Neglecting to clean your fireplace can pose a serious risk. Here's how to correctly clean it.

Cleaning your fireplace is a straightforward process. Always wait until it has fully cooled down and there are no active fires or embers left in the firebox. Once cooled, don rubber gloves, grab a bucket and some old newspaper, and remove any large charred timber.

Then, remove the fireplace grate and place it on the old newspaper on the floor to prevent soiling your flooring or furniture. If you have a small ash shovel, scoop up any leftover ash from the firebox and deposit it into the bucket.

To further clean the internal firebox, use a blend of warm water and pH neutral soap to remove ash and soot. Gently scrub with a soft sponge, avoiding solvents as they may harm the paint. Likewise, wash your fireplace grate with the same warm soapy water and sponge before allowing it to dry.