How to Clean a Fire Pit
With a fire pit, those chilly days and nights can be quite cozy. Whether you gather around with friends and family for an evening of bonding or a romantic date with your partner, your fire pit comes in quite handy, especially during chilly nights. However, you need to learn how to clean a fire pit properly to optimize its performance. My guide below can help you learn the easiest way to do so.
Tools Required
For any type of fire pit, you will require the same tools and materials during cleaning. These include:
- Working gloves
- Garbage bag
- Shovel
- Brush
- Muriatic acid
- Water
- Water hose
- Masonry sealant
- Microfiber cloths
- Steel wool
Steps On How to Clean Out a Fire Pit
You can find a vast range of fire pit types in the market. Whilst fire pits come in a selection of different types and designs, cleaning them pretty much follows the same principles. Below, you will find steps for cleaning the main types of fire pits available in the market.
After removing the debris, you can then take out parts such as fire pit grates to wash them separately. Simply use a large bucket or basin, soapy water, and a brush to scrub clean parts such as the grates or fire pit spark screen. When done, rinse them in clean water and wipe them dry with a clean cloth.
Cleaning Out A Brick Fire Place
Typically, brick fire pits are placed outdoors in patios and are made from bricks or stones. After cleaning out debris from these pits, the next step is to:
- Make the cleaning solution by mixing water and muriatic acid to a ratio of 9 to 1
- Soak a brush in the solution and use it t scrub the inside and outside of the fire pit
- When done scrubbing, hose down the fire pit and let it dry
- When the fire pit has completely dried out (after about 72 hours or more), coat it with a layer of masonry sealant for long-lasting cleanliness
Cleaning Out a Metal Fire Pit
Metal fire pits are normally constructed using copper, cast iron, or steel. This gives them impressive heat retention properties. After cleaning out debris, follow the steps below to clean out your metal fire pits.
For Steel or Copper
- Soak a clean cloth in hot and soapy water to scrub the interior of the pit
- Soak another clean cloth in clean water, rinse out the fire pit and use a dry cloth to wipe it dry. Make sure, you don’t leave behind any sitting water as it may cause rust. Make it a point to regularly wipe metal fire pits especially after rainfall
- In a bucket of hot water, soak a piece of steel wool and use it to scrub down the surface of the fire pit
- After scrubbing the surface, wipe the fire pit dry with a clean piece of cloth. Make sure the entire fire pit is completely dry to prevent rust build-up. Similar to steel or copper fire pits, make sure you dry your cast iron fire pit even after rainfall.
Cleaning Out A Gas Fire Pit
Gas fire pits feature a slightly different design. These fire pits are designed as integrated units inside the house rather than outside. Therefore, you don’t want to soak them up with water. To clean gas fire pts after removing the debris, follow the steps below:
- Using a cloth and soapy water, wipe down the interior of the fire pit. Be extra careful during the cleaning process to prevent pulling out or loosening any gas lines
- When done, rinse using a soaked cloth and then, wipe dry the fire pit using a clean dry cloth
Tips For Keeping Your Fire Pit Clean
If you follow the steps above on how to clean a fire pit, you are guaranteed to enjoy efficiently functioning it. However, you can also prolong the cleanliness and ultimately, the durability of your fire pit.
Amongst the things you can do is invest in a fire pit cover to prevent elements such as leaves, debris, or rainwater from settling in when the fire pit is not in use. For stone or wood fire pits, use seasoned wood to create much cleaner and less smoky fire.
