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 ...

Clean fireplace glass regularly to maintain its glow and prevent soot or haze from hardening over time. Use the right method and cleanser for your fireplace type, be it wood-burning, gas, or electric.

For safety, fireplaces are designed to route smoke out of the house through the chimney. If there's a problem, however, you could end up with a smoky home.