How to clean a fire pit

You’ve invested in a beautiful fire pit. You’ve fallen in love with the way it’s so easy to light, the way it burns so well, gives off so much heat, and makes such a cool focal point for your garden. But after a few uses it’s starting to look mucky. While there’s nothing wrong with a bit of honest dirt, keeping your fire pit clean means it lasts for longer and works even better. Here’s how to do it – and it’s one of the easiest garden leisure jobs to do.

Your fire pit cleaning materials

• A decent brush with soft bristles to sweep up even the finest ash. If you have a very big fire pit you might need to find a brush with a longer handle
• A poker to prod stubborn bits of dirt and shift leftover firewood while keeping your hands clean
• Tongs, just in case you end up having to handle hot coals or need to pick up and remove a big chunk of wood
• A dustpan and brush to collect the ash and dirt
• A soft cloth to wipe the outside of the fire pit
• A hosepipe for washing the inside of the fire pit quickly and easily

How to clean a stone fire pit

A stone fire pit is very easy to clean. Clear out the ash. Brush off the soot. Use warm water and washing up liquid to clean the inside ring. Scrub the inside walls, then hose the whole thing down and leave it to dry thoroughly. It’ll take around 48 hours.

How to clean a fire pit containing lava stones

Many modern fire pits contain a layer of lava rocks in the bottom. These spread the flames, sharing the heat around the burner for an even distribution.

Make sure the fire pit is turned off first, and that the lava stones are cool enough to safely handle.

Take the lava stones out and put them in a container. A bucket is ideal. Add some cold water and swirl the rocks around energetically to remove the dirt, dust, ash and grit. Then lie them out to dry. Because the pumice they’re made from is a porous volcanic rock, it takes a while to dry. The lava rocks packaging might give you a timescale, otherwise leave them until they feel perfectly dry. It can take several hours.

While the rocks are drying, get busy with the interior of the fire pit. Use the brush to get all the ash out, at which point you’ll be able to clearly see the base of the pit. Sweep it carefully to minimise the remaining dust, then hose it with clean water to get rid of all the dirt and leave it to dry.

You can clean the outside of the pit with a soft damp cloth. Once everything is clean and dry, reassemble the fire pit and you’re ready to rock ‘n’ roll again.

How often do you clean a fire pit? Whenever you like, but it’s common sense to simply clean it whenever it looks dirty.

How to clean the glass in a fire pit

Some modern fire pits come with a beautiful glass container to keep the flame protected and enhance the fire’s appearance. It deserves regular cleaning to keep the magic alive. Grab a pair of protective gloves, always important when working with glass. Take the glass out carefully. Clean off any ash and dirt with a solution of water and white vinegar, a powerful acid that cleans brilliantly. Gently rinse the glass, and leave it to dry before putting it back in place, inside the fire pit.

The better condition your fire pit’s in, the longer it’ll last and the better the results will be. Keep yours in tip-top condition – we wish you many, many fun times outdoors!