Dear Heloise: My fireplace bricks have become rather “sooty” after having so many fires this past winter. How can I clean them? I’ve tried soap and water but they are still filthy! — Marie in Michigan

Marie, clean the bricks around the fireplace with full-strength white vinegar. This is best done by scrubbing the stained areas with a small vegetable brush dipped in the vinegar. Wipe away any spills or drips immediately. You’ll find this is the easiest method for getting those pesky stains off your fireplace bricks.

Vinegar works wonders for other cleaning chores like removing the grime from sliding glass door tracks. Just pour a little full-strength vinegar into the door track, let it sit in the track for awhile, then rinse the vinegar out with water. While you’re at it, spray some vinegar on the shower door to dissolve soap scum, then scrub with a soft brush and rinse. For a ton of more cleaning and sanitizing hints using vinegar, send for my six-page vinegar pamphlet by visiting www.Heloise.com or by sending $5 and a long, self-addressed, stamped (70 cents) envelope to Heloise/Vinegar, P.O. Box 795001, San Antonio, TX 78279-5001.

FYI: Vinegar will also remove stains from clay pots. — Heloise

GAS GRILL CLEANING

Dear Readers: Since we’re all eating at home these days, our gas grills will be getting a lot more use, so they’ll be needing a good cleaning every once in a while. Here are some hints for the best way to tackle this chore:

While the grill is cool and the propane is shut off, take out the removable parts (grates, burners and drip grids). The manual should provide information on how to remove any parts, if you are unsure. Clean these parts using a scrub brush with warm water and dish detergent. Scrub to remove stuck-on food and grease. Rinse with water and air-dry.

Next, clean the burner tubes, checking for leaks or cracks. If anything needs to be replaced, now is the time. Also, check to see if any insects have built nests in the bottom of the grill and clean those out as well. — Heloise

P.S. After grilling, clean the grates while they are still hot.

Dear Readers: When your houseplant has outgrown its container and needs repotting, here’s a hint that makes the job less messy:

Before adding the potting soil to the new, larger pot, cover the drainage hole inside the pot with a single layer of newspaper. This will allow the water to drain but keeps the soil from coming out. Don’t worry. The newspaper will not harm the plant and dissolves over time. –Heloise