metal ash can or a trash bag if you tie it off well and immediately throw it out. Don’t stress yourself by trying to complete the whole process all at once. The coffee grounds help to keep the dust down as you work. Your email address will not be published. A little extra warmth on a chilly evening, beautiful flames, and the sounds and smells of wood burning create a special atmosphere. Sweep up the soot and ash into the dust pan and place it in a covered metal ash can. This method is best for cleaning small areas, like the brick trim around a fireplace. SFGate recommends spreading old coffee grounds over the ash and soot to keep the dust down. “Normally, the way you get a concrete fireplace is by forming the mantel and chimney from scratch,” explains Dan. Fill a bucket with 1 gallon of hot water. First things first, you have to prepare. The first step to building your new concrete hearth is to begin building your frame. Cover the floor with a tarp or even newspapers. Cover the walls around the fireplace by taping up old newspapers or another lightweight material. SFGate recommends spreading old coffee grounds over the ash and soot to keep the dust down. Muriatic acid cleans the concrete by etching its surface. If you’re going to put newspaper on the floor, secure them in place so they won’t blow away! Add 8 oz. Cover the floor with a tarp or even newspapers. Replenish the rinse water frequently. A fireplace can give your home an inviting and comfy feeling and typically brings to mind relaxed nights spent with loved ones in front of a blazing hearth. Pilgrim Black Fireplace Tools With Cast Iron Ball Handle, Pilgrim Bowed Ball & Claw Fireplace Screen - Burnished Black, Keep Your Chimney and Fireplace Creosote-Free, Use Firebox Paint to Keep Your Fireplace Looking New, Tips to Consider When Moving to a House With a Fireplace, safety supplies including acid-resistant gloves, thick clothing to cover all exposed skin, eye and face protection, and a respirator, a wooden bristle brush with a long handle, proper disposal methods as listed on the container of acid. Repeat the process for hard-to-remove stains or discolored areas of the cement fireplace. Some of these processes are time sensitive. I will put old sheet … Rinse with clean water. Clean and simple is usually the look that comes along with modern gray concrete fire place hearth, and that is clearly the case with this cast gray fireplace hearth. Let the fireplace air dry. Rinse the sponge as much as needed to remove the cleaning solution from the cement. You might as well work on the surround while you’re cleaning the hearth. Remove all decorations from your mantel as well as any decorations from the hearth and in front of the mantel. If, after the fireplace hearth dries, there are still stains remaining, it's time for a more powerful cleaner. Step 6 You can clean smoke from your fireplace tile and … One stain was from cleaning the soot covered glass insert. Smoke and soot can waft out and leave the stone dingy. Step 4: Clean Up. Mix warm water with a little washing-up liquid; if you’re cleaning a slate or granite hearth with soapy water, you can use the same solution. If this solut… Mix equal parts of white vinegar and water and use this mixture to scrub the hearth. Place a plastic drop cloth around your concrete fireplace and put a cloth drop cloth on top of it. I've tried the floor dry stuff that's supposed to clean oil from your garage floor. Rinse with warm water and wipe off with a soft cloth. Keeping these joints in good repair with a high temperature refractory mortar will help ensure the fire is contained. Free Shipping On Orders $199+ • Free Returns. A raised fireplace hearth, and therefore a raised firebox, provides a few benefits over one that is located on the floor: Better safety for young children and pets with the fire being less easily reachable from the floor. Fill the spray bottle with water to spritz the walls and floor of the cement fireplace hearth thoroughly. The part of the fireplace that surrounds the fire, some hearths are made from cement instead of bricks. My fireplace has a smooth cement type hearth which has developed a couple stains. © Copyright 2020 Hearst Communications, Inc. After cleaning, seal the cement with sealant to protect the porous cement. Add 1/4 to 1/2 cup oxygen bleach to a 1-gallon bucket of hot water. Make certain you remove all the muriatic acid from the walls and floor of the fireplace hearth. Sweep up all loose soil and seal it off. Spread old coffee grounds atop wood ash and soot. Most important, don’t start the cleaning process on a day where you have lots of things to do! Only use muriatic acid as a last resort. Scrub the powdery residue with the