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Last time I went over to my parents house my mother cornered me and asked me what to use to clean the brick above the wooden stove. I smiled sense I know nothing of cleaning brick. TSP? I replied. Tried that but that did not do it. Can anyone help me, to get my mother a clean hearth? I know any suggestions would be welcome.
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I'd try a measured approach.
1. First with a mild abrasive, like baking soda.
2. Next with some scouring powder and a stiff brush.
3. Next with some scouring powder and a copper scouring pad.
4. Finally to the serious stuff. I assume it is pine pitch and grease and soot, and might first try some solvents, like mineral spirits, turpentine, and maybe some laquer thinner, all in small doses in selected areas where it won't do you or the brick harm.
If none of that works, a very, very mild solution of muriatic acid. Jeez, be really carefull with this stuff, and personally I wouldn't fool with it if you haven't ever used it. It is really nasty stuff (basically hydrochorlic acid), and must be mixed very, very carefully, and applied with super duper gloves and breathing protection. I don't think I would even think about using much more than a 5-10% solution to start, which will involve a lot of mixing, which can be dangerous.
The bottom line? Try some abrasives and more elbow grease.
*I would'nt worry as much about the dirty hearth as I would the "wooden stove"!