How to Clean Soot Off Brick Fireplaces

Fireplace with black soot inside and burning wood stacked by branches in orange vase

The Spruce / Nanor Zinzalian

Learning how to clean soot off brick can help you keep your fireplace looking clean even with regular use. When soot accumulates, it leaves the odor of smoke and unsightly black stains on walls, ceramic tiles, grout, carpets, drapes, upholstery, painted surfaces, and brick. Remove soot promptly, as it can eventually permanently damage porous surfaces. The sooner you clean away soot discoloration on fireplace bricks, the easier the job will be.

Nothing symbolizes a cozy home more than a gas or wood-burning fireplace. But no matter how carefully you maintain the fire, eventually, even a gas fireplace will need cleaning. Soot will escape the firebox and scatter onto the bricks of the surrounding facade and hearth. Soot refers to fine, black particulates that occur when any organic and carbon-filled materials are not burned completely. When you see the black streaks and stains, it's time to clean your fireplace bricks.

What You'll Need

Equipment / Tools

  • 2 Buckets
  • 2 Sponges
  • 1 Scrubbing Brush
  • 1 Spray Bottle

Materials

  • Dishwashing Liquid
  • Distilled White Vinegar
  • Table Salt
  • Water

Instructions

Before You Begin

There are a few things to do before cleaning soot from your fireplace. First, protect your flooring from any spills or stains with a waterproof drop cloth. Next, clean out ashes and debris from the fireplace when cold and dispose of them safely. Finally, vacuum the hearth and fireplace surround to remove as much soot and dust as possible. Clear the mantle of any decorative items to prevent excessive dust from settling on them, as well.

Fireplace soot and dirt vacuumed with long handle

The Spruce / Nanor Zinzalian

Dish soap and salt is the mildest method to clean soot off brick fireplaces. It's best to try this method before attempting to clean the fireplace with chemicals.

Materials and tools to clean inside fireplace

The Spruce / Nanor Zinzalian

How to Clean Soot Off Bricks With Dish Soap and Salt

  1. Mix Dish Detergent and Water

    Pour one gallon of warm water and two tablespoons of a dishwashing liquid with grease cutters into one bucket. Fill the second bucket with one gallon of cool water and add one cup distilled white vinegar.

    Gallon of warm water poured into white bucket in front of fireplace

    The Spruce / Nanor Zinzalian

  2. Spritz the Stained Areas

    Fill the spray bottle with plain water and spritz the stained areas. You may want to work in small areas at a time to prevent the brick from drying out.

    Spray bottle spraying water inside fireplace soot stained walls

    The Spruce / Nanor Zinzalian

  3. Prepare the Scrub Brush

    Dip the scrub brush into the dishwashing liquid solution and then sprinkle the brush liberally with table salt. The salt will act as a mild abrasive to loosen the soot from the brick. Now, use some elbow grease and scrub the sooty areas.

    Scrub brush sprinkled with table salt next to white bucket with dishwashing liquid and glass container with salt

    The Spruce / Nanor Zinzalian

  4. Rinse Away

    Use one sponge to wipe away the cleaning solution and loosened soot. Dip the second sponge in the water and vinegar solution and wipe down the cleaned area. The vinegar will help remove any soapy residue and dispel smoky odors.

    Sponge squeezed over bucket with water and vinegar solution to rinse fireplace

    The Spruce / Nanor Zinzalian

  5. Repeat

    If the bricks are still stained, repeat the steps with fresh cleaning solutions or move to one of the more aggressive cleaning methods.

    Scrub brush rubbing against fireplace walls

    The Spruce / Nanor Zinzalian

Tip

Once the soot is removed, you may discover some rust stains left from metal fireplace accessories. Removing these stains requires the use of oxalic acid. Follow product directions carefully.

How to Clean Soot Off Bricks With Dish Soap, Ammonia, and Pumice

If the dishwashing liquid and salt won't remove the soot, up your game by strengthening your cleaning solution. You will need household ammonia and fine-ground powdered pumice. Gather two buckets, two sponges, a scrub brush and a spray bottle. Make sure that the room is well-ventilated because ammonia fumes can be powerful.

  1. Add one-fourth to one-half cup of household ammonia to the cleaning solution. Fill your second bucket with another gallon of cool water and a cup of vinegar.
  2. Dip your scrub brush into the strengthened solution and sprinkle on the powdered pumice.
  3. Scrub the sooty areas allowing the pumice to act as an abrasive to remove the residue.
  4. Rinse away the cleaning solution with the first sponge and wipe it again with the second sponge soaked in your vinegar solution. This will help neutralize the sooty odor.

Is your fireplace particularly dirty? Try this next method to tackle the most stubborn soot stains.

How to Clean Fireplace Bricks With Trisodium Phosphate (TSP)

Trisodium phosphate is a powerful cleaner and will remove the toughest soot stains on fireplace brick.

Warning

TSP is highly toxic and must be used with care. Full protective gear like rubber gloves, eye protection, a respiratory mask, a long-sleeved shirt, and long pants are required. TSP can damage ceramic tile, metal, fabrics, carpets, and painted and finished surfaces.

  1. Mix a cleaning solution of one gallon of hot water and eight tablespoons (one-half cup) of TSP in a bucket. Fill a second bucket with plain cool water.
  2. Dip a scrub brush in the TSP solution and apply some elbow grease to the stained areas. Do not allow the solution to come in contact with your skin.
  3. Use a damp sponge to wipe away the cleaning solution and soot. Finish by dipping a clean second sponge in the plain water for a final rinse.
  4. If the soot is not removed, repeat the steps. You can use up to one cup of TSP per gallon of hot water if needed.

Tips to Keep Your Fireplace Bricks Clean Longer

  • Spot clean any soot or grime with a paste of a few tablespoons of cream of tartar or baking soda and a small amount of water. Let it sit for about 5 minutes, then scrub lightly with a scrub brush and rinse.
  • Use the right type of firewood that has a cleaner burn, producing less smoke and soot. This includes hardwoods such as oak, ash, and maple; and softwoods such as fir, spruce, and pine.
  • Use a fireplace screen. Not only does it safeguard against flying embers from an open fire, but it contains ashes and soot inside the fireplace.
FAQ
  • What is the best cleaner for soot on brick?

    The best cleaner for soot on brick is a solution comprised of dishwashing soap and an abrasive element such as salt or fine-ground pumice stones.

  • Can you pressure wash soot off brick?

    It's not recommended to pressure wash brick unless you can use very minimal pressure. Bricks and mortar are porous, so too much pressure may lead to damage and deterioration.

  • Is soot a permanent stain?

    Soot can lead to staining if not treated in a timely manner. The sooner you can remove the soot, the less time it will have to set and penetrate the material permanently.

The Spruce uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
  1. Trisodium Phosphate Poisoning. United States National Library of Medicine.