An outdoor fireplace is a great way to complete the ambiance that you want for your backyard. It will give you the cozy feeling at the same time offer warmth during the cold days of the year. There are different kinds, styles and designs that an outdoor fireplace can have. Outdoor fireplaces can be made from stone and brick, aluminum or steel, copper, and clay. The material that you want to use depends on the functionality and style you want your fireplace to portray.

One of the common kinds of outdoor fireplaces is copper. You can opt to choose a fireplace that is made from copper especially if you are looking for a theme that is both elegant and antique-looking. The luster of copper lends an air of elegance in any room; and at the same time, lends an antique effect on the fireplace while it fades over time.

There numerous designs of outdoor fireplaces made from copper that you can choose from.

There are many people who dislike copper outdoor fireplaces simply because they think that having one would be difficult to maintain and clean. Admittedly, when it comes to cleaning, fireplaces are one of the hardest furniture/equipment to clean. Aside from its bulkiness, it is also difficult to deal with ashes and smoke as you clean the fireplace. You would not want the ashes lying around your background since they are difficult to remove.

Sure, it takes a bit more effort, but the benefits of having a copper outdoor fireplace far outweigh its slight disadvantage in cleaning.

Cleaning Copper Fireplaces

The best time to clean your copper outdoor fireplaces is during the hot summer days of the year when your fireplace is not being used as much. Most people like to clean their fireplace only when there is a build up of ash, soot and smoke in the fireplace.

When cleaning your copper outdoor fireplace, you have to ensure that the ashes in your fireplace have already cooled. You can then start by sweeping the ashes using a shovel or an ash vacuum. After cleaning this, you can start cleaning the parts of your fireplace such as the firebox, damper and the lower part of the flue.

Before getting into the inside it is best to remove first the accessories of your fireplace such as the andirons and grates. You can separately clean them by using a wire brush to scrape of the soot and grime. If your accessories are also made from copper, you can preserve the original color of it by wiping it with mild dishwashing liquid or any non abrasive cleaner.

Another way to keep and maintain the luster of the copper is by making a solution of warm water with a few of lemon or lime and a teaspoon salt. You can dip the copper grates and andirons in this solution for a couple of minutes or until the tarnish wear off. You can then start using a wire brush to clean the insides of your outdoor fireplace. Again, use a shovel or vacuum for cleaning the ashes and soot.
For the firebox, there are different solutions which you can choose from such as washing soda, vinegar, water with chlorine etc. You can choose the solution which you like most. You can soak this liquid in the firebox for about 15-30 minutes then scrub it again afterwards. Rinse the inside of the firebox with warm water and let it dry.

It is very important to always clean and maintain your outdoor fireplaces since leaving all the dirt to build up inside it will have an effect on its performance.