How to Clean a Stone Fireplace to Its Natural Beauty With TSP

Stone fireplaces provide warmth, comfort and beauty during the cool seasons. With frequent use, soot and smoke can build up on the stone, leaving black stains all over the fireplace. Trisodium phosphate, commonly known as TSP, can remove tough soot stains from porous natural stone. Deep-clean your stone fireplace at least once a year to maintain its natural beauty.

Dropcloth or old sheets
2 buckets
TSP
Utility vacuum
Scrub brush
Cloth or sponge
Chlorine bleach (optional)

Instructions

- 1
  Place a dropcloth or newspapers in front of the fireplace to protect the floor from soot. Remove any items on or around the fireplace.
- 2
  Remove the grates and andirons from the fireplace. Take them outside, and scrub off any soot with a scrub brush.
- 3
  Vacuum soot and cold ashes from the fireplace with a utility vacuum.
- 4
  Fill a bucket with 1 gallon of hot water. Add 6 tablespoons of TSP to the bucket. If desired, add 1 cup of liquid chlorine bleach for extra cleaning power. Fill another bucket with clean water. Set the buckets near the fireplace on the dropcloth.
- 5
  Dip a scrub brush into the TSP solution, and scrub the stone fireplace thoroughly. Work on one small section at a time, rinsing the area with clean water before you move on to the next. Allow the fireplace to air-dry.
- 6
  Replace the grates and andirons when the stone fireplace is completely dry.

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