Fire Pit Maintenance and Care Guide

Fire bowls and fire pits are an excellent investment for any modern household. As well as providing a place to have a contained, cosy campfire, they are the ideal multi-purpose substitute for a BBQ or outdoor grill. But using a fire pit without giving it the care and attention it deserves may lead to you having to replace it sooner than you’d like. In this guide we’ll be discussing the ins and outs of fire pit maintenance, including keeping rust at bay, how to dispose of ashes, and how to keep your fire pit nice and clean.

Skip to:

1. How to clean a fire pit
2. How to clean a rusty fire pit
3. How to clean ash out of fire pits
4. Maintaining your fire pit to extend its life

Our fire bowls are made in the UK using premium materials.

How to clean a fire pit

Let’s start with the basics when it comes to using a fire pit and talk about how to clean a fire pit.

How often should you clean it? You should clean your fire pit after each use to maintain its functionality and appearance. Failing to keep your fire bowl and its accessories clean could result in rust, erosion, and other damage. If you spend 10 minutes cleaning up after every time using a fire pit, you will ensure that it lasts for much longer than it would do otherwise.

You will need

• Fire pit tools – trowel or shovel, bristled scrubbing brush, steel wool
• A soft cloth, or sponges
• Washing up liquid
• White vinegar
• Gloves
• Bucket
• Water
• Old sheets/towels

Step-by-step guide

1. Firstly, remove the grill from the fire pit if you have one, and safely dispose of any ashes in a metal, fireproof bin. Even if it has been left to cool down completely, ashes can smoulder for a long time so it’s better to be safe than sorry. Use your gloves and trowel for this.
2. Next, fill your bucket with warm water and add in a couple of capfuls of white vinegar and a squirt of washing up liquid. Give it a mix.
3. Then, use your scrubbing brush to gently ease any debris from the bowl of the fire pit. Do this dry first and tip any debris out of the bit, before wetting the brush and scrubbing again.
4. Use your sponge or cloth to wipe out the inside of the bowl, dipping it back in the cleaning solution and rinsing as needed. Repeat until you’re happy with the cleanliness of the pit.
5. Give the outside of the pit a wipe down, too.
6. Take your old sheets or towels and thoroughly dry the inside and outside of the fire pit, ensuring there are no wet patches left on the surface which could lead to rust forming.

As mentioned above, aim to do this every time you use your fire pit, or at least once a week if you are using it regularly.

How to clean a rusty fire pit

If you’ve been using a fire pit for a while and it’s showing signs of rust, you should act quickly before it starts to cause real damage. Get your cleaning supplies out as soon as you see any orange spots forming in or around it.

Natural methods

Before you buy specific products for removing rust, try out these natural methods.

• Baking soda – baking soda is a great multipurpose cleaning supply to keep on hand, and it does a great job of removing rust. Simply mix it with some water to a paste-like consistency, apply it to the rust and leave it for a few hours before giving the area a scrub with steel wool.
• White vinegar – the acidic nature of white vinegar makes it another fantastic natural cleaning supply, and also means it’s ideal for dissolving rust. Pour it onto the rusted spot, give it an hour or so to work, and then rinse away very thoroughly.
• Lemon juice – lemon juice acts the same way as vinegar, though it isn’t as acidic. As above, pour it onto the affected spot and rinse away thoroughly.

None-natural methods

If you’ve exhausted all natural methods without having any luck, harsher chemicals might be your only solution. Before you get stuck in, check that the product you want to use is safe for use with the metal that your fire pit is made from. This should be stated on the label.

There are plenty of different products available on the market to remove rust so we won’t bore you with the specifics here, but these are very strong chemicals so you should exercise caution when using them. This means only applying them in a space that is very well ventilated, wearing gloves and long sleeves to prevent them from touching your skin, and ensuring any products has been completely cleaned from the fire pit before you light a fire.

Learn more about fire pit safety.

Preventing rust

Moving forwards, you should take steps to prevent rust building up when using a fire pit. Getting into good habits when it comes to cleaning your fire pit will help with this.

1. Clean and cover your fire pit after every use
2. Store your fire pit somewhere dry over the winter months, or when you aren’t using it
3. Invest in a high-quality, cast-iron fire pit that is more durable
4. Protect your fire pit with oil and season it before use

Read more: Why is my fire pit rusting?

How to clean ash out of fire pits

Every time you find yourself using a fire pit, you should be cleaning up the ashes to prevent them from building up. To clean them out safely, you should wait until the fire pit is cool to touch on the outside. Using a trowel and wearing gloves, scoop all of the ashes into a metal, flameproof bin.

What to do with ash from fire pit

Ashes can smoulder for a long time, so we would recommend leaving them for a few days before bagging up and throwing them away with your normal rubbish or putting them directly on a compost heap (in moderate amounts).

Using a fire pit for years to come

Using a fire pit is certainly a fantastic focal point at social events. However, if you don’t look after your fire pit, the results could be disastrous. Fire pit maintenance will keep it working and looking good for many, many years. As well as following our tips, you should make sure to:

• Avoid using water to pit the fire pit out. Temperature shock can damage your fire pit.
• Deep clean every 3 to 4 months, paying special attention to any worn spots.
• Oil/season your fire pit twice a month if you are using it regularly, this will keep the surface strong and durable.

We hope the above advice will help with your fire pit maintenance and extend its lifespan as much as possible. Of course, when using your fire pit, ensure that you stick to the fire pit rules and regulations in the UK – take a look here for more information. If you have any other questions about fire pit maintenance, please feel free to browse our blog or get in touch before you purchase one from the Sloane & Sons Fire Bowls site.

Callan Harvey