Have you tried oven cleaner Sean? Get the foaming kind and cover with cling film, leave over night then remove cling film and rinse down with plain water. X
You must be ready for a massage! I like that some of the fireplace stonework is still dark, because it’s part of the history of the cottage. I can imagine how that fireplace kept people warm, and how many meals were cooked there. You’ve done an amazing job lot. Remember that the dark stones tell a story!
It seems like he pretty much tried everything that was suggested all at once. Maybe trying different combinations of the suggested agents to find the one that works the best would be helpful. Sometimes combinations of cleaning agents can produce gasses that can be harmful. Check the packaging for warnings before combining them together. Take care.
I think you're definitely on the right track, Sean!! Hard work, but you're not shy of hard work, that's for certain!!! It's inspiring how all of that rain, rain, rain will not go to waste because you are retaining it to use elsewhere on your property!! 🇺🇸
Excellent.... I like the natural stone behind the fireplace stove best. Even if they do not come up super clean it will be more authentic. Crossing fingers for you 👍
Tar is a booger to remove, isn’t it Sean? Looking good though. Don’t let the solution dry on the stones because it may just set itself deeper into the stone. Wash, rinse and repeat, reapply, and wash rinse repeat again. Can’t wait to see it completed and a big smile on your face! 👏👏👏☺️👏👏👏
My great grandfather and grandfather would dry out a couple weeks of potato peelings in the late summer and then burn the dried peels in the fireplaces (stone or brick, not metal sleeved). Something in the peels would cause that hardened tar residue to dry and flake. A stiff brushing later and things always looked much better. Potatoes were consumed at least once a day so it’s a fairly healthy amount.
There is a vinegar that is sold online because it's more powerful than the stuff you buy off the shelves. The vinegar in stores is like 4%, but look for the vinegar online that is 45%. Definitely must have masks on, gloves, glasses and Good ventilation when using. I also recommend wire cup brushes and a 3/4 " wire tip brush for the drill, to get into the recesses in the stones. Looking better every day 👍👍
IN my experience with burned on mess, bicarbonate soda mixed with water to make a paste, then apply it and go away. Let it work, dampen it if it dries out. You may need to scrub, but it will be much easier to remove.
Can't wait to see the clean stones. Good job Sean. I think now that you've figured out how to dissolve the tarry stuff that wire brush will make them look awesome.
Sorry to see the weather putting a damper on your plans, but I'm enjoying watching the stone cleaning process. I like your new machine... useful in the future as well. 👍
Amazing results already! I couldn’t imagine that ancient black crust could budge as much as it has. The final results will be even better. The outside patio is really coming along. Your time and effort is paying off, now if the weather can help!?
Sean, heres a couple of thing you might try: Vinegar, lemon juice, and salt or baking soda and white vinegar. Also, you could try Easy-off oven cleaner for grills. Good luck with your project. Love and Light to All ❤
I found that dish washing machine liquid is a beast for cutting grease. I am not talking about the liquid used in your sink, you might give it a try if you have it in you. Cheers Sean and Crack On 👍
Sean I think because the soot is grease it’s just going to reabsorb into the stone! It’s one of the hardest things to get off stone especially it’s been there so long. I think the dwells used it extensively so really baked in.
My great aunt, Belinda Lorraine, cleaned fireplace stone and brick as a living for more than 20 years. She always said that once cleaning begins with liquids one can't hurry or let it dry. Doing so sets the staining deeper and more permanent. I'm sure she never would have thrown so many cleaners onto the stone at a single time. But you are making good progress. Be proud of your work.
Always remember to rinse both acid and salts off well with lots of water. They are known as hydroscopic, which means the residue will attract moisture. This will cause a damp look when humidity is high. I would suggest using something absorbent to pull the soiled water out of the stone such as paper towels or microfibre towels. Then repeat until the stains are removed to satisfaction. Patients is your greatest tool when it comes to anything stone.
