Brick Cleaning: How to Remove Dirt, Dust and Grease by:Tara Aronson

Floors, walls and fireplaces made of brick are lovely to look at

, until they're stained by grease or grunge.

Here's a simple way to remove dirt and dust as well as grease buildup from your hearth.

Mix 2 tablespoons dishwashing liquid, a dash of table salt ad enough water to make a smooth cleaning solution.

Rub the solution into the grungy, greasy surface using a cloth or rag. Let stand for 10 minutes. Scrub the areas with a stiff-bristle brush. Rinse clean with warm water.

If that doesn't work, try this stronger method.

Using a stiff-bristle brush, scrub the surface with a cleaning solution of a half-cup trisodium phosphate (TSP) mixed in 1-gallon hot water in a plastic bucket.

TSP is caustic and potentially dangerous, so follow the product's directions carefully and keep it away from children. Be sure to wear rubber or latex gloves, safety goggles and protective clothing.

After scrubbing, rinse the area with warm water. Repeat if needed, adding up to another half-cup TSP to the cleaning solution, then rinse again with warm water.

Additional tips:

-- Always try the weaker solution first.

-- This surface and stone is easier to clean if it's sealed with a finish containing Tung oil.

-- A commercial cleaner may be used for cleaning.

About the author

Tara has appeared in numerous magazine, newspaper and online articles featuring her lifestyle, organizing and cleaning expertise in addition to writing her twice-monthly column, Coming Clean in the San Francisco Chronicle. Tara is also regularly a guest expert on news, feature, and talk-show programs across the country. She most recently appeared on the "Rachael Ray" Daytime talk show Feb. 4, 2009, in New York City. Tara appeared as the guest expert on Human Lab: Laundry.In addition, Tara also puts her well-tuned journalistic skills to use on the road, writing travel articles about her as frequent as possible road trips to venues across the United States and abroad. Tara is a proud mom to three who cleans and writes in West Los Angeles.

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