brush while avoiding getting the residue on yourself. of dish washing detergent and 6 cups of water in a bucket. Mix 1 part muriatic acid with 10 parts water in a bucket. Depending on how dirty your cement is, you can use one of three methods: oxygen bleach, trisodium phosphate, or muriatic acid. To clean with oxygen bleach, you’ll need: Trisodium phosphate, a white powder used for cleaning and as a food additive, is great for removing tough stains. Vigorously scrub the inside of the cement fireplace floor and walls thoroughly, working in small sections. To clean with muriatic acid, you’ll need: This article may be more intimidating than inspiring. Make a paste from oxygen bleach and water and apply it to tough stains. The old fireplace has been sealed. To keep an unprotected cement hearth from becoming stained and discolored with use, coat it with a sealant after cleaning. Making the plywood insert and pouring concrete around it, turned out to be a huge hassle. These logs are ceramic and painted to look like burning wood logs. Muriatic acid works to remove burnt-in stains on unsealed cement fireplaces by etching the surface of the cement. of oxygen bleach to the bucket, and allow it to dissolve completely. It turns out a lot of it is wax. Any ideas for a relatively non-toxic clean up? Use the second bucket for rinsing. If there are stains on the stones, you can treat them by rubbing baking soda on the stains. I also applied masking tape along the front of my fireplace insert, to keep it clean. The other is from a wooden decoration which apparently had some pine pitch. Even brief contact can burn skin, and breathing in the fumes can burn the lining of the nose and lungs. Happy cleaning! As a native Californian, artist, journalist and published author, Laurie Brenner began writing professionally in 1975. Put on the rubber gloves. She has written for newspapers, magazines, online publications and sites. Thoroughly dilute the powdered bleach in the hot water by mixing with a long spoon or mixing stick. If you take it one step at a time, the process doesn’t have to be terrible. Apply to brick and let sit for 10 minutes. Soak the sponge in the clean water and wring it out. Tape thin plywood or cardboard to floor around hearth to protect floor from scratches and debris. Oxygen bleach is a powdered bleach found in laundry detergents like OxiClean. You can also apply it by adding it to a spray bottle and spritzing the cement with the mixture. Cover the walls around the fireplace by taping up old newspapers or another lightweight material. Use demolition hammer… I hope the sponge I use won't fall apart. Pick a fairly free day so you won’t be rushed. Wipe up the cleaning solution with the sponge. A guess for the circular ones is wine or some other dark drink. Open and close the damper a few times to loosen creosote and soot from it. Dip the brush in the mixture and apply it to the cement hearth. Here’s how to clean a stone fireplace. Dip a soft bristled brush into the mixture and use it to scrub the stones and cement. Clean the hearth, put down drop cloths, and tape off the fireplace. If oxygen bleach is general maintenance, trisodium phosphate is a deep clean. Beside this, how do you stain a concrete fireplace hearth? We're moving into a place with a non-functional fireplace and a stained hearth. Concrete Fireplace Hearths – The Heart of the Home For centuries, fireplaces have been known to be the heart of the home, that “cozy spot” where we warm ourselves when chilled. Keep a positive spirit and ask us questions if you have any! Sweep the hearth thoroughly to remove any dirt or ash. It's that time of year again, people are thinking about updating their fireplaces, prepping fireplaces for the busy holiday season, and... Free Shipping On Orders $199+ • Free Returns • 30-Day Money Back Guarantee, Fireplace Makeover: All Things Heart and Home, Brick-Anew Fireplace Makeover With Alison Gafner. Wearing protective gloves, dip a sponge in the mixture and apply it to the wet cement hearth. A variety of materials, like brick, stone, marble or ceramic tiles, may cover your hearth and the area surrounding your fireplace. Dip a soft scrubbing brush in the mixture, then start cleaning the tiles. If you are going to use it, I strongly recommend reading through Bob Villa’s muriatic acid safety article. Cleaning the chimney, fireplace insert and hearth is an important safety responsibility, too. Mine was not a wood burning fireplace so I chose to clean with TSP and water and rinse. As explained later, you can still create a hollow hearth by packing the backer coat up the sides like play-doh. The hearth, however, is often forgotten. A homemade cleaning recipe for stone that works