My latest project house has two large Limestone Fireplaces. Neighbors say the old owner used to burn Garbage in one. It looks like that’s true. Both Fireplaces are stained with soot. Any ideas how to clean this from the stone and mortor?
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They make commercial soot removers ( available at hearth and woodstove stores and of course Walmart), but I've had pretty good luck with muriatic acid. Try a small spot first and see what happens and as Norm says, "Don't forget the eye protection".
I would not use muriatic acid on limestone. It will dissolve it quickly. Look for a non-acid soot remover.
Glad to know that. I guess I've not cleaned a limestone f/p before. Sorry for the bad advice.
hammer-n,
You can try to clean with an alkaline cleaner like baking soda or buy a commercial cleaner made for limestone fireplaces. Don't use any acid based cleaner.
KK
You might try one of the dough-type cleaners. I've seen them on TOH, but don't know where you'd buy them.
Bear in mind no cleaner can take away all the soot stain especially on a porous stone like limestone. The cleaner will make a big difference though.
a jar of poultice if fireplace cleaner doesn't work. Both can be had from HD.
By the way, adding bleach to the water that you mix with the poultice instead of just water works better in bad situations.
Be well
andy
"My life is my practice"