Found a trick for cleaning soot off brick without scrubbing yourself raw

Last week I had a job where the firebox was caked in this greasy black soot that wouldn't budge with a regular wire brush. I tried mixing some dish soap with warm water and a splash of white vinegar, then sprayed it on and let it sit for 10 minutes. After that, the soot practically slid off with a stiff nylon brush, no scraping needed. Has anyone else tried vinegar for tough soot buildup, or is there a better homemade mix?

2 comments

2 Comments

the_robin16d ago

Tried the vinegar trick on a chimney cap that looked like it had its own ecosystem of crud. Let it sit for 15 minutes and the stuff came off in sheets. Washed my hands after and my wife asked if I was wearing some kind of cologne. Turns out vinegar smell sticks to your skin for about three days no matter how much soap you use. Ended up smelling like a pickle at the hardware store the next day.

henderson.wesley16d ago

Notice how the harshest household cleaners always leave the strongest smell behind. Vinegar works great but man does it have a staying power. Almost makes you wonder if the smell is part of the cleaning power.