Tips for Washing Your Fire Pit

It’s just about bonfire season once again! A fire pit is a great addition to any backyard to give yourself more entertaining options for your outdoor gatherings from spring through autumn. As with any piece of equipment, though, it’s important that you perform some minimal levels of maintenance to make sure it stays in good condition so you can keep enjoying your custom fire pit in Seattle, WA for years to come.

Here’s a quick overview of what you should know about fire pit cleaning and maintenance.

Tools you’ll need

There are a variety of fire pit tools available on the market that will be of great assistance to you as you work to maintain your fire pit. For starters, you’ll want an ash scoop and can for easy removal of ashes. A long poker or tongs will be beneficial for moving logs around. A spark screen for larger pits is a good idea for safety purposes and to reduce potential charring. Finally, a vinyl fire pit cover (or another material) is a good idea to protect the fire pit from the elements when it’s not in use—just make sure you don’t put the cover on while the pit is still hot.

Ash removal

The first step to cleaning your pit is always going to be removing any built-up ash and debris. You’ll want to wait to start this until the day after you’ve used the fire pit so you can be certain the ash has cooled down—it will smolder for hours even after the fire goes out. Scoop the ashes out of the pit, and have a metal can on hand into which you can dump the ashes. Douse those ashes with water after they’ve been collected in the can just so you can be completely certain they’re put out before you dispose of them.

Cleaning the pit

After you’ve safely removed all ash and debris from the pit, you’re going to want to scrub down the interior, using a solution of one part muriatic acid with nine parts water if it’s a stone or masonry pit, then rinse and allow it to dry for two to three days. If it’s a metal fire pit (the more popular option and the kind used for portable fire pits), you’ll spray it down with a hose first, then use a soap and water solution and wipe it out lightly. After you’ve rinsed, turn it upside down and allow it to air dry. Finally, if it’s a cast iron pit, it’s going to be slightly more difficult to clean. After removing ash, scrub the bowl with steel wool, then rinse and dry with a soft rag.

Gas fire pits are generally low maintenance, but you’ll still need to clean them to make sure they operate properly. Obviously, with a gas fire pit, you don’t have to worry about the ash and debris removal step, but you should clean off the burners and regularly check the gas lines to make sure they operate safely and properly.

For more information about washing your custom fire pit in Seattle, WA, contact the team at Custom Fire Art today.

Categorised in: Custom Fire Pits

This post was written by Writer