Q: How can I remove wood ash from fireplace brick? Gaithersburg, Md. A: From the picture you sent, it looks as if you’re dealing with ash, soot and a little charcoal — ash being the white and gray ...

Q: I plan to set up a gas stove in a fireplace built in 1800. But the floor of the fireplace has an ugly black area, I think from creosote that washed down the chimney when it rained. How do I remove ...

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Q: We painted our brick fireplace white. But after some use, smoke has stained the brick. What’s the best way to clean it? A: Soot is mostly carbon particles, but it often has a greasy nature that ...