That looks a lot better, love those old fireplaces and cottages. I was lucky enough to live in a small cabin with a huge fireplace that had a hidden space behind a small stone for valuables and a swing arm for cooking.
It does look like it’s starting to work. Hopefully between the vinegar & soap solution and the wire brush you’ll see some good progress on those stones
Well done, Sean! The stones on the fireplace are looking better and better. I think you made a wise choice to not rush the cleaning of the stones and allow the products you are using to do their job.
Yeah sandblast is the way to go even for the beams Dan the Gardner did it in his cottage worked well got a professional guy with all the gear his channel escape to rual france
Wonderful episode! Thank you very much for making and sharing this lovely video!😊 It is fine as is even if it is not as long as you wished! You can always mix it up and show us other things, little tours or greenhouse.❤😊 Be well, stay safe.
Sean I hope all that product works. It’s funny I was saying use vinegar snd then you pulled out the vinegar then I said use Baking powder, then there came out BP, and so on. I think you used all the things I would use so I hope this stuff comes off because those stones look nice and it will be so in keeping with the time of this cottage. Good luck!!!
I think your automated wire brush really helped clean the ancient stones. In your fireplace, there are some fantastic stones that are beginning to see the "light of day ." Cleaning the stones is just part of the restoration. Any improvement is very positive. We all are learning together. You are getting closer to the edge of the building with the pavers. Looks so clean, tidy and inviting! Hello from Yakima, Washington, U.S.A.
If it's a sticky residue try this mix: orange oil cleaner (e.g. Citrasolve), isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol, and rough salt (or grit.) Scrub a few minutes.
After Stephanie from Chateau de Lalande had her chimneys cleaned, the French chimney sweep told her in French: keep your potato skin peels. Dry them out and throw them on the fire when you're done at the end of the night. The dried skins burn and offgas and prevent soot build up.They turn to ask and are good to mix in with regular ash in the garden. I don't know if it can remove what you're working on, but from the way he described it, they can prevent this type of build up.
Might not be able to get it in France, they are very strict on certain chemicals. TSP is not available here in Canada anymore. Of course it was fantastic and did the job 😉
I work on cleaning historical cemeteries here in the US and we use a product called D2 to clean headstones. Its a biological cleaner that really cleans up the stones without doing damage. Not sure how it would work indoors but its worth a try. You could also try something called wet and forget that is designed for cleaning patios, stonework, and shingles. It would be a shame to cover up those stones. I hope you can get them clean.
Sean, I can understand why you have the need to remove the top layer of the black greasy soot, but leaving some of the patina adds to the character. Please don't parge over all of the stones. I absolutely love the antiquity of these cottages. Your antique fireplace equipment is going to look fantastic being on display .
Vinegar, bicarbonate of soda and salt works a treat for numerous things including sinks, it fizzes up. Make sure to wear a mask and rubber gloves. Not sure if it would work on the fireplace but worth a try.
Fingers crossed that solution works and the stones clean up nicely, I agree that keeping the rustic history is part of the charm. Stay dry, see you in the next video. Enjoy your weekend
Hi Sean, I think it is making a difference, but no matter what don’t cover up the stone. Leave it authentic and even with soot on the stones they are beautiful. Someone mentioned foam oven cleaner with cling wrap covering it over night. That might work. France is definitely getting its share of rain. Enjoy your weekend. xx
Hi Sean, I recently clean black sticky tar emissions off the top of my mercedes vito engine after the injector seal burst. I tried everything until someone suggested oven pride cleaner and it wiped right off. For better results heat up the area you are cleaning. Regards nigel
I used a fairly magical mixture to clean very stained grout on my kitchen floor:: peroxide and baking soda with a bit of dish detergent. Put the paste on the surface, let it sit, then scrub with a stiff brush. Some spots required 2 or 3 applications and they now look great.
