When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Credit: TK Images. Design: Kyle Dutton Homes There are certain areas and features of our home ...

The air is getting cooler, and you can practically smell winter on the doorstep. Soon, it'll be time to heap on those logs and let your fireplace do what it does best — fill your home with a warm, ...

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 ...

Q: How can I remove wood ash from fireplace brick? Gaithersburg, Md. A: From the picture you sent, it looks as if you’re dealing with ash, soot and a little charcoal — ash being the white and gray ...

Dear Jerry: We own a single-family home in the town of Pittsford (near St. John Fisher) that was built in 1951. Part of our Rochester winter survival involves having a fire in the fireplace for much ...

Dear Heloise: In a recent article, a reader said she had a problem with soot removal on fireplace glass. I spent 32 years as a chimney sweep. Do not wet the ashes and rub on the windows. This is a ...

Q How can I clean black soot off the masonry in front of my fireplace? A Cleaning masonry can bsse a challenge because it’s often so porous. There are a handful of options that I know about but, ...