How to Clean a Fire Pit: A Comprehensive Guide on Cleaning, Maintenance, & Winterization

Whether you currently have a fire pit or are thinking about purchasing one, figuring out how to clean the structure is paramount. What you’ll quickly find out is that almost every fire pit type requires a different cleaning procedure. But don’t worry. We’ve done all the research on how to clean a fire pit and will share our findings with you in this article.

 

The fire pit cleaning process varies based on the type of fire pit you have. You’ll need to use a cleaning solution or product appropriate for your fire pit and clean the structure in a way that doesn’t damage it. After your fire pit is clean, you’ll need to maintain and winterize it to prolong its lifespan.

 

As you now know, there is no single way to clean a fire pit, given that there are so many types available to you. That’s why we’ve created a comprehensive guide covering how to clean every single pit separately. Keep reading for specific instructions based on your pit.

 

This is How to Clean a Fire Pit

Cleaning your fire pit is a potentially time-consuming task, but we encourage you to get the hang of it sooner rather than later. It can prolong the life of your fire pit and enable it to work better.

 

Thankfully, the steps involved don’t require super strength or an understanding of rocket science. Any adult can handle this, provided you follow the instructions below to a T.

 

Read the Instructions That Came with Your Fire Pit

The very first thing you should do before attempting to clean your fire pit is find the manufacturer’s instructions. If possible, follow those instructions. They are tailored specifically to the fire pit you’ve got in your possession. But if you don’t have them, it’s okay to follow the general steps we’ll give you below.

 

Pre-Cleaning: Clear the Fire Pit Out

Before cleaning any fire pit, turn it off and remove any debris from the inside of it. This applies whether your fire pit is powered by gas, wood, or something else.

 

Important: For propane gas tanks, remove the propane tank. For natural gas tanks, turn off the gas supply.

 

To clear out a gas fire pit, you’ll use gloved hands to remove anything that you’d consider debris. A few examples include:

 

• Sticks
• Leaves
• Rocks
• Insects

 

Other fire pits will need to be shoveled out. You’ll grab a shovel and dig out debris until the inside is clean.

 

There will be pieces of debris too small to dig out with your hand or a shovel. This is where an ash vacuum comes in handy. Use it to get any debris that was left behind.

 

Below, we’ve gone over the cleaning process for every type of fire pit for your convenience.

 

The Cleaning Process for Every Fire Pit Type

Every fire pit type should be cleaned in a specific way. That is, if you want to preserve the structure’s form and functionality. Keep reading for more information.

 

Steel or Copper Fire Pit

Steel and copper fire pits are so similar that they don’t require different cleaning processes. The main thing you should be aware of with metals like these is that they tend to rust – we’ll tell you how to prevent this below. Whether you have a steel or copper fire pit, follow these instructions:

 

1. Grab the following supplies: hot water, 3 soft cloths (microfiber works perfectly), and mild soap. If you want to expedite the rinsing process, you can use a water hose.
2. Make a soapy solution with the soap and hot water in a large container. Stir the mixture and incorporate the ingredients.
3. Use your soapy cloth to wipe the interior of the fire pit down It could take some scrubbing to get stubborn residue off, but most of it should come off.
4. If the exterior of the pit needs cleaning, you can use the same cloth to scrub the outside of the fire pit.
5. Rinse the fire pit to get rid of any soap residue. You can use a new wet towel or rinse the pit with a water hose.
6. Grab a dry towel to wipe away any moisture. Doing so will help you prevent rust from forming.

 

Gas Fire Pit

Gas fire pits usually require electricity in some capacity in addition to a gas supply. It’s for this reason that these units cannot be hosed down. Keeping that in mind, here are the procedures to follow to clean a gas fire pit:

 

1. With your gas fire pit turned off and reasonably cleaned out, you’re ready to wipe it down. Grab a bowl and fill it with tap water. Then, add some dish soap to the water and stir to mix (the milder the soap, the better).
2. Using a soft towel, dip it in the soap and water mixture. You must squeeze out any excess water. You don’t want to waterlog the inside of the unit.
3. Begin wiping down the inside of the fire pit. If you notice any soap residue after wiping, follow up with a new damp towel with no soap.
4. Wipe down the outside of the fire pit.
5. Dry the fire pit by wiping it down with a new dry towel.
6. Turn the gas back on or reconnect your propane tank only after the unit is completely dry.

 

Note: Cleaning around the burner is a delicate process. If you have access to the manual, we recommend using it to find out how best to clean this area. Reaching out to the manufacturer may be worth it if you don’t quite know how to go about it.

 

Stone or Brick Fire Pit

If you want to keep your stone or brick fire pit looking and performing its best, you need a cleanser that can effectively cleanse and brighten the fire pit’s surface. Below, you’ll find the best possible cleaning procedure for this specific fire pit type.