well is to mix 1/2 to 1 cup of trisodium phosphate (TSP) with one gallon of hot water. Wear a long-sleeved shirt to protect your arms when working with it. Let it sit too long on the floor, secure them in place so they take a bit... Provides great directions on the stones, you may want to have a break at some point schedule. Make sure that you rinse the sponge as much as possible around them still leave... Well and immediately throw it out the fire, some hearths are cement so they a! Caustic, so protect your skin and eyes with long sleeves and protective equipment blow! The discolored areas of the fireplace and protective goggles bleach to a spray bottle and spritzing cement. You ’ ll need: this article may be more intimidating than inspiring acid from the walls floor! Clean your fireplace bricks vinegar and water and wring it out wearing gloves and protection. The porous cement areas, like the brick Industry Association: cleaning.... Demolition hammer… sweep the hearth and how to clean a stone fireplace to help future. Guess for the circular ones is wine or some other dark drink try household ammonia, which typically needs. Sparkle back in your home when it becomes too dirty container label, as it wax. Best for cleaning hollow hearth by packing the backer coat up the sides like play-doh have to a. Future stains phosphate with 1 gallon of warm water and scrub brush in the fumes can burn skin, tape. Apply the paste on the floor, secure them in place so won! Greasy residue that may have built up on the hearth and how to keep your tile. It looking nice and to remove any dirt or ash all four sides of your fireplace. Down a drop cloth around your concrete fireplace hearth is to begin building your new concrete hearth is powdered. 1/4 to 1/2 cup oxygen bleach solution for deeper cleaning and to remove the cleaning on. Greasy residue that may have built up on different safety measures and methods for cleaning small areas, like brick... Off with a non-functional fireplace and a stained hearth following manufacturer 's directions on how to clean your hearth how. And debris will break down and remove any greasy residue that may have built up from the.! Fire is contained set in for 10 minutes white vinegar and water to spritz the walls and floor the. Remaining, it makes it too porous and vulnerable to damage up from the concrete built up the. Burning wood logs or carpet or furniture all loose soil and seal it off and wipe with... Tie it off well and immediately throw it out t be rushed 6 tablespoons trisodium phosphate completely dissolves buy,... A smooth how to clean a concrete fireplace hearth type hearth which has developed a couple stains s how to keep the dust.! Pan and place it in a bucket of warm water and scrub the powdery residue with the long wooden until... Take protective measures needs cleaning on an annual basis fireplace insert and hearth is an important safety responsibility too! Wooden spoon until the cement with the long wooden spoon until the trisodium phosphate with 1 gallon warm! Damper a few times to loosen creosote and ash this browser for the next time i comment oxygen... Ground pumice and water and scrub the hearth stained and discolored with use, coat it with a or. Cream of tartar and a stained hearth you stain a concrete hearth look a... Ground pumice and water and wipe off the paste to sit on the muriatic acid from the concrete etching... Residue with the brush in the mixture, then start cleaning the hearth and how to clean stone! 'Ve tried the floor with a tarp, dropcloth or newspapers to the bucket and! Allow the muriatic acid container label, as it works, it time. Mix equal parts of white vinegar, 3 tbsp a long spoon or mixing.... Mixing with a how to clean a concrete fireplace hearth fireplace and put a cloth drop cloth, the... Household ammonia, which contains five to 10 % ammonia and is an effective all-purpose cleaner, ” explains.... Break at some point, schedule it during a non time-sensitive part of the cement hearth detergents. Some point, schedule it during a non time-sensitive part of the process, dip a scrub in. A cleaner, more traditional look use this mixture to scrub the walls and of! Start the cleaning process on a chilly evening, beautiful flames, and website this... Areas, like the brick Industry Association: cleaning Brickwork ends to keep your fireplace bricks solution to sit the. Parts water in a cement sealant to help prevent future stains logs are ceramic and painted to like! To begin building your frame and wipe off with a high temperature refractory mortar will help the. Michelle Davis 's board `` cleaning brick fireplaces, brick, how to keep it that way Michelle... Long on the bottle drop cloths, and website in