Cleaning white stone fireplace???

[Cindyluwho]

We're looking at buying a home and the one we're interested in has a huge, really huge white stone fireplace. Big jutting stones. I actually kind of like it but the previous owners lived there for 50+ years and smoked like crazy. The agent has had the floors, walls, etc all cleaned and sealed and painted but how in the heck do we get the stone fireplace clean? The stones are now yellow the agent had it cleaned in some way that there is no residual cigarette smell in the stones but the color is awful. Is there any way that anyone knows to get the stones back to white? I'm afraid we'll just have to trim it out and marble it or something but I like the look of the stone.

 

[tiggger1]

I found this

Smoke
Smoke is a difficult stain to remove. Try scrubbing with scouring powder (preferably one containing bleach) and a stiff bristle brush. You can also try alkali detergents and commercial emulsifying agents; apply these with a brush or spray and be sure to give them sufficient time to work. Test these chemicals on a small area that is not too visible before using them on a large area. (These compounds have the added advantage that they can be used in steam cleaners.)
For small, stubborn stains, a poultice using trichloroethylene will pull the stain from the pores. Exercise caution when using trichloroethylene in confined spaces. Ventilate the fumes.

 

[disneyfan67]

I have seen a dry ice method that comes out of a high pressure nozzle much like a pressure washer that uses water. The dry ice leaves no chemical residue, acts like sand blasting in a way, but the dry particles can be vacuumed up with ease. There's no damaging mess to clean up. The stone on the fireplace is etched with all the smoke and if it was outside you could use a pressure washer to remove it, much like you would clean a wooden deck, but being inside you can't do that. That's why the dry ice cleaning method is catching on and within 5 years it will used mainstream. It's environmentally safe which is a big plus.

No chemical will really clean stone, like a system that uses high, concentrated pressure. There is chemicals that can change the color of the stone, but are highly toxic and you don't want that inside a home. I have seen the dry ice cleaning method used to remove mold from wooden support beams and joists inside a house. Look around in your area to see who does it. The result is amazing and trust me, it will look brand new. Just google it to see who does it in your area.