FIREPLACE Tricks NEVER burn colored newspapers or magazines - they contain lead which can be dangerous. Cut down on the amount of soot in your fireplace by throwing salt on the fireplace logs every few weeks. Place a shallow pan of baking soda inside the fireplace. It absorbs the smell of soot.
TO CLEAN Chimney Soot -- Save your potato peels which have been dried. Burn them in your fireplace. They burn with a tremendous amount of energy-enough to send the soot up and out of the chimney.
TO CLEAN GLASS DOORS -- Take some of the wood ashes, add a little water, sponge it on the doors, then rinse it off. The dirt should come off with the rinse. Sprinkle Nutmeg around the fireplace to mask the scent of smoke. Citrus Peels added to the fire can waft nice scents through the house. Milk Cartons are FREE Kindling. Start your fires with them. The same goes for candle stubs.
Wood Burning Stove -- You can make your own sweet-smelling "humidifier". Fill an old coffee can two-thirds full of water...add cinnamon sticks, cloves and orange peel...and place on the stove. When the water gets hot, it gives off a pleasant scent--and give the house extra moisture.

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