wader71•2d agoProlific Poster

Found a trick for stubborn creosote that actually works

Been fighting thick creosote buildup in this old house downtown for years. Tried all the chemicals and wire brushes, nothing touched it. Last month I used hot water with dish soap and let it soak for 20 minutes before scrubbing. Came off way easier than anything I've bought at the supply store. Anybody else got a weird homemade solution that beats the expensive stuff?

3 comments

3 Comments

amyh122d agoMost Upvoted

Dish soap is hardly gonna fix actual years-old creosote buildup.

beth_park2d ago

Ha, nice find! I tried the dish soap trick once and ended up with a foam monster that tried to eat my entire basement. Did you seal the bucket first or just let it sit open like a science experiment gone wrong? Hot water and soap sounds way too simple to actually work, but I guess sometimes the cheap stuff is the real secret. My own weird hack is using a strong vinegar rinse after scrubbing - it cuts through the leftover gunk and makes the next cleanup way less of a nightmare. Have you tried adding a little baking soda to that soap mix to make a paste?

tessaperry2d ago

Honestly, the foam monster thing is exactly why I stick to just vinegar and elbow grease now. @beth_park I once tried using a pressure washer on a greasy trash can and ended up wearing half of it, so I feel your pain. That baking soda paste idea sounds genius though, might give it a shot next time instead of dealing with a sudsy horror movie.