How Do I Clean My House's Chimney?

Have you determined whether the chimney needs to be cleaned or not?

Have you checked the chimney for animals?

Have you measured the size of your chimney's flute to get the appropriate sized tools?

Have you purchased chimney cleaning supplies?

Have you worn protective clothing before starting the cleaning?

Have you ascertained which method to use to clean the chimney?

Have you cleaned the chimney from the inside using the brush?

To clean your chimney, you'll have to use properly-sized tools. Measure the sides of your chimney from the bottom, through the fireplace. You could also climb up a ladder and measure it from the top.

Wear old clothes that you don't mind getting messy with soot. Cover your hair with a bandanna. You may want to wear work gloves to protect your hands. Use a dust mask and goggles to prevent soot from getting in your mouth and eyes.

There are two methods to clean the chimney, one from the top and one from the bottom. If you are going to clean from the top, you will need a ladder and make sure that your roof is safe to stand on. If you are clean from below, make sure to cover the furniture that is present nearby as the dust will cover many surfaces.

Assemble the brush and one section of pipe. Attach the first piece of pipe to the brush. Insert the brush into the chimney through the fireplace. Using up and down motions, begin to scrub the flue clean. Add another section of pipe to enable you to extend the brush further up the chimney.

After cleaning the chimney, make sure to clean the dust that has been accumulated on the fire place or near it using a dust pan and a simple brush.