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 needs to be contracted out to certified professional (more on that ...

Lee Wallender is a home improvement writer of nearly 20 years and specializes in home remodeling, repair and maintenance. Kristin is a lead editor at Forbes Home and has nearly a decade of ...

Ideally, you would have cleaned your fireplace thoroughly in the spring, after you used it for the final time of the season. But if that didn’t happen—or if you want to tidy it up before using it this ...

Don't risk an unsafe wood-burning fireplace! Learn how many fires you can have between cleanings and the tools and techniques ...

A fireplace can look fine from across the room and still be struggling up close. If the grate is packed with old ash, half-burned chunks, and soot, the fire has to work way harder to breathe. That’s ...

There’s something special about a real, wood-burning fireplace: The scent, the crackling sounds, and watching the logs slowly burn down to glowing embers. But they’re also a hassle, and pretty dirty.

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 ...

When the mercury drops, sitting in front of a roaring fire is a relaxing and comforting way to spend an evening. If you have a wood burning fireplace in your home, you likely enjoy the experience as ...

If you’ve been keeping warm by the fireside this winter, it’s time to begin thinking about cleaning and maintaining your fireplace and chimney. The National Fire Protection Association recommends an ...

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 ...

A working fireplace adds warmth, ambiance, and style to a home. Often the focal point of a room, a fireplace requires regular cleaning both for appearances and safety. By learning how to clean a ...