 

1. Prepare for the cleaning process by putting on long pants, a long-sleeve shirt, some heavy-duty gloves, and protective eyewear. For this cleaning process, you’re going to be using muriatic acid, which is a strong acid that can burn your skin if it comes in contact with your skin. And that’s just one of the risks.
2. Gather all the materials and supplies you’ll need: Water, muriatic acid, a brush with stiff bristles, and a glass container.
3. Dilute your muriatic acid by mixing one part acid with 10 parts water. To avoid a dangerous reaction, add the water to the container first and then add the acid.
4. Pour the solution onto the fire pit and then use your brush to scrub the brick or stone vigorously. This procedure will work both inside and outside of the pit.
5. Rinse the fire pit with water from a water hose and then allow it to dry over the course of a few days.

 

If you don’t want to use muriatic acid and don’t mind stains on your stone or brick, you can clean the fire pit with a mixture of soap and water. You’ll use mix the soap and water, use it to scrub the inside and outside of the pit, and then rinse the soap residue away. You can then allow the pit to dry.

 

Just know that your pit won’t get as clean or look as nice if you use this cleaning method.

 

Cast Iron Fire Pit

Cast iron fire pits require a cleaning process that doesn’t involve soap. Instead, you’ll use a more abrasive scrubbing to get the debris off this heavy-duty material. Here are the instructions to follow:

 

1. Gather your materials: Steel wool and super-hot water.
2. Wet the pit down with the hot water.
3. Scrub the debris and dirt off with the steel wool.
4. To check whether the pit is clean, you can use a soft cloth to wipe away any lifted-up substances. If it’s not yet clean, feel free to keep scrubbing.
5. Rinse or wipe any debris away and dry the pit thoroughly. Iron can rust very quickly.

 

Note: Distilled white vinegar can come in handy if you’re having trouble getting the fire pit clean with hot water and steel wool. Just dilute it with water using a 1:1 ratio before using it.

 

How to Remove Ashes from a Fire Pit

Removing ashes can be cumbersome if you don’t know how to go about it. We’ll help you out with that here. The easiest way to remove ashes from a fire pit is to use an ash shovel or catcher. This is only to get the bulk of the ashes out of the pit. After you’ve gotten all you can from the fire pit bowl, get your hands on an ash vacuum.

 

Did you know that if you use a Shopvac or household vacuum, the ash you vacuum up could reignite? They can hold enough heat to be dangerous for up to about a week. So, it’s best for your safety to get your hands on an ash vacuum.

 

What Happens If You Never Clean Your Fire Pit?

Cleaning your fire pit is essential in every sense of the word. If you don’t clean your fire pit, ash and debris will build up in the pit’s internal components and can cause issues. In case you weren’t aware, ash is known to be corrosive to metals.

 

Another thing that could happen if you never clean your fire pit is a strong smell coming from it. Whenever grime and debris are left behind and burned, it can give off a potent smell that can make your clothes and surroundings smell like a campfire. In addition to that, you could experience more smoke (and potentially pollution) while the pit is burning.

 

What’s more is that clean fire pits work better than grimy ones. Whatever mechanisms make your fire pit work, grime can impede them and increase the risk of a malfunction. For instance, if there’s buildup near your burners, you may have an issue with your flames being inconsistent.

 

These are just a few things you could experience if you decided to forego regular fire pit cleanings.

 

How Often to Clean Your Fire Pit

Now that you’ve got a good idea of how to clean your fire pit and what happens if you don’t do it, it’s time to move into how often you should clean your fire pit. Many times, when you look at the manufacturer’s instructions or search Google to find the answer to this question, you are met with a general response – clean the fire pit regularly. That’s not specific enough.

 

A more helpful answer is two-fold. First, it’s crucial to clean your fire pit after every use. But we’re not talking about a full-on clean. Simply removing ashes and leftover wood or debris will be sufficient.

 

Your fire pit will need a full cleaning session every 3 to 6 months. If you rarely use the pit, feel free to stretch out your deep cleaning sessions (every six months or so). If you’re a heavy fire pit user, plan on cleaning it every three months or so. 

 

Mistakes People Make When Cleaning Their Fire Pits

Knowing what to do is only half of the equation. To increase your chances of success, we’re going to highlight some mistakes people make when cleaning their fire pits. That way, you can avoid dangerous, costly problems.