Yes, sand blast if you think the stones can take it ❤. They look like they are cleaning up . It did take a few hundred years to get to that dirty, so cleaning isn't going to be easy ❤ That's for sharing 😊. Have a good weekend you guys 🎉
I got a mind to use some of that Easy-Off oven spray but it would be too harsh. Can't wait to see what you figure out which soot remover will do the job!
Here in the USA we have a thing call 3o sec bleach that I use on the outside on my concrete every year. It works wonders and it doesn't take that long to. See results. Worth a try!
Can you seal the stones once you have most of it off. Or is it to close for the burner. A little bit of soot will look original. Your doing a great job. Your hard work is paying off.. ❤X😊
I was truly surprised at your approach. I would have done test patches with various combinations of products to see which was most effective then applied it all over. Soot is oily, so soap and vinegar will help. Salt is an abrasive, so it will help. Same with baking soda. Glad to see you got some good results for your efforts!
I hope the cleaning mixture works. I would love to see those in the fireplace, rather than having to cover it up. Fingers crossed. Send some of that rain to us here in Tennessee Sean. We are drier than I've seen in a very long time.
On the very dirt stones with soute, clean them with with sheep binigar , on 3pars viniger and 2 water. Spray the stones abandantly and all the dirt comes out. You can repeat as many times you want to ,
The solution that you will use to clean the creosote from the fireplace consists of an equal amount of salt and dish liquid, such as Dawn. Stir this together, then add a half cup of ammonia. Be sure that you use enough salt and dish liquid to make your cleaning solution more like a paste than a liquid.
Sean, if you're not happy with the results, why not mortar clean stones onto the old ones. it would make a new surface. If I understand correctly you're going to place an insert burner in the space so it would be an authentic look.
Hi everyone 😊
Have you tried oven cleaner Sean? Get the foaming kind and cover with cling film, leave over night then remove cling film and rinse down with plain water. X
Good idea. Cheap enough.
Worth the effort!! Who doesn’t love looking at massive fireplace stones ❤
You must be ready for a massage! I like that some of the fireplace stonework is still dark, because it’s part of the history of the cottage. I can imagine how that fireplace kept people warm, and how many meals were cooked there. You’ve done an amazing job lot. Remember that the dark stones tell a story!
Nice to see you help the little insect out of the window. xx
Another vloger used vinegar and bi carb to clean it off. Worked well. 😊
It seems like he pretty much tried everything that was suggested all at once. Maybe trying different combinations of the suggested agents to find the one that works the best would be helpful. Sometimes combinations of cleaning agents can produce gasses that can be harmful. Check the packaging for warnings before combining them together.
Take care.
But he shouldn’t do it like he did! Just spraying and tossing everything together on the stones.
Looks like it’s cleaning up good, Sean. Tar is a booger to get totally off. Don’t let it dry though, it may just reabsorb into the stone. ❤
That's also a cheap and cheerful oven cleaner.
I think you're definitely on the right track, Sean!! Hard work, but you're not shy of hard work, that's for certain!!! It's inspiring how all of that rain, rain, rain will not go to waste because you are retaining it to use elsewhere on your property!! 🇺🇸
Excellent.... I like the natural stone behind the fireplace stove best. Even if they do not come up super clean it will be more authentic. Crossing fingers for you 👍
Yes l just want them clean so it don't smell when the woodburner is fired up
Tar is a booger to remove, isn’t it Sean? Looking good though. Don’t let the solution dry on the stones because it may just set itself deeper into the stone. Wash, rinse and repeat, reapply, and wash rinse repeat again. Can’t wait to see it completed and a big smile on your face! 👏👏👏☺️👏👏👏
My great grandfather and grandfather would dry out a couple weeks of potato peelings in the late summer and then burn the dried peels in the fireplaces (stone or brick, not metal sleeved). Something in the peels would cause that hardened tar residue to dry and flake. A stiff brushing later and things always looked much better. Potatoes were consumed at least once a day so it’s a fairly healthy amount.
