Cleaning the Fireplace

• 1). Stir together one oz. of table salt and one oz. of powdered detergent with a metal spoon. Add enough water to form a thin paste. Mix the solution until the consistency is the same all the way through.
  
  
• 2). Scrub the paste over the stones of the fireplace with an old cloth. Cover the stones thoroughly and evenly. Apply the paste from the top of the fireplace to the bottom. Let the cleanser sit for 10 to 15 minutes.
  
  
• 3). Rub over all the entire stone fireplace surround with a nylon scrub brush. Dampen a soft cloth and wipe away all of the leftover cleanser.
  
  

Painting the Fireplace

• 1). Remove any sealer and stains from the surface of the fireplace stones with a cleanser that contains trisodium phosphate. Rinse the stone fireplace surround thoroughly with wet cloths. Wait 24 hours.
  
  
• 2). Cover the stones with a moderate application of masonry primer. Paint the primer on with a large paintbrush and work it well into all of the crevices. Let the primer sit for about 10 minutes until it becomes sticky.
  
  
• 3). Apply one coat of heat-resistant latex paint to the fireplace surround with a paint roller; touch up deeper areas with a paintbrush. Let the paint dry and add a second coat. Allow the paint to dry 48 hours before using the fireplace.