Cleaning soot from mortar

[docrowan]

We have a brick fireplace that got sooted up by a former homeowner. I can clean the face of the bricks with a magic eraser, but I don't know of a good way to clean the soot out of the mortared joints. Has anyone got a secret formula?

[MilDoc]

We have a brick fireplace that got sooted up by a former homeowner. I can clean the face of the bricks with a magic eraser, but I don't know of a good way to clean the soot out of the mortared joints. Has anyone got a secret formula?

Uh, same here. But what is a magic eraser please?

As far as the mortar, any suggestion appreciated!!!!

[chopnhack]

i think he is referring to the Mr. Clean brand "Magic Eraser" They are a pretty neat sacrificial sponge type material preloaded with some type of abrasive, just wet and start to use. They eventually disintegrate into nothing.

[docrowan]

i think he is referring to the Mr. Clean brand "Magic Eraser" They are a pretty neat sacrificial sponge type material preloaded with some type of abrasive, just wet and start to use. They eventually disintegrate into nothing.

Exactly. They are pretty amazing. They'll clean on smooth surfaces when nothing else will. I've mostly used them on the stovetop to get the burned on gunk off while I'm on KP duty. You can also use them very lightly on painted walls to get scuff marks off and save having to repaint. As I understand it they are made out of some kind of microscopic abrasive, but they feel like a foam sponge. I guess they actually sand away the stuck on stuff, but you can't see any scratches or changes to the surface other than it's clean.

The work great on the face of our relatively smooth brick on the fireplace, but the dirty water drips down onto the mortar joints and makes a bad situation worse.

I've thought about trying baking soda paste and a toothbrush. Anyone every try that?

[MilDoc]

I have tried baking soda. Nada. Seemed to make it worse on the mortar.

I WILL try the "magic eraser," and thanks for the tip!!!!!

[docrowan]

Mildoc, I couldn't find the baking soda so I tried Barkeepers Friend this morning - sort of like Bon-Ami. No dice. Just made a mess. Oh well, back to the internet to find some more ideas.

[Tom Slick]

try ZEP purple industrial degreaser from BORG. It cuts soot very well. make sure to wear gloves, it is fairly caustic stuff.

[chopnhack]

just a thought after you do get it clean, you might want to seal the mortar with some concrete sealer, that way in the future when you use the magic eraser and dirty water drips everywhere it wont stain the mortar.

[docrowan]

I'll try the ZEP degreaser, thanks for the tip.

I may try sealing the mortar joints, but I dont' anticipate having any more problems with soot. When I installed my fireplace radiator I also installed new glass doors and the fireplace doesn't smoke at all. I'm not sure how one of the former homeowners sooted up the face of the fireplace. This one is well built and has a very good draw.

[Ed62]

I'm not sure how one of the former homeowners sooted up the face of the fireplace.

Probably left the damper closed while using the fireplace.

Ed