Yes l know this to be true 👍
I love the sound of rain 👍 great job Sean 👍
The soot gives it Character it's gonna look magnificent if you leave some of it on there.
There is a vinegar that is sold online because it's more powerful than the stuff you buy off the shelves. The vinegar in stores is like 4%, but look for the vinegar online that is 45%. Definitely must have masks on, gloves, glasses and Good ventilation when using. I also recommend wire cup brushes and a 3/4 " wire tip brush for the drill, to get into the recesses in the stones. Looking better every day 👍👍
I was about to make a suggestion of a cupped wire brush instead of the wheel wire brush but you went well beyond that. Good job
IN my experience with burned on mess, bicarbonate soda mixed with water to make a paste, then apply it and go away. Let it work, dampen it if it dries out. You may need to scrub, but it will be much easier to remove.
Can't wait to see the clean stones. Good job Sean. I think now that you've figured out how to dissolve the tarry stuff that wire brush will make them look awesome.
Sorry to see the weather putting a damper on your plans,
but I'm enjoying watching the stone cleaning process. I like your new
machine... useful in the future as well. 👍
Amazing results already! I couldn’t imagine that ancient black crust could budge as much as it has. The final results will be even better. The outside patio is really coming along. Your time and effort is paying off, now if the weather can help!?
Sean, heres a couple of thing you might try:
Vinegar, lemon juice, and salt or baking soda and white vinegar. Also, you could try Easy-off oven cleaner for grills.
Good luck with your project.
Love and Light to All ❤
Way to go Sean, the fire place is improving. also your patio design as well. have a great weekend.
I like the soot look😊
Me too
What a gorgeous fireplace Sean! If only those beautiful stones could talk!
I found that dish washing machine liquid is a beast for cutting grease. I am not talking about the liquid used in your sink, you might give it a try if you have it in you. Cheers Sean and Crack On 👍
Wow that is looking fabulous. Worth finding that new tool
Sean I think because the soot is grease it’s just going to reabsorb into the stone! It’s one of the hardest things to get off stone especially it’s been there so long. I think the dwells used it extensively so really baked in.
If it’s grease does it got to melt or use oven cleaner like a stove the sand blasting would be chemical free
They’ll look great once you’ve had chance to point them up. Well done!
Got my Calendar! Love it!
Rain☔and more rain what a pain ☕🍰see you in the next one
P s great bit of kit your new machine 🤗👍
Love Sue❤❤❤🇬🇧❤❤❤
Looking good Sean another go of the spray and leave for a while and they will come up really good. Am fed up also of this rain. Loved watching Sean😘
Me too
Great job Sean. Love ya work. Cheers
My great aunt, Belinda Lorraine, cleaned fireplace stone and brick as a living for more than 20 years. She always said that once cleaning begins with liquids one can't hurry or let it dry. Doing so sets the staining deeper and more permanent. I'm sure she never would have thrown so many cleaners onto the stone at a single time. But you are making good progress. Be proud of your work.
I think my dad used Boric Acid for cleaning stone when he was building our fireplace.
Hi Sean, your so diligent and the vinegar looks like it works well with dish soap to soften it. Oh no. Stupid rain.
No problem, Sean. We have 90 to 100k winds here now with power surges.
oh my, that is going to take lots of wiping up
Always remember to rinse both acid and salts off well with lots of water. They are known as hydroscopic, which means the residue will attract moisture. This will cause a damp look when humidity is high. I would suggest using something absorbent to pull the soiled water out of the stone such as paper towels or microfibre towels. Then repeat until the stains are removed to satisfaction. Patients is your greatest tool when it comes to anything stone.
That looks a lot better, love those old fireplaces and cottages. I was lucky enough to live in a small cabin with a huge fireplace that had a hidden space behind a small stone for valuables and a swing arm for cooking.
It does look like it’s starting to work. Hopefully between the vinegar & soap solution and the wire brush you’ll see some good progress on those stones
❤❤ looking good
Love the sounds of rain, but this year, we got so many,…too much. Sean the fireplace are looking so much better.
