Natural stone has been a key ingredient in creating warm, striking fireplace surrounds, mantles, and carved chimney pieces since before the days of ancient Rome, and it’s one that’s still popular in many of today’s homes. Stone fireplaces made from brick, granite, marble, limestone, and other natural stones are often the centerpieces of home design, creating a dramatic and welcoming hearth that can anchor any room, and set the stage for an entire decorating scheme. Stone fireplaces also last a very long time, and will remain the heart of a beloved living space for years to come. As such, you want to keep your stone fireplaces looking their best.
The trouble with a fireplace is that, well, it’s not much good without a fire in it. And with a fire you get things like smoke, ash, and soot that can stain and darken your natural stone. Even if you don’t build a fire in your fireplace—some modern fireplaces hold TVs or other items of interest instead—many people like to set candles on their mantle tops, and even in the cleanest living room dirt and dust will build up on a natural stone fireplace sooner or later.
Though stone seems hard an impermeable, it’s actually porous, and can absorb stains if it isn’t kept clean and sealed. When it comes time to clean your fireplace, there are a few tips to keep in mind. Before you clean, remove all the ash from the fireplace and make sure that the fireplace has cooled down sufficiently. This will not only ensure your safety, but help the cleaning process work more effectively and prevent any damage to the finish of your natural stone. Of course, never use flammable chemicals in your fireplace cleaning, for obvious reasons.
In fact, when cleaning your natural stone fireplace, your best solution is a natural granite cleaner from Rock Doctor. Not only is it free from flammable chemicals or bleaches, ammonia or dyes that could damage the finish of your natural stone, but it’s also environmentally friendly and made from plant-based biodegradable cleaners. In fact, it bears the Designed for the Environment (DfE) logo, which means that a scientific team from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has carefully screened every ingredient for potential effects on human health and the environment. Plus, don’t let the name fool you, our natural granite cleaner is safe to use on any kind of natural stone, whether it’s granite, marble, ceramic, limestone, or whatever your natural stone fireplace may be.
For added protection for your fireplace, Rock Doctor also makes a granite sealer to seal and protect natural stone, helping to prevent smoke and soot from sinking into the stone and creating permanent stains to mar the beauty of your hearth. With a natural granite cleaner and sealer from Rock Doctor, you can ensure that your fireplace remains the focal point of your home for years to come.
This article was brought to you by Rock Doctor, which offers a line of specially-formulated stone cleaner, stone polish, and stone sealer products. Rock Doctor stone care products can be purchased through a number of fine retail stores, including Wal-Mart, Lowe’s Home Improvement, Bed Bath & Beyond, Ace Hardware, Do it Best Hardware, Hy-Vee, and Wegmans.