 

1. Using the wrong cleaning tools for your fire pit. We were specific about the tools you should use throughout the cleaning process. Going with tools that are too weak or too harsh can lead to a frustrating experience at best and damage at worst.
2. Spacing out your cleaning sessions too far. Leaving gunk sitting on your fire pit is a surefire way to guarantee buildup over time. And that makes the pit harder to clean when you finally get around to it.
3. Not wearing the right gear or clothing while cleaning the pit. Cleaning a fire pit is not a no-risk endeavor. Wear long sleeves and pants, at least. And if you’re working with chemicals, don’t forget other types of safety eyewear to protect your eyes and gloves for your hands. Dust masks are helpful as well.
4. Ignoring the manufacturer’s cleaning and maintenance instructions. The instructions that come along with your fire pit are your source of truth. Follow them as closely as possible to ensure your safety and the longevity and functioning of your fire pit.
5. Not looking out for wear and tear on your fire pit. One of the best times to look for damage and issues is when you’re cleaning the pit. Only when it’s clean can you see cracks, nicks, and other imperfections and problems.

 

How to Maintain a Fire Pit

Cleaning is far from the only thing you’ll need to do to your fire pit. Maintenance is necessary as well, and the type of maintenance will vary depending on which fire pit you’ve chosen. The first thing you should do as you try to figure out maintenance is look at the manufacturer’s instructions for your pit. Ideally, they’ll tell you everything you need to know.

 

If you don’t have access to the manufacturer’s instructions, keep on reading. We’ll share some generalized recommendations to get you on the right foot.

 

Metal Fire Pit Maintenance

Maintenance for metal fire pits is not too difficult for most. Here are the steps it usually involves:

 

• Use a dry microfiber cloth to dust the fire pit whenever it gets dusty.
• Whenever you’re cleaning the fire pit, stay away from abrasive or harsh cleansers.
• Remove any standing water promptly and keep the fire pit dry to keep rust away.
• Always clean any soot, ash, or debris from the interior and exterior of the fire pit after each use. You can use an ash scoop for this step.
• Oil your fire pit with vegetable or canola oil when the pit is warm. That way, the metal will absorb the oil. This is called “seasoning.”
• Cover your fire pit when it’s not in use.
• Check for cracks or damage and take action if you find any.

 

Wood Fire Pit Maintenance

Wood fire pit maintenance is relatively hands-off. Here’s how to ensure that your fire pit is protected from the elements and performs as it should:

 

• Opt for seasoned woods, which are extra dry and help to reduce debris buildup. You can get seasoned firewood from your local home improvement store or online.
• Remove debris after using the fire pit, just like you would with any other fire pit type.
• Whenever you’re not using it, cover the fire pit.

 

Stone or Brick Fire Pit Maintenance

For stone or brick fire pits, you’ll focus your maintenance efforts on the following:

 

• Clean the fire pit out by scooping out debris after each use to reduce buildup over time.
• Every now and then, take a close look at the fire pit to ensure that there’s no damage in the form of loose stones or bricks. There could also be chips that get worse over time. If you notice anything, you’ll need to call a professional or execute a repair. Repairing entails removing the damaged bricks or stones and replacing them with new ones.
• Cover up your fire pit when it’s not in use.

 

Note: Never douse your fire pit with water to put it out. Not only could you damage the fire pit, but you could end up with a face full of steam and a lot of pain. Instead of rushing the process, give the fire pit some time to die down on its own (under your supervision).

 

If you’re short on time, stop adding wood or gas to your pit a while before you want it to go out. Then, pour some dirt or sand onto the pit to put the fire out. You may need to dump dirt/sand on it multiple times before the fire is completely out.

 

How to Winterize a Fire Pit

Need to put your fire pit away for the winter? Take some time to ensure that it survives the season and is ready for use once winter is over. If you don’t, the snow and frigid air can make it difficult to use later. Here’s how to winterize a fire pit:

 

1. Clean the pit very well using the instructions we went over before. Putting your fire pit away while it’s dirty or caked in buildup can lead to damage and corrosion over time. It could also lead to clogs and malfunctions when it’s time to use the pit again. Ensure that every part of the fire pit is clean and dry.
2. Look out for any damage, wear, or other issues with the fire pit. Don’t allow issues to remain or worsen during the winter. Fix it or have a professional do so before the winter season.
3. Turn the fire pit off, turn off the gas supply to it (for gas fire pits), or remove the gas tank from it. Be sure to store any gas tanks outside and out of direct sunlight. Don’t store it in any enclosed space and be sure that the tank is closed.
4. To keep everything out of your fire pit (moisture, leaves, sticks, etc.), you can store it someplace dry, like a basement or shed. If you don’t have the space, or it’s a built-in fire pit, you can keep it outside – though you’ll want to protect it with a fire pit cover. Just know that not all covers are created equal; you need one that’s designed for winterizing.

 

Conclusion

So, there you have it – how to clean a fire pit, maintenance tips to prolong your fire pit’s usable life, and how to winterize the structure in the frigid weather. We hope you found all the information you were looking for, and we wish you the best as you learn more about taking proper care of your fire pit.