Fireplace help wanted

[wombatcat]

Well, it turns out that the company that we paid to clean our chimney last fall did not do it right, and smoke, instead of going up the chimney right away, came out the front of the fireplace instead. We learned our lesson and called a certified chimney sweep, got the problem(s) fixed right. Smoke is going up the chimney again. But we are left with blackened bricks on the front of the fireplace and it looks awful!!! Is there any way to clean off those bricks? I figured someone here would know what to do....

[RVcook]

You may want to try trisodium phosphate (TSP) in water and use gloves and a stiff bristled brush going in every imaginable direction. Make sure you rinse.

We have a fireplace that had some slightly blackened stones around the opening. I just made a mild soap solution and used a brush. Came right off. Then I rinsed, rinsed, rinsed. Stones look really good.

Edited to add: You should be able to purchase TSP at any hardware store.
HTH

RVcook

[Harry Chickpea]

Salt and water paste.

[wombatcat]

Thanks everyone for your advice! We are going to try each suggestion in order of expense (with the cheapest--soap and water+brush first). I'll let you know what does the trick.