Add Yahoo as a preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Who doesn't love a warm, cozy fire? But the maintenance and clean-up that goes with hit? Not so much. And while chimney cleaning ...

Is there anything more cozy than snuggling up in front of the fireplace on a chilly winter night? We don’t think so. To prepare for warm nights near the fire, you’ll want to make sure your fireplace ...

Brick fireplaces may be cozy and charming, but they also blacken easily. Smoke and ash penetrate the brick during every fire and leave behind dark stains. Cleaning brick can be very challenging ...

It’s the time of year when folks start migrating towards their fireplace in the evening, if they’re lucky enough to have one. There is something deep in us that finds warmth and comfort, not just in ...

If you have a brick, wood-burning fireplace in your home — congrats, you won the cozy lottery. But with great power comes great responsibility, as there are some hidden downsides to having a ...

Q: I tried to clean bricks above a fireplace with soap and water, but I got an uneven result. How can I do a better job? Bethesda A: If you didn't saturate the bricks with water before you applied the ...

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 ...

I’m departing from my usual question-and-answer format this week because I was blessed to have an interesting email exchange with one of my newsletter subscribers. I want to share it with you as an ...

Q: How do I get wax off of my brick fireplace? I have tried heat, scrubbing and a household cleaner. Help! A: Janet, we took your question to a brick manufacturer, which said the first thing it would ...