| How to Remove Soot from a Painted Mantle Nov 11th 2012, 17:00 Soot is the sticky byproduct of smoke and burning wood. When smoke escapes your fireplace, you may find a buildup of soot on your mantel. Regular soap and water may not be enough to cut through this sticky grime, particularly from painted surfaces or from mantels that have a large degree of carving. A stronger cleaner is needed to get the job done. - Put on rubber gloves to protect the skin of your hands and eye protection like goggles.
- Mix together 1/4 cup of trisodium phosphate cleaner (TSP) with 2 gallons (7.5 liters) of warm water. TSP is a cleaning agent found in most hardware stores. It is a form of lye that is used to cut through grease and soot by causing them to become soapy in nature. TSP is often used to clean and remove grease and mildew from painted surfaces.
- Dip a stiff bristled scrub brush into the TSP solution.
- Apply the solution to the soot on the mantle and begin scrubbing in a circular motion.
- Use a smaller brush to get into any carvings on the mantel.
- Dip the brush frequently into the solution to continue cutting through the soot.
- Soak a clean sponge or cloth into clean water.
- Wipe and rinse the mantel well to remove both the last of the soot and the TSP mixture.
- Repeat scrubbing and rinsing as necessary until the soot is gone.
- If you are unable to find TSP, you can also use a TSP alternative, which is a mixture of sodium carbonate, soda ash and zeolites. This mixture is frequently marketed as a TSP alternative or cleaning agent made for tough, greasy stains.
- Many commercial cleaners made for grease contain some TSP or TSP alternative. Check the labels of any grease cutter; if it contains TSP or TSP alternative it can be used to remove the soot from the mantel. Read the instructions for use to determine whether or not it needs to be watered down in the same way.
Edit Warnings - Never use straight or pure TSP directly on the mantel; always dilute it with water or use a premade mixture that contains 50 percent or less TSP mixed with other cleaners. Straight TSP can stain wood or may damage the mantel. Diluting the mixture will allow it to remove the soot without damage.
- TSP is corrosive and can cause irritation to the skin and eyes. Always take precautions when mixing and applying the TSP. Wear gloves, long sleeve shirts and pants, and take measures to prevent splashes. Keep the mixture out of reach of children.
Edit Things You'll Need - Rubber gloves
- Eye protection
- Large bucket
- TSP or TSP alternative
- Water
- Stiff bristled scrub brush
- Small scrub brush
- Clean sponge or cloth
Edit Sources and Citations |  |
No comments:
Post a Comment