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How to Clean a Mesh Fireplace Screen

Alicia Bodine

Fireplace screens are made to prevent sparks and pieces of wood from flying out of the fireplace and setting your house on fire. Most fireplace screens are mesh screens. These screens should be cleaned on a regular basis so that they can continue to do the job they were designed to do.

Luckily, mesh fireplace screens are easy to clean.

  1. Wet a cloth and use it to wipe down the front and back of the mesh screen. Do this until you have removed most of the soot.

  2. Rinse your cloth out and then add a squirt of dish soap. Wipe the mesh screen down again with the cloth. Make sure you get both the front of the screen and the back.

  3. Rinse the mesh screen out by holding it under the faucet. This will wash away the soap and any remaining dirt.

  4. Dust the mesh screen in between cleanings so that the soot does not build up as quickly.

Warning

Do not use ammonia or bleach to clean your fireplace screen. These cleaners are considered abrasive cleaners, and can damage the screen's protective coating. Avoid using scrubbing pads to clean your mesh fireplace screen. This will damage the protective coating that is on the screen.