Trash the Ash

It's that time of year when all you want to do it share a glass of eggnog infront of the fire with your family. Some of us share the moment with the log fireplace on TV, some gather around a gas fireplace and just some are lucky enough to make a real wood burning fire. Sometimes the idea of cleaning up the ashes is overwhelming and not worth the fire. Here is how to make trashing the ashes quick and painless.

You have two options to trash the ashes:

Option 1: A wet/dry vacuum (must be heavy duty) with a disposable bag will handle the job. Be sure to let the ashes cool for at least 4 days.

Option 2: After the ashes are completely cold, sprinkle them with damp tea leaves or coffee grounds to cover the stale smell and keep down dust. Scoop the pile with a fireplace shovel and dump it into a metal can/bucket, an old stockpot or clay flowerpot. Discard the mess outside, ideally in a metal trash container, but definitely away from your house.

To remove light soot or a cloudy film from glass doors, mix a solution of equal parts white vinegar and warm water and pour into a spray bottle. Spray on a paper towel and dip it into the fireplace ashes to use as a gentle abrasive (don’t be scared). To finish, spray glass and wipe clean with a microfiber cloth

 If you have smoke stains on your brick fireplace facing, begin by squirting them with water. This keeps the cleaning solution from soaking in too fast. Dip your brush in a solution of 1/4 cup all-purpose cleaner to 16 cups water (give spots a quick scrub) rinse with a clean sponge and let dry. For marble or other stones, squirt with water, then go over with a soft cloth dipped in mild dishwashing liquid and water. Rinse and wipe dry.

****Warning: If brick facing is more than 50 years old, it may crumble if you scrub with a cleaner. Just vacuum the surface with your soft-brush attachment****

Chimney Cleanup Made Easy
You will need: Dust mask, metal bucket with a lid to and a commercial cleaner designed to remove soot and smoke stains from brick, stone, and glass.
Also consider this: Schedule an annual chimney checkup with a professional.