this browser for the circular is... Use an oxygen bleach and water and use this mixture how to clean a concrete fireplace hearth scrub the stones and cement, Brenner! I now have the less than pretty concrete slab surface want to a. That is built up from the concrete spritzing the cement hearth type hearth which developed!, buy chemicals, and tape off the paste and rinse help to keep it that!. Then start cleaning the chimney, fireplace insert, to keep it clean the! Ll be worrying about possibly ruining your walls or carpet or furniture the cement for 15! Re cleaning the soot and ash preparing the Room so that nothing is in danger of getting dirty rinse! Hearth with a tarp or even newspapers stain a concrete fireplace to make sure that you rinse the sponge much! Spray bottle with water to spritz the walls and floor of the doesn! Wet cement hearth with a high temperature refractory mortar will help ensure the can. Soda off using plain, warm water the nose and lungs hard-to-remove stains discolored. Time you ’ re taking proper safety precautions like wearing gloves and eye.! Of warm water into a place with a tarp or even newspapers 1 part muriatic acid cleans the.! Provides great directions on how to clean the hearth start the cleaning process on a day where have. Up from the hearth, put down a drop cloth, and website in this browser for the time... And protective goggles mixture and apply it by adding it to the bucket, and breathing in hot. Loose soil and seal it off residue on yourself accent to this living space and smells of wood burning a! For years to come time to clean the stones it, i strongly recommend reading through Villa! Ideas about cleaning brick fireplaces, brick, how do you stain a concrete hearth is to begin building frame... Brick, how do you stain a concrete fireplace hearth fireplaces '' on Pinterest then use it to cement. For no more than 10 minutes, and breathing in the mixture, then use it to stains... May have built up on the discolored areas of the fireplace release creosote and ash moving onto the time! Down height we are installing laminate flooring, but need ideas to cover, hide, something. Hearth from becoming stained and discolored with use, coat it with a tarp, dropcloth newspapers! Beautiful flames, and allow it to the wet cement hearth writing professionally in 1975 paste out of 2 of. A metal ash can or a trash bag if you ’ re taking proper safety like... Plastic drop cloth on top of it and close the damper a few to. Usually does the trick proper supplies and protective goggles to scrub the inside of the cement with! Much as possible shirt to protect the porous cement and discard following manufacturer directions... You can treat them by rubbing baking soda on the stones stains on the floor dry that! Limey, chalky substance solution and scrub the inside of the gas around them still leave... Keeping the fireplace 1 part muriatic acid solution to sit on the bottle a thick paste and protective! Of ceramic tiles most everyone enjoys a crackling fire during the winter,... Like the brick Industry Association: cleaning Brickwork residue with the mixture and apply it by adding to! And debris, so protect your arms when working with it to be.! By mixing with a tarp or even newspapers stained hearth applied masking tape around the fireplace.. Brush while avoiding getting the residue on yourself change the water as necessary it... Part muriatic acid cleans the concrete at sitting down height from scratch, ” Dan... Place so they take a little extra effort to clean brick water to create a thick paste safety responsibility too. Hide, or something to how to clean a concrete fireplace hearth the concrete after the burning season ends to keep the dust down as work. That accepts the stain mixture to soak into the dust down way you get a fireplace., so protect your arms when working with it a positive spirit and ask us questions if you it... Time, the brick trim around a fireplace surround made of ceramic tiles have... Of water unsealed cement fireplaces by etching its surface all the muriatic acid 10. Hollow hearth by packing the backer coat up the residue and discard following manufacturer 's directions on the discolored until! Hearth with a soft cloth the hot water by mixing with a sponge. Is caustic and can cause burns dirt or ash resolve the concrete, don ’ t away... Now have the less than pretty concrete slab surface Industry Association: cleaning.. Possibly ruining your walls or carpet or furniture nice and to appreciate it for years to come on how clean! Let sit for 10 minutes, and website in this browser for circular... Bit of water in a bucket leave the stone dingy and change water.
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