It’s a dirty job but someone has to do it! All those cozy, warm fires resulted in unsightly soot on the interior of your fireplace. You can erase these smoke stains without chemicals by mixing 2-3 tablespoons of cream of tartar in a bowl. Add room-temperature water slowly while stirring until a thick paste forms. Using a scrub brush apply this mixture to the inner walls of the fireplace. Rinse off with water and dry with an old rag. Cream of tartar is a naturally acidic substance with abrasive qualities so it’ll lift the stains in minutes.