Well done, Sean! The stones on the fireplace are looking better and better. I think you made a wise choice to not rush the cleaning of the stones and allow the products you are using to do their job.
How about pressure washing with Bleach?
I'm sure it will look good in the end with tons of elbow grease, though.
Thanks for sharing, Sean. 👍
Sandblast. My uncle did this. Looked great
Yeah sandblast is the way to go even for the beams Dan the Gardner did it in his cottage worked well got a professional guy with all the gear his channel escape to rual france
Wonderful episode! Thank you very much for making and sharing this lovely video!😊 It is fine as is even if it is not as long as you wished! You can always mix it up and show us other things, little tours or greenhouse.❤😊 Be well, stay safe.
Sean I hope all that product works. It’s funny I was saying use vinegar snd then you pulled out the vinegar then I said use Baking powder, then there came out BP, and so on. I think you used all the things I would use so I hope this stuff comes off because those stones look nice and it will be so in keeping with the time of this cottage. Good luck!!!
You are definitely making progress! A lot of work left though.
Sand blast!
Thanks for another good video.. I think you might need a short break. Time for an antique trip 😁
🤣
Can you use a power washer on them ?
As it seems that can get just about anything clean.
Or even a fine grain sand blasting.
I think your automated wire brush really helped clean the ancient stones. In your fireplace, there are some fantastic stones that are beginning to see the "light of day ." Cleaning the stones is just part of the restoration. Any improvement is very positive. We all are learning together. You are getting closer to the edge of the building with the pavers. Looks so clean, tidy and inviting! Hello from Yakima, Washington, U.S.A.
If it's a sticky residue try this mix: orange oil cleaner (e.g. Citrasolve), isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol, and rough salt (or grit.) Scrub a few minutes.
After Stephanie from Chateau de Lalande had her chimneys cleaned, the French chimney sweep told her in French: keep your potato skin peels. Dry them out and throw them on the fire when you're done at the end of the night. The dried skins burn and offgas and prevent soot build up.They turn to ask and are good to mix in with regular ash in the garden. I don't know if it can remove what you're working on, but from the way he described it, they can prevent this type of build up.
Well done Sean, xx
Thanks
Great work! Crack on!
Trisodium phosphate (TSP) is regarded as the best product for removing soot. Use gloves.
Might not be able to get it in France, they are very strict on certain chemicals. TSP is not available here in Canada anymore. Of course it was fantastic and did the job 😉
I work on cleaning historical cemeteries here in the US and we use a product called D2 to clean headstones. Its a biological cleaner that really cleans up the stones without doing damage. Not sure how it would work indoors but its worth a try. You could also try something called wet and forget that is designed for cleaning patios, stonework, and shingles. It would be a shame to cover up those stones. I hope you can get them clean.
Vinegar, dishwashing liquid and baking soda, Sean 🌿
Sean, I can understand why you have the need to remove the top layer of the black greasy soot, but leaving some of the patina adds to the character. Please don't parge over all of the stones. I absolutely love the antiquity of these cottages. Your antique fireplace equipment is going to look fantastic being on display .
Hello from Saskatchewan, Canada
Hey there from British Columbia (our own island on a lake here)
I feel that stones will come out looking great...... Too bad about the rain, its been raining here too.
Looks like lots of rain forecast for the Southwest 🌧 !
I wonder if spray oven cleaner would disolve the black?
Vinegar, bicarbonate of soda and salt works a treat for numerous things including sinks, it fizzes up. Make sure to wear a mask and rubber gloves. Not sure if it would work on the fireplace but worth a try.
