Brick fireplaces may be cozy and charming, but they also blacken easily. Smoke and ash penetrate the brick during every fire and leave behind dark stains. Cleaning brick can be very challenging ...

Add Yahoo as a preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Who doesn't love a warm, cozy fire? But the maintenance and clean-up that goes with hit? Not so much. And while chimney cleaning ...

Lindsey Ellefson is Lifehacker’s Features Editor. She currently covers study and productivity hacks, as well as household and digital decluttering, and oversees the freelancers on the sex and ...

Your fireplace will look better than ever just in time for long winter nights Clean brick fireplaces with a vinegar-and-water mix, avoiding harsh chemicals that can damage porous brick. Vacuum, scrub ...

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 ...

Make sure to keep a safe distance from your home’s siding during cleaning, starting at about 3 feet back. Don’t point the tip ...