How to Clean Fire Grates
- 1). Put on the rubber gloves and, if desired, a protective face mask. Do not handle or clean a fire grate until the grate and fireplace are entirely cool.
- 2). Place newspapers or a plastic drop cloth around the hearth and cover the floor around or beneath the fireplace.
- 3). Pull the fire grate from the fireplace with fireplace tongs or your hands and slide the grate or lift it into one of the boxes. Take the box with the grate outside to your garden hose.
- 4). Remove the grate from the box and place it on the grass or patio; remember when choosing your location that this is a messy procedure. Wet the fire grate with the hose and using a wire brush or steel wool, scrub the grime and soot from the grate. Rinse thoroughly with the hose and allow the grate to dry in the sun.
- 5). Return to the fireplace and remove ashes and soot from the floor of the fireplace with the shovel or dustpan. Place the debris into the second box. Put the box of soot and debris into a trash bag when finished.
- 6). Roll the newspapers or plastic drop cloth so that ashes do not fall on the floor and dispose of in the trash bag. Place the trash bag into your outside trash can. Replace the fire grate when it is completely dried.
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