how to clean smoke and soot off of fireplace stone?

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1. I use a heavy horse scrubbing brush and a solution of 1 gal water, 1 cup of oxyclean, 1/3 cup of dishwashing liquid (like Dawn) and 1/2 cup of either vinegar or lemon juice. I lather it up good with lots of scrubbing, then let it sit 10 mins or so.... Then I wipe it down. I have a combination of brick, stone and tile. It seems to work on all three. I can't remember where I got this recipie, but it works. I've used it for years.
2. Dip a scrub brush into a pan of full-strength white household vinegar. Scrub a small section at a time, working up. It may take a lot of elbow grease and several applications to remove all of the soot. Do not use a brush on brick that is crumbly
3. I use any foaming bathroom cleaner. Spray it on, and the stuff rolls off.