Fingers crossed that solution works and the stones clean up nicely, I agree that keeping the rustic history is part of the charm. Stay dry, see you in the next video. Enjoy your weekend
Hi Sean, I think it is making a difference, but no matter what don’t cover up the stone. Leave it authentic and even with soot on the stones they are beautiful. Someone mentioned foam oven cleaner with cling wrap covering it over night. That might work. France is definitely getting its share of rain. Enjoy your weekend. xx
If you use each product separately, in different sections, you will be able to determine which thing is actually having the best effect.
Hi Sean, I recently clean black sticky tar emissions off the top of my mercedes vito engine after the injector seal burst. I tried everything until someone suggested oven pride cleaner and it wiped right off. For better results heat up the area you are cleaning. Regards nigel
I would try TSP
Salt and vinegar is a great cleaner also for brass make a bath of vinegar and salt and soak old brass and use a toothbrush to get into any details
Washing soda is good too
Hi such a shame it's indoors your jet wash would have done a cracking job ...Have a lovely weekend both of you
I used a fairly magical mixture to clean very stained grout on my kitchen floor:: peroxide and baking soda with a bit of dish detergent. Put the paste on the surface, let it sit, then scrub with a stiff brush. Some spots required 2 or 3 applications and they now look great.
Can't wait to see if that worked, fingers crossed!
You sure have gotten a lot of rain lately. That electric wire tool will certainly come in handy.
Yes, sand blast if you think the stones can take it ❤.
They look like they are cleaning up .
It did take a few hundred years to get to that dirty, so cleaning isn't going to be easy ❤
That's for sharing 😊. Have a good weekend you guys 🎉
I got a mind to use some of that Easy-Off oven spray but it would be too harsh. Can't wait to see what you figure out which soot remover will do the job!
I am not a chemist but the residue is more like tar. If you find a tar cleaner it might work. There may be suggestions online. Happy scrubbing.
Here in the USA we have a thing call 3o sec bleach that I use on the outside on my concrete every year. It works wonders and it doesn't take that long to. See results. Worth a try!
Hope it gets easier for you!!❤❤
When Sean pulled out all those products I thought hope he doesn't accidentally make a poison gas trying to clean this thing haha
Generations of tannin from burning wood - huge job to remove Sean. Good job!
The wire wheel might help on some beams
I love watching you clean!
Cannot wait to see how the fireplace stone turns out😁😁😁 Great work as always .
It certainly was looking like a slurry mud, hopefully it does the trick!
Can you seal the stones once you have most of it off. Or is
it to close for the burner. A little bit of soot will look original. Your doing a great job. Your hard work is paying off.. ❤X😊
I was truly surprised at your approach. I would have done test patches with various combinations of products to see which was most effective then applied it all over. Soot is oily, so soap and vinegar will help. Salt is an abrasive, so it will help. Same with baking soda. Glad to see you got some good results for your efforts!
I hope the cleaning mixture works. I would love to see those in the fireplace, rather than having to cover it up. Fingers crossed.
Send some of that rain to us here in Tennessee Sean. We are drier than I've seen in a very long time.
Good job, Sean! I liked watching your process!😊
❤❤
I agree with the sand blasting would be quicker and less mess.
I would suggest sand blasting the surface to clean. Soda blast might work but garnet will be fairly effective.
Best,
Brian
It's going to be fabulous when it's done! In fact the parts that you've done already does look that way!
On the very dirt stones with soute, clean them with with sheep binigar , on 3pars viniger and 2 water. Spray the stones abandantly and all the dirt comes out. You can repeat as many times you want to ,
The solution that you will use to clean the creosote from the fireplace consists of an equal amount of salt and dish liquid, such as Dawn. Stir this together, then add a half cup of ammonia. Be sure that you use enough salt and dish liquid to make your cleaning solution more like a paste than a liquid.
Aloha from Maui! You need to try oven cleaner. You need something to degrease the soot
Sean, if you're not happy with the results, why not mortar clean stones onto the old ones. it would make a new surface. If I understand correctly you're going to place an insert burner in the space so it would be an authentic look.
What an interesting tool what is it called? Im glad to see you got some off , keep the fight up